EVELYSS / Guides / Fashion Sense

What to Wear to a New Year's Eve House Party

“A house party asks for a different kind of glamour. You're not making an entrance through a ballroom door, you're leaning on a kitchen counter for four hours. I like one thing that catches the light when the countdown starts and everything else soft enough to sit on the floor in.”Her take

How dressy should you go?

Take your cue from the host and the invite. 'Come as you are' or a group text with emojis means casual with a festive touch. A printed or emailed invitation with a start time and 'cocktails' means closer to a cocktail outfit. If you're not sure, ask the host directly. It's a normal question and hosts usually appreciate it.

When in doubt, dress between the two: dressy enough that you look like you came to celebrate, relaxed enough that you won't be the only one in a gown. That middle ground is almost always one shiny or textured piece with plain basics.

The one-sparkle formula

Choose one piece that does the festive work and keep the rest simple. The sparkle piece can be a sequin or metallic top, a satin or sequin skirt, velvet trousers, or a dress in a jewel tone. Then pair it with something you'd wear on a normal weekend: a fine-gauge knit, a white shirt, dark jeans or straight black trousers.

The contrast is what makes it look relaxed instead of overdone. A sequin top with jeans looks like a party. A sequin top with a sequin skirt in someone's living room looks like you're on your way to somewhere else.

• Sequin or metallic top, dark straight jeans, pointed flats or ankle boots.
• Satin midi skirt, fitted cashmere-style knit, low heels.
• Velvet wide-leg trousers, silk camisole, a cardigan or blazer over the shoulders.
• A simple black knit dress, statement earrings and a red lip.

Comfort for a long night indoors

House parties start early and end late, and you'll sit on sofas, stools, stairs and occasionally the floor. Skip anything that rides up, needs constant adjusting or wrinkles badly. Stretch velvet, jersey, satin with some give and soft knits all hold up.

Homes with a crowd get warm. Dress in layers so you can take a cardigan or blazer off and still look finished in what's underneath. A camisole or short-sleeve top under a jacket is easier than a heavy sweater you're stuck in all night.

Shoes: the shoes-off question

Many homes ask guests to take their shoes off, especially in winter. If you don't know the house rules, bring a pair of flats, smart slippers or clean socks you don't mind being seen in. It's worth planning the outfit so it still works without shoes, which favors trousers and midi lengths over very short hemlines.

If shoes stay on, choose ones you can stand in for hours: block heels, kitten heels, loafers or sleek ankle boots. Stilettos and wooden or tiled floors are rarely friends after 10 p.m.

Let jewelry and lipstick carry the party

If you'd rather keep the clothes simple, put the festivity in your accessories. Statement earrings, a stack of bangles or a bold ring make a plain knit look like a party outfit. Metallic flats or a small beaded bag do the same job.

A red or berry lip is the fastest festive upgrade there is. Wear a long-lasting formula or blot and reapply after dinner, so it still looks good at midnight in the photos.

What to bring

A small bag with your phone, keys, lipstick and a small power bank means you never have to hunt for an outlet. A coat that goes over everything matters if you'll be walking or waiting for a car home at 1 a.m. in the cold. And bring something for the host. That never goes out of style.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Match the host's mood, wear one piece that catches the light with relaxed basics, plan for shoes off, and let earrings and a red lip carry you to midnight.

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