What to wear this New Year’s Eve, depending on what you’re doing
What should you be throwing on when you’re letting go?
Each and every year, the same type of people spend the night of 31 December making big statements. From ‘Next year will definitely be my year!’ to ‘I’m not going to make the same mistakes again!’ these empty declarations will likely disappear as quickly as the year in which they were made.
But one statement will last a lot longer than any other; one that will stick in the minds of those you meet during the evening and in the photographs that are taken to commemorate the occasion. We’re talking about your New Year’s night style choices.
To avoid any disasters, ensure the threads you throw on are cool, classic and capable of ringing in the New Year in style, whether you’re at a black tie ball or an all-night, city-wide bar crawl. Here are the options that’ll keep you covered:
The street party
If you’re going to find yourself in a square or on a street when we tick over into 2018, remember that an outfit can be as stylish as you want, but you’ll look still a fool if you’re shivering whilst wearing it.
With this in mind, remember to dress for the winter weather. Start with a good pair of boots and a pair of jeans. Try layering on top, with a shirt over t-shirt, jumper or jacket, and a peacoat or trench. Finish with accessories – but be careful. Whilst a scarf can make the transition indoors, a hat and gloves are harder to pull off. Dress for any eventuality.
The black tie event
It’s likely that you’ll look back on photos of this New Year’s Eve not only throughout 2018, but for years to come. So, whilst the alternative tuxedo may be the fashion move of the moment, there’s a chance that it’ll fall out of favour during the coming months.
Instead, stick to the classic look. Black tie should be black – so tux up, shine your shoes and tie a proper bow tie – clip-ons are not acceptable. Plus, when you reach the early hours, you can pull apart your bow tie and let it hang, allowing you to ring in 2018 with the perfect air of casual style.
The house party
The classic New Year’s Eve blow out, a house party is fun and festive whilst maintaining a personal edge. So, if you’re looking to dress for this particular occasion, remember you need to strike a fine balance.
Go too formal and you’ll stand out like a sore thumb; go too relaxed and you’ll look sloppy. Instead, opt for jeans and a casual shirt or t-shirt, perhaps with a jumper on top. Accessories are the way to attract attention here, and what better way to do so than with a belt or a pristine pair of shoes. Or, if you want to draw eyes towards your wrist, why not throw on your best timepiece?
The bar
Most bars tend to open later on New Year’s Eve, so venues that wouldn’t be viable all-night drinking holes suddenly turn into dens of celebration. Striking the balance between black tie style and house party casual is the key here – you’re out, but you’re not out out.
Wear a blazer over a shirt, but keep it open collar. Go for smart shoes, but not black, and chinos in a navy or camel. Stay smart, but don’t go so formal than you’ll look out of place on a dance floor – which is inevitably where you’ll end up as we cross over into 2017.
Want some black-tie inspiration? These are the tuxedos for every budget
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