What Are You Wearing New Year's Eve?: Outfit Ideas for Every Occasion!
What are you doing New Year's Eve? Or more importantly, what are you wearing if you have plans to go out? Is it a formal shindig, a street party, small group dinner, watching the ball drop at a club, or a casual affair at a friend's home? In either scenario, you'll want to be festive!
At this point, most with plans have already purchased something to wear. If you've waited until the last minute to shop or found yourself with a last-minute invite, but unable to shop, here's a few suggestions for items you may want to look for or may already have tucked away in your closet; items that do not include a fancy ready-to-go dress.
First, pull out any and everything in your wardrobe that has a bit of sparkle or shine to. New Year's Eve is all about the bling, so now's the time to use those items to create a festive and fashionable ensemble.
Personally, I prefer separates which can be used to create a variety of looks based on the occasion. Not all fancy dresses are suitable for casual events and casual dresses may miss the mark for more formal affairs.
Below, I've put together a few items from my closet for outfit inspiration, based on potential scenarios:
Maximum Shine: Silver and Gold
If it's a formal shindig, but a ballgown is not required, you can totally get away with a sparkly cocktail length skirt and top.
This silver pleated skirt (below) checks the box for color and shine factor. To turn it up a notch, I added a silky/satin-like blouse, a champagne gold belt and heels for additional glimmer. I went for gold accessories because my handbag/clutch is a silver iridescent wonder with a gold chain and hardware. Gold jewelry completes the look.
Black Tie / Tuxedo Jacket
If you have a tuxedo jacket in your closet, bring that baby out, too. Tuxedo jackets are great for formal affairs where you'd rather wear pants. With a nice pair of slacks, these types of jackets are the epitome of class and never a fashion fail.
I paired mine with a pair of faux leather bottoms to give the look a slight edge. I wouldn't wear this to an uber-formal event, but for a swanky dinner, it would do.
If you want to give your tuxedo jacket some sex appeal, go shirtless underneath. Just be sure to pin it at a level that minimizes a potential wardrobe malfunction or add fashion tape to keep the lapels in place for modesty. I added a thin black velvet belt to complete the look, along with gold and faux diamond accessories for the bling factor!
Silver and White
Another option that works for a formal or semi-formal event is a satin skirt. Satin skirts have been big for the past couple of seasons, so if you jumped on that trend (which I think isn't really a trend because these skirts are bonafide wardrobe staples) pull out your skirt and find a nice basic, but dressy, top to coordinate. Carolina Herrera is famous for pairing crisp white shirts with dressy skirts for business as well as dressy occasions. Sharon Stone wore a crisp white shirt to the Oscars and was a breath of fresh air in a sea of flowing gowns. Take a risk and coordinate!
To keep the bling theme going, I added a sparkly silver and gold leopard print belt for additional shine and an edgy wink, which indicates I've no intention of blending in. Fashion rebel coming through!
Faux Leather and Sequins
Speaking of edgy and cutting edge, leather or faux-leather items are great for a night out and the event is a bit less stuffy. If it's cold where you are, it can also be functional. In this instance, I paired a pair of faux-leather culottes with a rose gold sequined top. If all you have is a top with some kind of bling or sparkle in it, coordinate it with a leather-look bottom.
A nice pair of heels, sparkly or not, will dress up the look.
Bling-ed out Bottoms
Most ladies will have at least one top that's shiny in some way in their wardrobe. Not everyone is a sparkly bottom kind a girl. However, if you are such a person, dig those lovelies out! They can be shiny in any way; satin, silk, vinyl, sequined, etc., this is the perfect occasion for them. Again, this may work best for outings that aren't the most formal.
To keep things more classy over costume-party, go for a muted top. Shiny pants can be tricky. The line into tasteless can be easily crossed if you're not careful. I kept this look clean with a sheer black to coordinate with the glittery black pants. The belt and accessories are rose gold because that's the sparkly tint in the pants. If you look closely, you can see the faint rosy glow as the light bounces off each leg. More bling was brought in via shoes and bag.
Basic Black
Black is anything but basic when it comes to going out. It's a go-to for all occasions; formal, casual and anything in between, regardless of season. And there are some who prefer black to any and everything else, so it's their only option. He's a potential look for someone whose closet is a sea of black, but who may have a shiny accessory or two around.
I paired a sheer black top and black faux-leather wide-leg culotte pants together for an all-black look; bringing in the shine factor through accessories; silver and gold sparkly belt, black sparkly rhinestone bag and silver heels. This is perfect for a festive, dressy, but semi casual event. If you love pants, it's an opportunity to be comfortable and cute!
Golden Glow
The last and final look is what I put together for a casual night out with friends to an establishment that doesn't require any formality and jeans are suitable. Granted, every group has that one friend who would wear jeans to a wedding if they thought they could get away with it. Jeans are the jam to some. And they're versatile enough to be paired with select items for a dress up.
I paired a dark indigo pair of slim fit jeans with a cracked gold blouse. A touch of gold instantly brings in the class and radiance. Delicate gold jewelry,heels, and a soft gold wristwallet complete the look. This is definitely an outfit to dance your way into 2020 in!
Which is your favorite or least favorite look?