Happy new year, y’all. It’s gonna be a weird one.
In the tradition of Gala Darling, one of my favorite whimsical fashion writers, who used to write wonderful blog posts about New Year’s Eve outfits and accessories, here are some outfits I’d love to be wearing tonight, in an alternate dimension where we could actually go out and do things.
To me, there could be nothing more quintessential for New Year’s Eve than a shiny silver dress. It screams “I am here to have fun and nobody can stop me.” This ensemble would be ideal for a moderately-sized house party; picture me stumbling around on a friend-of-a-friend’s carpeted floors in these heels, champagne flute in hand, until I arrive at the Truth or Dare game popping off in the back corner. I’d kick off my shoes, sit down cross-legged between acquaintances, ask someone whether my lipstick was smeared, and wait to be dared to do something wild. I’d leave Polaroid snaps in my wake, and probably forget a silver hairclip on a couch cushion somewhere.
Going out dancing on New Year’s Eve requires a fortitude I’ve rarely been able to muster, but this is what I would like to wear if dancing was my plan for tonight. Flat shoes are a must, both for comfort and to protect one’s feet from being trampled on by other drunken dancers. For once, it doesn’t matter if your twirly dress is too short, because the room will be dark and no one will really be looking at you anyway, which is part of the reason the whole experience is so fun. Shiny pink boots, shiny pink bag, shiny pink lips – sometimes it feels good to look as though you’re made of candy floss, dancing through life, invincible.
Some New Year’s Eves call for staying in. Whether it’s because of a sudden snowstorm descending on your city, or a sudden heartbreak descending on your life (or, for that matter, a sudden pandemic descending on your planet), even the most steadfast partiers may sometimes find themselves wanting to stay put on December 31st. Sequinned pants and a striped cashmere sweater strike the perfect balance between “party hard” and “veg out,” and these slippers would keep you cozy as the ball drops on TV.
I’d wear something like this if I got a last-minute invite to a party full of artsy weirdos I desperately wanted to impress. Perhaps the invitation would lead me to a toasty art studio above a rice shop in Kensington Market, or to a warehouse-repurposed-as-apartment in the Annex. I would sip a bright pink Cosmo while cavorting with gleeful art-school dropouts streaked in paint and red wine. At some point during the evening I’d likely want to remove my bra, surreptitiously, without taking anything else off, and a scruffy boy holding a martini would notice, and I’d wink at him as he gnawed his olive, all too aware we’d probably never know each other’s names.
P.S. If you feel like hitting “reply” to this message and telling me what you’ll be wearing tonight – or what you wish you were wearing, and for what occasion – feel free! Also, here is a newsletter I wrote last year on year-end rituals, if you need suggestions of things to do tonight/tomorrow. Happy new year, babes. ❤️