Holiday Style Inspiration: 2 Non-Traditional New Year’s Eve Outfits

Of all the holidays to dress for, New Year's Eve is the one where truly anything goes. Why not try something new this year with these 2 non-traditional looks.

While there is certainly no shortage of holiday celebrating going on at this time of year, there is one holiday in particular that fashion lovers all over the world look forward to. New Year’s Eve is probably the one night out of the year where we can throw-away the sartorial rule-book and take some fashion risks.

A New Year’s Eve celebration is the perfect venue to experiment with those things that you might have always wanted to try, but may have never had the opportunity. Sequins, metallics, interesting cuts and daring designs are but a few of the design elements that would make perfect ways to enhance your look and show your creativity this New Year’s Eve.

However, while adding a bit of extra bling is certainly to be expected at this time of year, to really set yourself apart, why not take it a step further and try something really different? This year, if you want to push the sartorial boat out, but feel like you’ve grown tired of the same old party dress options, we’d like to suggest these two non-traditional New Year’s Eve outfits that should help inspire you to put something memorable together.

The Long Game

Long elegant dress and casual top outfit

 

Traditionally, New Year’s Eve has always been about the cocktail dress, leaving longer, floor-length looks to more buttoned-down formal occasions. We think that this is a set of rules that is just begging to be broken.

Pairing an über-long, more formal skirt with a slightly less formal top is a great way to add a bit of glitz and glam to your outfit, yet keep it looking unexpected by turning it into less of a formal affair and more of a quirky, mix-and-match separates look; something that will be sure to make you stand out in the crowd.

This type of a high-low mix is certainly nothing new to occasion dressing. Sharon Stone pioneered the look back in 1996 by pairing a short-sleeved mock turtleneck tee from the Gap with a floor-length Valentino skirt, and again in 1998 when she paired her gorgeous violet silk Vera Wang taffeta skirt with her husband’s crisp white dress shirt. Each time, she looked effortless and chic, and each time she made it into fashion history.

To create this look, start with a floor-length skirt that oozes feminine detailing or festive embellishments (or both, if you dare), and pair it with something casual and simple that you may already have in your closet.

Keep proportion in mind when you do this; pair a ballerina-inspired riot of floor-length tulle netting with a simple white tee or tank top, or a sequinned and beaded maxi skirt with a no-frills chambray blouse or graphic tee and boyfriend blazer. The result is both dressed-up and casual, and is a perfect way to inject some of your own personality into the outfit, while still looking fashion-forward.

The Tuxedo with a Twist

Feminine tuxedo with a twist

While there is certainly nothing all that new about the female version of the classic tuxedo, it is still one of the most underutilized sartorial weapons in most women’s occasion dressing arsenal. However, that is not to say that it is just as easy as pulling any old black suit out of your closet and throwing it on. There are a couple of things that have to be in play in order to make the look work for a more formal occasion.

Firstly, you have to think about the fit. Start by using the most classic of all examples as your guide, think back to the first-ever female tuxedo, Yves Saint Laurent’s “Le Smoking”, originally photographed by Helmut Newton in 1966. There is no mistaking the menswear influence of the tuxedo, but the fit is impeccable and flattering to the body.

To make this look work, make sure that you use pieces that seem as if they belong together; just throwing two black separates from your closet on won’t do for this scenario.

To keep this look from seeming too business-like, the fabric should, first of all, (think jacquard or gabardine) be of exceptional quality, and should look well-made, if not downright expensive. Second of all, it should have the traditional satin tuxedo collar on it to differentiate it from just another black suit.

For a more modern flair, choose a tuxedo that has a modern touch like a cropped cigarette pant with a tuxedo stripe or a printed jacquard jacket with a contrasting black satin collar. To really boost up the sex appeal, find ways to “soften” the look, either with accessories or by pairing it with a soft, undone-looking blouse underneath. The thing that will add just the right amount of polish to the look and keep it looking formal is a pair of killer stilettos.

While there are certainly more than two non-traditional looks you can employ to set yourself apart from the crowd this New Year’s Eve, the two looks outlined here are two sure-fire ways to look unique, sophisticated, and elegant while still pulling-out all the sartorial stops.

About the author

Kristin Buchholz-MacKillop

Kristin is an American writer based in the Scottish Highlands. She is a saxophonist, an obsessive tennis player, a U.S. Air Force Veteran, and holds a Master's degree as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She is the author of the online style blog highlandfashionista.com

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