NYE Party Outfit Hacks That I Tried (and Maybe Pulled Off?)

T-minus one day until we say farewell to collectively the most challenging year of our lives. Now we don’t know about you, but buying a new “New Year’s outfit” felt as necessary as Tayshia giving a second chance to Ben (clearly the woman was fully in love with Zac, DUH). But hey, you might have woken up this morning in the mood to dress up “a little” using what you already have in your closet. It might just be the pickup we all could use, right? So since last year’s post was all about this repurposing idea we thought, why not repost for the fun reminder? So hopefully this post gives you a couple of ideas that make you feel festive and beautiful to bring in this hopefully (if not just slightly) better new year. xx

Welcome to the last fashion post of the year, folks, and for those of you actually on the internet on this VERY busy Saturday, this is for you. Let me be clear, our New Year’s Eve will be spent up at the mountain house, having our now-annual scavenger hunt in the woods with the kids, and celebrating with some friends at 6pm. So I likely won’t be wearing a strapless jumper or a sequin jacket, but instead of buying more clothes (we are done buying over here, for a while) we came up with some fun hacks that I could try to convince you of. Hopefully, this serves as a “how to amp up” what you maybe already have – either dress it down or dress it up for a more ‘I’m going to party and hit rock bottom so I can really start my resolutions’ vibe.

#1 T-shirt Under Strapless Dress (Or Jumpsuit)

Here’s the case for this outfit: I can’t wear strapless dresses (I feel like I explode out of them and show too much flesh) so this is a solution that I LOVE, that actually looks very cool. I borrowed this jumper from my friend (it’s old, sorry – but SO RAD) and with a t-shirt underneath I actually love it. It just feels a little more intentional and fun. So if you have an old strapless bridesmaid dress that the bride promised “was so cute and you could totally wear it again” maybe this is its moment. The key is that the shirt has to be casual (and fitted) and I think that if it were vintage or had a cool graphic on it that would be even better for that 80’s vibe (but I like the simplicity for this one). I think that it makes strapless look cooler, especially when it’s a sweetheart neckline. But I’m sure not all of you will agree.

I apologize for that ill wrapped present – the kids keep ALMOST opening them …. little drunk raccoons.

Now that I think of it, the shirt under the dress thing reminds me SO much of growing up LDS where we had to cover our shoulders and we would put T’s under all our spring dresses (dresses that definitely weren’t meant to have T-shirts under them). I think the rules have changed now, but I know this look is “in” at the moment.

Here are some options in case you don’t have a strapless dress or jumpsuit and want one.

1. Women’s Sleeveless Sweetheart Jumpsuit | 2. Isn’t It Iconic Strapless Dress | 3. Lioness Old Flame Strapless Mini Dress | 4. Elia Strapless Jumpsuit | 5. Women’s Animal Print Sleeveless Mini Dress | 6. Boss Jumpsuit | 7. Royal Blue Strapless Jumpsuit | 8. Hayden Strapless Velvet Jumpsuit | 9. Chic Red Jumpsuit

#2 Socks With an Open Toe Shoe

I don’t know guys. I’ve wanted to try this for a while, and I think it is fun but is it ridiculous? Or just fun and different for New Year’s Eve? I’ve seen it done where I’ve liked it … maybe I needed to slouch them more – you tell me…

But I do think I would leave the house like that, at least on New Years, because it feels like the right occasion to do so.

The key (I think) is not having them be tube socks and I suppose they also need to be thin with some sparkle or special detail. I’ve been on Man Repeller so many times looking for ‘how to style socks with open-toed shoes’ and it’s hard to find ANY inspiration or rules so I don’t know if I’m pulling this off exactly. It actually inspired me to answer more of those questions for you in the home space, those questions that may seem obvious to me but may not be for most people.

Here are some fun sock options in case all you have are those classic tube socks:)

1. Scallop Sheer Crew Sock | 2. Chenille Velour Cuffed Trouser Socks | 3. Pieces Purple Glitter Sock  | 4. Soft Roll Top Sock | 5. Starry Night Sheer Slouch Socks | 6. Sparkle Party Crew Sock | 7. Ankle Socks In Black & Glitter | 8. Richer Poorer Salem Quarter Sock | 9. Elvira Fishnet Socks 

#3: Dress Up a Vintage T With Awesome Earrings and a Leather Skirt

This look is super not me, but I’m still pretty into it and it was SO easy. I figured that most people have a black leather mini, and for my style, I like them to be styled more casually (I wouldn’t wear a super tight, revealing top with a leather mini because I think the skirt already has that vibe). So I’ve always worn it with a boxy sweater, but for NYE I love the boxy T, as it leans into the  ‘I didn’t really think about it, but don’t I look pretty cool’ vibe that maybe you are going for?

I showed Brian these photos because I stole his vintage Grateful Dead shirt and, I don’t know, I hoped he would think I looked cool or something in it but instead, he was like ‘ha, that’s not vintage, it’s from Target’ which was HILARIOUS. I think I’d rather it be a lighter color, like white with some band graphics on it, to give it a bit more contrast (but that’s just my personal taste).

I borrowed those earrings from Veronica who always wears EPIC earrings. They really do take any simple or casual outfit to the next level. I’ve been slow to get on the earring train mostly because A. I’m going to lose those them, and B. having usually big blonde hair and big boobs, big earrings just feel like a lot, and can go too cheesy and ’80s mom. But I’m going to try more, especially now that my hair is shorter (sadly – didn’t cut, just took out my extensions) and I always wear it up anyway.

Everyone in the office decided that earrings either need to be BIG or make some sort of statement, to really be cool. Or if you have multiple piercings a bunch of tiny earrings are so cute mixed and matched. I have seriously been thinking about getting a few piercings up my ear, a la Emily Schuman, in 2020 and think it would go nicely with my current mid-life crisis. You?

Here are some affordable favorites if you are looking.

1. Contessa Tassel Earrings | 2. Long Earrings | 3. Anne + Julia Duo | 4. The Oblong Hoops | 5. Poppy Puffy Heart Drop Earrings | 6. Geometric Organic Shape Minimalist Earrings | 7. Essential Large Chunky Hoop Earrings | 8. Drop Earrings | 9. Sibilia Spotted Hoop Post Earrings 

#4 Pair Sequins With an Everyday Outfit

You have jeans and a t-shirt I am sure, and MAYBE you’ve joined my snakeskin shootie train (all aboard?) so all you have to do for this one is add sequins or a BIG old pop of red. If I were just going to over to hang with my friends on NYE this is what I would wear and I LOVE it. (Yes, we shot this a while ago for that makeup post, but just realized it is a great talking point here). It’s comfortable, but still festive and party appropriate.

In case you don’t have a sequin top in your closet…

1. Luna Sequin Blouse | 2. Madeline Sequin Top | 3. Sequin Blazer Dress | 4. Sequined Jacket | 5. Sequined Diana Sequined Blazer | 6. Sparkle Blazer

I personally think that sequins are best dressed down, even if it’s a dress. I would wear a sequin gown with sneakers or weird boots instead of strappy heels – it is so glam and attention-getting already that unless you are going to a ball, I think it just looks cooler to make it more casual and give it an edge (aka, don’t style it like #6 – that looks cheesy to me).

#5 Pair a Belt Bag and Animal Print Shoes With a More Formal Dress

You’ve seen this dress because I’ve worn it like 5 times now, but this is a good example of a dress that can go in a few different directions, vibe-wise, based on styling. If I wore it with heels, it would go more ‘wedding’ or ‘opera’, but with the snakeskin western boots it feels younger and cooler (IMHO). I liked adding a color block belt (it’s my red fanny pack from Clare V. that is sadly no longer available).

Anyway, I’m not saying that is the perfect NYE outfit, but again, the animal print takes something that feels more feminine, ruffly and conservative into an edgier direction, which I love.

Here are some great belt bag options if you are in the market.

1. Emma Convertible Belt Bag | 2. Georgia Belt Bag | 3. Faux Leather Belt Bag | 4. STATE Crosby Fanny Pack | 5. Detachable Leather Belt Bag | 6. Detachable Leather Belt Bag

Now, if you are looking for some makeup inspo or recommendations, I’m not one to wear what looks to be A LOT of makeup so I did a post a couple months ago with a makeup artist who taught me how to do three different ‘party’ looks that I really liked.

The one on the left was more rose gold and shimmery, the middle had this awesome cobalt blue eyeliner and far-right had a glossy lid and a bold pop of red lip. All the products we used are linked in that post. I feel like there are a million different ‘highlighters’ and ‘glittery cream eyeshadows’ out there so to get her favorite recommendations and actually see them on my face was very helpful (Thank you Noel!)

By the way, IF you wear a t-shirt under your strapless gown or jumper or IF you try out socks with open-toe will you please tag or DM me? I want to see how others do it. I am so curious if these are an actual thing that only I think are cool, or maybe some of you are into them, too.

Also if you have ANY other hacks for party outfits our last-minute looks let us know – new ways to amp up what you already have seems to be a theme over here in general, so we’d love more ideas. xx

**photography by Veronica Crawford