Sandhya Garg · The Party Edit
New Year's Eve, 8pm to 1am
Dinner · The Toast · Midnight Outside · Dancing · 12 Pieces, XS to 3XL
Quick Answer
Dress for the whole night, not just the photo. Pick a dress you can sit in for dinner, a neckline that photographs well at the toast, a jacket that's part of the outfit for an outdoor midnight, and a hem you can dance in. Sequins are optional. Hand embroidery, beading and saturated colour like royal blue, red or emerald catch the light just as well. For most parties, a midi or maxi with sleeves is the safest choice that still looks like an occasion.
Most New Year's advice is about one moment: the photo at midnight. But New Year's Eve is the longest party of the year. It often starts with dinner at eight, moves to a toast, steps outside for the countdown, and ends on a dance floor. A dress that is perfect for one of those can be miserable for the others.
Vogue Scandinavia's advice for the night is to swap the little black dress for something that sparkles. I agree with the spirit, if not the sequins. Light comes from texture and colour too: thread embroidery, hand beading, a satin finish, a print you can see across the room. If you want to know why some fabrics glow under party lighting and others go flat, I covered that in Holiday Party Dresses: Dressing for Candlelight and Camera Flash. This post is about the night itself, hour by hour.
In This Guide
Dress for the Whole Night: Four Moments
Before you choose a dress, picture where you'll be at 9pm, at 11:55, at midnight and at half past twelve. Each one asks something different of your outfit.
8pm
Sitting for Dinner
You will be seated for hours. Choose a waist that adjusts, like a wrap or a tie, and sleeves, because restaurants are cold. Everything below the table is invisible, so put the interest above it.
11:55pm
The Toast
This is the photo everyone keeps. A neckline does more than a hemline: off-shoulder, one-shoulder or a halter frames your face. Add one statement earring, not a necklace and earrings and a cuff.
12am
Midnight Outside
Fireworks and rooftop countdowns happen outdoors in winter. Bring a jacket that belongs to the outfit, so you don't take it off for the photos. Choose closed-toe heels and sheer tights.
12:30am
Dancing
Bodycon and very short hems fight you on a dance floor. A-line, kaftan and bell sleeves move with you. Block heels last longer than stilettos.
Dress for 9pm, 11:55, midnight and 12:30. A dress that only works for the photo will cost you the rest of the night.
What to Wear, by the Kind of New Year's You Have
| Your night | What to wear | From this edit |
|---|---|---|
| Black-tie gala or hotel ball | Floor-length, long sleeves or a dramatic neckline, real jewellery. Formal colours like royal blue or red. | Marquis, Duchess |
| Restaurant dinner | Midi or maxi with sleeves, or an adjustable waist. Interest at the neckline. | Queen, Sophie, Carolina |
| House party with friends | Cocktail length, something you can sit on a sofa in. Statement shoes are optional. | Louis, Marie, Versailles |
| Rooftop or fireworks | Midi or longer, sheer tights, and a jacket that's part of the look. | Fleur or Dauphine over any dress |
| Somewhere warm: Cabo, Miami, a cruise | A resort-evening maxi, flat or low sandals, and a light layer for the sea breeze. | Antonia, Carolina |
Spending New Year's on a ship? Formal night has its own rules, which I covered in 5 Cute Cruise Dresses from Casual to Cocktail. If you'd rather wear trousers, here are five ways to do it.
The Colour Question
Black is never wrong on New Year's Eve, but in a room full of black dresses, it disappears in photos. Royal blue, red and emerald are just as formal and look far better in flash. Red has the added meaning of luck in the new year in several cultures.
This whole edit comes from my latest collection, which draws on Versailles and Marie Antoinette. Her style is still being reinterpreted: when the V&A opened its Marie Antoinette Style exhibition, its curator told Harper’s Bazaar that she represents "a kind of hyper-femininity that is a feast for fashion designers." New Year's Eve is the one night when that much ornament is exactly right. If you are not sure which shade suits you, start with How to Tell Whether a Colour Suits You.
The New Year's Eve Edit · Let Them Eat Cake Collection
Twelve Pieces for the Longest Party of the Year
Drawn in Los Angeles, printed and made in India, made in small runs. Grouped by the kind of night you're having.
The Gala & Black-Tie Edit
Floor-Length for Dinner and Dancing
Cocktail Length, From the Table to the Dance Floor
Mini, and What to Wear Over It
Jackets for Outdoor Countdowns
Dresses run XS to 3XL and jackets XS to XL. Stock is limited, so check the size selector on each product page · Size chart · Made to measure
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear on New Year's Eve if I don't like sequins?
Wear texture or colour that catches light instead: hand embroidery, beading, a satin-finish fabric or a saturated print. All of these read as festive in candlelight and in flash photos, without the scratch of a sequin lining.
Is black the right colour for New Year's Eve?
Black is always correct, but it's not your only option. Royal blue, red, emerald and jewel-toned prints are just as formal and stand out in photographs. If you love black, wear it as a jacket, like the Allie blazer, over a colour.
What do you wear to a New Year's Eve dinner party?
Choose a midi or maxi with sleeves, or a wrap you can adjust at the waist, because you will be seated for hours. Save the drama for the neckline and earrings, since that is what shows above the table.
How do I stay warm at an outdoor countdown and still look dressed up?
Pick a jacket that belongs to the outfit, such as an embroidered tapestry jacket or a bolero, instead of a puffer you take off for photos. Add sheer tights and a closed-toe heel, and keep the dress length at midi or longer.
What does "black tie optional" mean for New Year's Eve?
A floor-length dress is ideal, but an elegant cocktail-length dress is also acceptable. Our dress code guide explains every code in detail.
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About the Writer
Sandhya Garg is a Project Runway Season 13 designer who won two challenges on the show and presented her collection at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. She studied womenswear at London College of Fashion and has worked at Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Liberty London and Alice Temperley. Her label has been featured in Marie Claire US, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Vogue online. Every print is drawn by Sandhya in Los Angeles and printed and made in India. Read her story.
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