What's the next best thing to a fabulous New Year's Eve party? Showing up for the soiree looking like a million bucks! If you're nibbling your nails to the quick, trying to get your outfit for that year-end bash just right, help is here.
Trial and Error
The perfect ensemble starts in the changing room. When you put something on, take a good look at those three-way mirrors to see how it looks from the front and the back.
Ditch it if it rides up or sits awkwardly - never mind how pretty it looks on the hanger. Never pick a dress on the assumption that you'll magically be a little thinner on D-day. That sort of thing just doesn't happen!
Step It Up
Give your skinny jeans a break! For a really major gala, you need to crank it up a notch. If you usually wear jeans, wear a dress, and if you usually wear salwar-kurtas or churidars, wear a saree. You should definitely be more dressed-up than usual. This is one occasion where red lipstick is so fitting! New Year's is more black-tie than picnic brunch, so keep offbeat, boho outfits like one-piece pantsuits, palazzo pants and shorts for a lesser occasion.
Score a Trend
For New Year's Eve 2015, opt for dresses with black lace insets, demi-trains (for more formal parties) and pin-tucks. Layered ruffles and faux-fur in pastel hues are feminine and fashionable this winter.
For the daring diva, ankle-length dresses with thigh-high slits are the season's pick for an all-eyes-on-me effect. Sheer, see-through numbers in black chiffon or figured gold lace are also trending right now.
Love bright colours? Pick an of-the-moment dress with appliqué-work flowers in myriad colours against a pristine white background. For a more classic look, black and white dresses are très happening.
Accessorise Right
Only schoolgirls wear short dresses with flat shoes. If you're a grown-up, you need to pair your cocktail dress with big-girl shoes - the kind that come with heels. Make sure your shoes don't clash with your dress.
There's no point dropping a bomb on an expensive dress and then wearing it with shoes that totally kill the look. Bags and stockings need to match too, so factor in the cost of a clutch and other add-ons when you're working out your budget for party-shopping.
Figure-Friendly Outfits
Pick an outfit that plays to your strengths.
- If you've got big thighs and round calves, don't go with a short dress. Instead, opt for a floaty, floor-sweeping dress. Make it off-shoulder to avoid looking dowdy.
- If you're a little pudgy around the middle, empire-waist dresses with high bodices and gently flaring skirts are your friends.
- If you have wobbly arms, don't wear skin-tight long sleeves! Butterfly sleeves and caftan-style outfits with wide sleeves will counter the problem.
- If you're uber-thin, max out your curves with a minidress featuring layers of ruffles, overlapping beaded fringes or fluffy fake fur.
Ready for the final countdown?