It’s not every day we have an excuse to slip into a spectacularly ostentatious outfit. There's something so refreshing about swapping out the tracksuit bottoms and shelving the cheap wine in the name of glitz and glamour. Whether hoisting your weary body into a waist-cinching corset or slipping into a tailored velvet concoction, there’s nothing like New Year’s Eve to breathe some pizzazz into your wardrobe.
Christmas calls for sumptuous velvets, sweet satin bows and cocoon-worthy cashmere knits. New Year’s Eve, on the other hand, is a time for the more flirtatious members of our archives to truly shine. The devil on the shoulder of the Yuletide spirit, if you like.
Love it or hate it, you can’t escape the polarising night. Each year without fail we see an influx of metallic sequins flood the high street windows, gearing up for the style spectacle which marks the dawn of a new year.
Where to go and what to do poses a conundrum on an annual basis. WhatsApp group chats relentlessly debate pub, club or at-home soirees, with each option becoming as difficult to plan as the next. What to wear can be equally as vexing, as the event and the attire go hand in hand.
It doesn't help that there is an undeniable pressure to go all out on December 31. Cascades of ostrich quills, magnificent fur coats and lace-trimmed silk negligees annually adorn the perfectly sculpted bodies of celebrities such as Hailey Bieber to Emily Ratajkowski, who set the bar high for end-of-year outfits. Forget Halloween, New Year’s is the real climax of the sartorial calendar.
Don't believe us? Just check the archives. While New Year’s celebrations supposedly have their roots in Scottish paganism, the bash took on a new sartorial cachet during the Gilded Age. Parties overtook Church outings which called for quiet reflection upon the past year. As the name suggests, Gilded glamazons were not fans of minimalism. And so, New Year's as style spectacle was born.
The more is more theory of the Gilded Age was carried over into the 20th century. The Roaring Twenties continued the collective penchant for opulence, with banquets and clubs throwing lavish New year’s parties frequented by society sweethearts. Flappers dressed to draw attention to their New Year’s regalia which incorporated beading, fringing and hemlines scandalously worn above the knee.
This tradition only continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1900s. Think Studio 54’s infamous 1979 New Year’s Eve celebration attended by Halston, Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol, or Paris and Nicky Hilton’s iconic 2007 shindig at LAX Nightclub. Not forgetting fictitious fashion moments such as Monica’s diamante-clad caramel halter neck in Friends’ The One with the Routine, or Sally Abright’s black bardot gown in the much-quoted final scene from When Harry Met Sally. Not a dull outfit in sight.
Dressing up for New Year’s is the perfect excuse to put your self-styling skills to the test and show off your most fabulous finery. Shop our edit below to kickstart 2024 with some divinely glamorous glad rags.
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Norma Kamali Ruched Lamé Mini Shirt Dress
Hit the dancefloor with a shimmering lamé number to brighten the night.
Buy now £230.00, Net-A-Porter
Whistles Hai Velvet Sienna Dress
A plush chocolate dress is the perfect blend of classy and cool. Whistles’ velvet offering is a simple pick which exudes after-hours elegance.
Buy now £208.00, Whistles
16Arlington Prue Draped Satin Top
16Arlington is for the party girl. The brand’s Prue top features swathes of draped satin in a bitter cocoa hue.
Buy now £301.00, Net-A-Porter
Verb by Pallavi Singhee Sleeveless V-Neck Bow Mini Dress
The ultimate party dress for the ultimate party girl, Verb by Pallavi Singhee’s Sleeveless V-Neck Bow Mini Dress will take you into 2024 with style, sass and a splash of sweetheart bow detailing.
Buy now £126.00, Anthropologie
Kitri Greta Navy Star Lurex Knit Mini Dress
Kitri’s celestial mini is sure to inject some Seventies style into your wardrobe. Retro metallic stars pepper the party piece which features a scoop neck and bell sleeves.
Buy now £140.00, Kitri
Fiorucci Mascara Graphic Print Maxi Dress
Fiorucci takes cocktail dresses literally. The Italian brand’s graphic maxi is a playful, tongue-in-cheek addition to your eveningwear arsenal.
Buy now £275.00, Fiorucci
Anthropologie Flat White Long-Sleeve Sequin Mini Shirt Dress
Ensure all eyes remain on you with this dazzling sequin shirt dress suitable for lavish layering.
Buy now £91.00, Anthropologie
Ganni 3D Sequins Top
Get the party started with Ganni. The cult brand’s 3D Sequins Top is made from recycled fabric and showcases an eye-catching keyhole cut-out design with tie-ribbon detailing.
Buy now £235.00, Ganni
ME+EM Tux Jacket
Reinvigorate your eveningwear with a contemporary take on a classic tux. ME+EM’s paired back pieces are crafted from a warming wool blend and topped off with an Italian satin trim.
Buy now £295.00, ME+EM
Mango Rhinestone Mesh Skirt
Elevate a plain black tank top with Mango’s rhinestone mesh skirt designed for the bold dresser.
Buy now £79.99, Mango
Jigsaw Velvet Tailored Waistcoat
Merge masculine cuts with feminine textures thanks to this timeless waistcoat. Suits you.
Buy now £56.00, Jigsaw
& Other Stories Strappy Jacquard Top
Baroque sensibilities come to play in & Other Stories’ beautiful jacquard top. We love the smocked peplum design and fine spaghetti straps that accentuate the collarbones.
Buy now £45.00, & Other Stories
Sandro Short Jewellery Neck Dress
Sandro’s party dress selection is not to be missed. This bejewelled mini is a classic LBD with a sprinkling of crystals to help get the party started.
Buy now £251.30, Sandro
Rixo Jovie Tie-Neck Blouse
Delight at the decadence of this resplendent Rixo blouse. An Art Deco print in tones of emerald and gold will gleam and glitter under the disco ball.
Buy now £120.00, Rixo
Coperni Lace Mini Dress
Accentuate your assets with Coperni’s silk mini which oozes girlish glamour. The figure-worshipping garment features stretch-woven construction twists and delicate lace trims for a romantic touch.
Buy now £300.00, Selfridges
H&M x Rabanne Sequin-disc Mini Dress
Assert your sartorial prowess with a brand-new number from the recent H&M x Rabanne collection. Featuring Rabanne’s signature paillettes in shimmering metallics, this mini dress is bound to steal the show.
Buy now £279.99, H&M
& Other Stories Puff Sleeve Mini Dress
Teamed with some evening gloves, this beautifully structured mini is a game changer. Delight in the pale pink jacquard, darling puff sleeves and voluminous silhouette.
Buy now £120.00, & Other Stories
Ghost Aselia Satin Midi Dress
Join us in feeling dotty about Ghost’s Aselia midi dress. Pristine white polka dots are scattered across a black satin background. Note the elegant scoop neck and girlish puff sleeves that merge conventional and kittenish themes.
Buy now £58.00, Ghost
Warehouse Premium Metallic Faux Leather Dress
Break out of your comfort zone without breaking the bank. Warehouse’s space-age silver mini dress offers a soft metallic gleam crafted from supple faux leather.
Buy now £23.00, Warehouse
Topshop Gilmore Embellished Low Slung Boyfriend Jeans
Inject a dose of Nineties grunge into your partywear collection. Topshop’s iridescent jeans can be paired with a crisp shirt or simple top to let the diamante-clad bottoms shine.
Buy now £85.00, ASOS
