When it comes to fashion, especially around various North American holidays, art seems to imitate life. Weather forecasts aside, spring brings in showers and stylish flowers… as well as skirts, khakis and pastels, while cords are a fall back-to-school staple and cable knit is king come winter. Good observation, huh? Yet this presents a problem, especially this week while we’re all trying to figure out what the heck we’re going to wear for our New Year’s Eve celebrations- you can never wear the same thing twice, you can never wear the same thing as someone else (similar to prom) and if one more person wears an LBD and silver chandelier earrings, I will make the rumoured world ending of 2012 come true.
I personally think of New Year’s as the bitchy, over-critical friend of all of the different holidays- quite often we find ourselves in slightly awkward and very public situations where we’re required to look our best, be at our funnest and somehow secure that picture perfect kiss at the stroke of midnight, all while getting paparazzi’d by friends and strangers alike who unfortunately can accurately document what number of martinis you’re up to. A lot of fun, a lot of pressure. So naturally, based on the bitch that is New Year’s, many people (girls and guys alike) start going nuts trying to find the perfect outfit for the 31st.
That being said, I thought to myself, being the little homebody (who’s only been out for New Year’s twice in my life) that I am, in addition to being the self-proclaimed fashionista that I am, maybe it’s time for a person like me looking from the outside in to give a little fresh perspective. Remember earlier when I proposed that art seems to imitate life? Can we not apply that to New Year’s Eve festivities as well? Tuxes, LBDs, silver chandelier earrings, excessive sparkles? Can we not liken these things to nighttime and winter, all topped with glitter and shine from Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa? SNORE. We all know the mission we’ve been given fashion-wise on NYE, so now that we know what’s stale and boring, let’s turn this weather-mimicking mess into a big stylin’ bang to start the brand new year. Here are some tips and tricks:
– Since your pic will be getting snapped all night long, choose an outfit that involves a colour or colour combination that looks fantastic with your skin and hair. Some colours genuinely look great on you, but put a flash and a wide-angle lens on it and you might look like you’re attending the party in between jaundice treatments. Try on some possible options, take multiple pictures at multiple angles and lighting settings and enlist a trusted friend to give you an honest opinion.
– Also take this time to play up a strong feature that you’re proud of. So many women choose short tight dresses because it’s a trend that bombards us in every store we wander into, but frankly, not all of us are blessed in the legs department. Or the looking good in a second skin dress department. And you aren’t doing anyone any favours, including yourself, by pretending you are. Pick one feature or appropriate body part you love and create an outfit that gives it the attention it deserves!
– And speaking of dresses… little does everyone know, you don’t actually have to wear a dress on New Year’s! Guys, that includes you. Skirts, sleek pantsuits, jumpsuits and even a fantastic pair of jeans are all fresh and interesting alternatives to the tried and true dress. Wow, it doesn’t even sound cool anymore.
– Sparkles and shine have been worn over and over again for too long. In the spirit of trying something new in 2012, think texture. Whether that may be in the form of a feather skirt or a brocade-inspired pair of pants, creating visual interest by using different materials as opposed to using different finishes is an easy and fool-proof way to breath new life into your NYE outfit (and your wardrobe too!) Using texture as a fashion tool can also look really cool if you decide to try a monotone or tone-on-tone outfit.
– Finally, if you insist on wearing all black, so be it. But please, for the love of Pete, choose a different metallic other than silver. Why not gold? Or bronze? Copper? Gunmetal? Pewter? (Or otherwise known as “metallic greige”, according to a former co-worker of mine. Again, you want the Mayans to be right about the world ending in 2012? Call it “metallic greige”. I dare you.) Here’s a sneaky tip for red-heads: ROSE gold. Mhmm. You’ll love it. And please choose different accessories than chandelier earrings. Like, hm, I don’t know… a necklace? A bracelet? STUDS? Have fun with your accessories, that’s what you bought them for!
Make it a New Year’s resolution to try something different- what have you got to lose? It’s one night out of a whole year, so make it count and remember that although there’s a lot of pressure to dress to impress, what’s most important is that you feel good and have fun.
I think my New Year’s resolution is to educate people on proper names of colours. And maybe also to calm down.
Want more tips for a smashing New Year’s Eve outfit? Do you not know what an LBD is? (Shame on you.) Are you the president of the “I Hate Silver Chandelier Earrings” club? I want to hear from you! Drop me a line at l.twentiesproject@gmail.com!
The Twenties Project 