The Outnet

What To Wear To A New Year’s Eve Party

2 hours ago

Styling tips for your NYE soiree

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The clock’s ticking on 2025. We’re racing towards 31 December – and the string of parties set to hit homes, pubs, clubs and bars – and the swathes of sequins, glitter and metallics that come with the season. But are you ready for it all? Whether you’re dressing up or down, we’ve got just the thing. Here’s what to wear this New Year’s Eve, according to a stylist.

New Year’s Eve: A Style Guide

The most wonderful time of the year doesn’t end with Christmas (or Boxing Day). If anything, the big extravaganza comes a week later, on 31 December. New Year’s Eve has a special place on the festive calendar – some would say it’s where the party really starts – and in your wardrobe.

‘The thing that excites me about New Year’s Eve is getting those special pieces out of your wardrobe,’ says Nicole Smallwood, stylist and Fashion Director at Country & Town House. ‘You know, the ones you don’t really know how to wear or don’t have an occasion to wear them to. For many, New Year’s Eve is the dressiest occasion of the year.’

The stylist has also noticed a real shift in recent years in how people dress up for New Year’s Eve. ‘Some people like to buy something special, others rent or borrow. For some, it might be that they just need to restyle something they already have in their wardrobe,’ she says. ‘The top line is that people are now much more inclined to dress up – both for and after New Year’s Eve.’

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What Do People Wear?

It might feel a little frustrating, but the answer is: it depends. ‘Is it a house party? Is it a pub? Are you going clubbing? Have you got a special dinner to go to? The dress code changes depending on where you’re going,’ says Nicole.

‘There isn’t really a strict rule on what to wear – everybody’s New Year’s Eve is different,’ she adds. ‘If I’m going to a house party this year, will I get my sequins out? Yes, of course. But if I’m going down the pub, I probably wouldn’t. I would wear something a bit more casual.’

But the trend that seems to be shaping our approach to New Year’s Eve dressing right now is, Nicole tells us, longevity. ‘Wardrobe longevity plays a huge role in what people choose to wear for party season,’ the stylist says. ‘They’re thinking about the pieces that they’ll wear more than once. Pieces that they’ll have forever.

‘I think a special evening wear wardrobe is a bit last season, dare I say,’ she adds. ‘People have realised those special items they have in their wardrobe – sequins, metallics, leather – these are all really great things that you can mix and match into both your everyday and party wardrobe.’

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A Stylist’s Top Tips

Below, stylist Nicole Smallwood shares her top tips for New Year’s Eve party dressing:

Borrow & Lend

‘New Year’s Eve is the time to beg, borrow and steal,’ says Nicole. ‘Say it’s a dress that you wore last New Year’s Eve, and say you’re going out with the same group of friends this year – you don’t want to wear the same thing again, so maybe it’s time to see what your girlfriends are wearing. See whether you could do a swap just for that evening.’

Invest In Longevity

Items that feel ‘special’ are one thing, but when they have wearability beyond one night they become even better. ‘You should really think about the purchases you’re making,’ advises Nicole. ‘Think about the items that you’re buying. Ask yourself: when are you going to wear them again? How are you going to wear them again?’

It’s also sage advice to keep in mind when it comes to budgeting. ‘Think about your wardrobe that you’re going to have for next year,’ says the stylist. ‘It’s so easy to get sidetracked by all the glitter and sequins, but it’s important to avoid buying those pieces that you’re only going to wear once.

‘And don’t panic buy! This is a trap that a lot of people fall into. They go out to the sales, buy something they don’t really love and then never wear it again.’

Find An Adaptable Hero Piece

With this in mind, Nicole suggests finding that one hero piece you can imagine wearing again and again. ‘I’m such an advocate for mixing your whole wardrobe together,’ she says. ‘One of my best pieces is a black blazer that I wear with everything. I wear it to a business meeting in the day, but then I wear it over a sequin dress at night. It’s one of those key pieces, especially for New Year’s Eve dressing, that is going to elevate your style – but also give plenty of mix and match options for the coming year.’

Don’t Be Swayed By Sequins

Does the thought of sparkles make you itch? You’re not alone. ‘If you’re not a sequin girl, then don’t feel pressured into having to wear something sparkly,’ emphasises Nicole. ‘Sticking to the classics – a really good blazer, a pair of great leather trousers or that little black dress you’ve had in the cupboard for years – can make just as big an impact. (And you can always just reinvent it with accessories.)

Or Trends

And finally: ‘Stay true to yourself. Don’t feel like you have to follow the crowd or follow trends. Just go with what resonates with your personal style, and what you feel good in. You don’t want to let the clothes wear you.’