Written by Menswear Style in New Collections on the 25th November 2015

A season of celebrations is nearly upon us. Reiss this season are offering perfect partywear inspiration through their recent campaign ‘One Fine Night’ which brings autumn/winter 2015’s occasionwear to life. The lessons for the season are that there’s much to be said for the classics; faithful to the original design their black tuxedo is both familiar and fresh. A white bow tie offers top-tier formality, the epitome of evening elegance.

Meanwhile powerful printed velvet blazers worn in shades of the darkest blue add a subtle flair to an evening look. Other options include a double-breasted tuxedo in midnight blue which gives the men’s eveningwear classic a natty new twist. Not to be forgotten, outerwear plays a key part in the perfect winter 2015 partywear look.

"This season men should make the effort when dressing for social occasions. If the girls are going to go the extra mile, then pulling on an old work suit and black tie combo isn’t going to cut it anymore. It’s the ideal time of year to play with texture and fabrication, so consider velvet blazers, slub silks or jacquard patterns to add interest to the top half of your outfit. Pair them with simple black suit trousers, but if you’re feeling a little braver they’ll also work well with satin striped tuxedo trousers. Remember, in dim light both shiny and matt fabrics will catch the light differently offering subtle points of interest – experiment with contrasting textures and materials. When it comes to bow ties, this season it will pay off to go for larger, fuller designs. Not only will they add a slightly dishevelled, hand-tied and personal appearance to formal outfits, they’re a much more debonair alternative to small, flat bow ties which seem to be so common come occasion season." - Alex Field, Head of Menswear Design.

The wool overcoat is a staple of the season, but when adding a faux fur trim it becomes utterly indispensable. Rendered in a lighter hue and updated with surprising design details, for party season the camel coat comes of age this season. Instead of styling a shirt and tie as the first port of call for formal events, a roll neck jumper makes for a dapper and sophisticated alternative. Claret, burgundy, wine. Call it what you will, this deep hue makes excellent occasionwear fodder.

Alex goes on to explain why "It’s important to invest in the finishing touches (think patent black shoes or dress slippers) to really elevate your outfit and make it look like you haven’t just tweaked your work outfit. I always like to reference the classics for failsafe style. In Casablanca Humphrey Bogart immortalised his character’s style with the simple addition of a carnation in the button hole of his tuxedo jacket. The look has even been revitalised this season by Daniel Craig in Spectre. In a sea of black suits, add a little personality and flair with something as simple as cufflinks, shirt studs or a small flower. These additions will still feel suitably formal and reference some of the greatest men’s style icons.”

A look at the Reiss autumn/winter 2015 Perfect Partywear offering of tuxedos and eveningwear for the party season.