How will you be spending your New Year’s Eve? Perhaps you’ll be having a smaller celebration than usual this year or a big party? However you choose to ring in 2022, you’ll find the best New Year’s Eve outfits to choose from below, whether you are celebrating with a small, casual gathering, or you want to dress up.
Take a look below for plenty of New Year’s outfit inspiration whether you’ll be at home with family, enjoying a small party with friends, you are able to attend a more formal event, or you’re just heading out for a New Year walk.
First, some tips for putting together New Year’s Eve outfits
Just as there’s no right way to celebrate New Year, there’s no right New Year’s Eve outfit; so long as what you wear helps you to see in the New Year in the style and confidence you want to project for the year ahead.
1. Be unique
While Christmas tends to be a time of tradition, New Year is a time to make resolutions, try something different, be more daring and stand out.
Think about the style you really want to achieve in the year ahead and dress accordingly.
You could add a touch of asymmetry to an outfit as another way to help you to stand out. Or add an element of menswear looks with an element of tuxedo style, like the tuxedo dress (below).
Eliza J Long Sleeve Tuxedo Gown
Kim @kimair above (read her style interview here) wears a beautiful metallic maxi dress.
Check out these maxi dresses from Ramy Brook, Ronny Kobo, Lost + Wander and Veronica Beard that you can wear with this similar pair of sandals,and clutch (another option here).
2. Think about how your New Year’s Eve outfit will move
Are you heading to a party? Will there be dancing? Don’t just think about how your outfit looks standing in front of a mirror, but how it will move with you.
You may like a dress or skirt which you can twirl in! Look out for a dress with pleats like the Karen Millen style (below), which would look good styled with red accessories.
Karen Millen Compact Stretch Tailored Jacket & Soft Tailored Dress
3. Don’t be uncomfortable
Style and comfort don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
As you will be celebrating until at least midnight, you won’t want heels you can’t walk in at the end of the night.
If you find stilettos uncomfortable, opt for block or kitten heels instead, or try a pair of statement flats or loafers.
Jona @the50plusgirl above chooses comfy block heels with her tulle skirt.
Steal her look with this similar blouse (another option here), skirt, sandals and handbag.
Check out our article on the best low heeled party shoes for more inspiration.
4. Choose a hero piece for your New Year’s Eve outfit
If you are struggling for New Year’s Eve outfit inspiration, start with one piece and work from there.
That could be a sparkly jacket, a fabulous pair of drop earrings, a statement necklace or a pair of brightly colored shoes.
The best New Year’s Eve outfits for you
Now that you’re thinking about the best way to put together a look for New Year’s Eve, let’s get down to some serious inspiration.
These New Year’s Eve outfits have every eventuality covered, whether you are going out, staying in, or watching the fireworks with your kids or grandkids, if you’re able to.
Don’t forget to let me know what you’ll be wearing this New Year in the comments below. I’d love to hear about your outfit choices and what you’ll be doing to see in the New Year.
Nora @juststylela above (read her style interview here) opts for a cozy monochrome look.
Check out this similar wrap (another option here), pants, pumps, clutch (another option here) and scarf.
NYE outfit: a statement suit
Rather than a dress, how about a suit this New Year. We love the burgundy shade of the Whistles suit (below). You can always wear it as separates too. The blazer would look good with jeans and a camisole, while the pants would be good with a cashmere sweater.
Whistles Misha Sequin Blazer – Boden Sienna Silk Shirt – Whistles Sandra Sequin Trouser – Sam Edelman Rayelle Heeled Sandal – Marc Jacobs The St. Marc Convertible Clutch – Deepa Gurnani Alianah Crystal Drop Earrings
Sparkly sweater and a leather skirt
A leather skirt is a great wardrobe staple as it can be dressed up or down. Add a special sparkly sweater, sequins or silk to create your party look. Wear boots if it will be chilly, or heels if not.
Whistles Sparkle High Neck Knit – Mango Leather Midi Skirt – La Canadienne Jennifer Knee High Boots – Kurt Geiger London Mini Party Crossbody Bag – Kurt Geiger London Eagle Link Chain Necklace
Check out our article on how to wear leather over 40.
an off the shoulder sweater and wide leg pants
An off-the-shoulder sweater and wide leg pants combination are incredibly elegant in a haven’t-tried-too-hard way. Choose a pair of satin or silk pants for extra glamour.
For more inspiration, read our article on how to wear wide leg pants.
Karen Millen Viscose Blend Knit Bardot Jumper – Cinq à Sept Shauna Belted Satin Wide Leg Pants – Steve Madden Courtnie Slingback Pumps – Kate Spade New York New Pochette Evil Eye Canvas East/West Pochette – Deepa Gurnani Alianah Crystal Drop Earrings
Sheree @shesheshow above wears a wide-leg pants outfit that would be ideal if you are celebrating New Year’s Eve in warmer climes.
Get her look with this similar lace top (another option here), pants (another option here), sandals, handbag and earrings.
Satin blazer and tuxedo pants
We love the combination of the satin blazer and black pants (below). The tuxedo styling adds a special element to the pants that is perfect for parties. You can also wear the jacket to dress up your jeans when you’re heading out to dinner.
Cinq à Sept Cheyenne Satin Blazer – Generation Love Lori Crystal-Embellished Stretch Silk Camisole – COS Satin Paneled Wool Tuxedo Pants – Sam Edelman Rayelle Heeled Sandal – Kate Spade New York New Pochette Evil Eye Canvas East/West Pochette – Kurt Geiger London Eagle Link Chain Necklace
A wide leg jumpsuit and moto jacket
A jumpsuit can look just as glamorous as a dress. Choose a luxurious material like velvet. If it will be chilly outside, add a cozy moto jacket on top.
Generation Love Dion Faux Shearling-Trimmed Moto Jacket – Eliza J Wide Leg Faux Wrap Jumpsuit – Steve Madden Courtnie Slingback Pumps – Kurt Geiger London Mini Party Crossbody Bag – Ettika Crystal Chandelier Earrings
A beautifully shaped dress and heels
When you’re choosing your next party dress, don’t just think about color and material (although those are important). Also, consider the shape and how that will work with your body type. The Kay Unger midi dress has a beautiful shape that will create the look of an hourglass figure, even if you aren’t an hourglass.
Kay Unger Tatum Floral Lace Midi Dress – Steve Madden Courtnie Slingback Pumps – Marc Jacobs The St. Marc Convertible Clutch – Ettika Crystal Chandelier Earrings
Emms @beautifuleveryday_uk above opts for a dress and jacket set that could be worn for lots of different occasions.
She is wearing a dress and cardigan from Phase Eight. Check out this similar dress, jacket, tights, pumps and handbag.
Satin midi skirt
Mix different textures by combining satin with wool or cashmere. Wear a satin midi skirt with a cashmere or wool sweater, and combine with pointed flats, boots or heels.
Karen Millen Viscose Blend Knit Bardot Jumper – BOSS Vinarea Satin Midi Skirt – Kurt Geiger London Mini Party Crossbody Bag – C.Paravano Bow Knot Flat – Ettika Crystal Chandelier Earrings
A faux fur poncho to stay cozy at midnight
If your New Year plans include fireworks outside, then you’ll want to make sure your outfit is both warm and stylish. Add boots, knitwear, and a glamorous faux fur wrap.
ZLYC Faux Fur Trim Poncho – AllSaints Akira Cashmere & Wool Turtleneck Sweater – AG Farrah High Waist Ankle Skinny Jeans – La Canadienne Jennifer Knee High Boots – Marc Jacobs The St. Marc Convertible Clutch – Kate Spade New York Sam Cuff Beanie
Glamorous loungewear
If you’ll be at home, maybe with family or friends, or with a good movie and a glass of something bubbly, you can still look incredibly stylish in your loungewear.
There’s more inspiration in this article on the best loungewear for women over 40.
Petite Plume Feather-Trim Silk Robe – Petite Plume Mulberry Silk Panthere De Nuit Pajama Set – Clarks Comfort Slipper
Your choice of Year’s Eve outfits
Below you can see the outfits used in this article below. You can see you can mix and match many of the clothes and shoes to create plenty of different outfits for New Year’s Eve and beyond.
You could, for example, wear either of the sweaters with the sequin or tuxedo pants, the sequin blazer with the jeans, or the off the shoulder sweater with the leather skirt. For a more casual look, you could add the moto jacket to any of the outfits. For more casual days, wear any of the jackets, tops and sweaters with your favorite jeans.
shop the best pieces to wear on nye:
More thoughts on how to dress for New Year’s Eve
We’re sure you have lots of inspiration for your New Year’s Eve outfit this year. So, what else should you think about?
How do you dress for New Year’s Eve?
Take into account all of the tips we’ve talked about, and look for an outfit that will make a statement. Choose metallic shades, bright colors, sequins, and luxurious fabrics.
What is the best outfit for New Year’s Eve?
This will come down to where you are going, what you are doing, and what makes you feel most confident. You can wear anything from dresses and jumpsuits to a tuxedo suit or wide leg pants.
Can you wear jeans on New Year’s Eve?
Of course. So long as you aren’t heading to a very formal event, jeans are always a good choice. Just be sure to elevate your jeans outfit by dressing them up with a special jacket and choosing luxurious materials for your top, such as silk, satin or cashmere.
What do you wear on New Year’s Eve if it’s cold?
Layers! If it’s going to be chilly where you are on New Year’s Eve, then make sure you are wearing plenty of layers to keep you cozy. Wear boots to keep your feet comfy and cozy, and add a glamorous outer layer. There are more ideas in this article on how to layer like a pro.
What will you be wearing for New Year? Don’t forget to tell me about your New Year’s Eve outfits in the comments below. Happy New Year!
Continue reading:
- How To Dress For A Christmas Party: 11 Outfit Ideas!
- The Best Cocktail Dresses In Stores Now – What Do You Think Of Number #5?
- What To Wear To A Winter Wedding
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Feature image by Kim @kimair
Sylvia is 40+style’s editor-in-chief and has been helping women find their unique style since 2011. An alumni of the School of Color and Design, she is devoted to empowering women of any age to look and feel their best. Read more about Sylvia and 40+style on this page.
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This is off topic, but I took the style quiz and for most of the questions none of the choices were even close to what I’d wear. Is there something more current? Also, a couple of dressy outfits I like are a belted blazer, camisole and a trouser pant, or trouser pants, a vneck cashmere sweater with a pretty cami showing out. A silk slip skirt works well, too.
Hi Robyn, We may update the quiz from time to time but no matter if you like the styles or not, your choices still give us clues about your style. Thanks for your suggestions on New year’s outfits as well 🙂
I’d love to know where to find the dress at the top of the article- black grey shiny three quarter length skirt and v neck!
You may like to check the original source of the image https://www.instagram.com/p/CIYYrxyl9ao/ and check if Karen mentioned any details about the dress
My husband and I get together with the same group of couples at a house party every year. I found a wonderful retro gold sweater with a subtle sheen and a back zipper! The back zipper may not be on trend right now but I love it and it takes me back to a style I wore in the ’90s. Black skinny cords, check, and I have an outfit I’m ready to celebrate in and be comfortable while being true to my style!