Who doesn’t love dressing up for New Year’s Eve? It’s kind of like Halloween in the sense that you have to go all out! That short dress made entirely of gold sequins? Yep, you can wear it on NYE. Those ridiculously high bright pinkplatform heels in the back of your closet? Whip ‘em out for tonight! After all, it’s the only night of the year when some of your wilder wardrobe items seem appropriate. But, just like on Halloween, sometimes we get carried away and end up looking more hot mess than hot. So, this year, try to rein it in a little while still showing your glamorous side. Here are a few tips that will help you create a fabulous outfit that’s both classy and sexy.
You’ve probably heard this old rule before, but it’s always good to hear it again. When going for a sexy look, it’s all about leaving something to the imagination. Show too much and it’s not very alluring. So, when it comes to showing skin, pick one area. If you do a miniskirt, then don’t also do an open back or plunging neckline. Likewise, a top that shows off your cleavage should be worn with pants (that aren’t skintight) or a somewhat modest skirt. The idea is to highlight your best feature and err on the slightly conservative side everywhere else.
There is a trick to showing skin without really showing it, and that’s sheer fabric. It’s the one way you can still look classy while exposing a little more. For example, a short dress that has a sheer panel in the back and a conservative neckline is a perfect way to get away with breaking the last rule. Ditto with a dress that shows off your legs and includes small sheer cutouts on the sides.The important thing to know is that the sheer areas shouldn’t be too big and shouldn’t actually reveal anything scandalous. When done right, this style is super sexy, but in a sly way that doesn’t scream, “Look at me, I’m half naked!”
Lace will always be a great fabric for achieving elegant hotness because it walks that fine line between conservative and sexy. Too much lace or lace in bright colors, however, can veer a bit onto the tacky side. If you opt for lace, keep it in small doses. And for color, black lace is always a winner.
This is a special occasion, so you want to make sure your outfit reflects that. One fab way to do that is to add a chic cocktail hat, fascinator or headband. It’s a quick and easy way to give your getup instant glamour in a refined way. No matter what your styleis, you can find a piece that suits you and your look for the night.
If you want to really step up the glitz is to go with one that has feathers or one of those great vintage-style birdcage veils that just seductively covers your eyes and brushes the top of your cheekbone. And don’t worry, most have a net style that won’t impede your vision, so you don’t accidentally kiss the wrong guy at the stroke of midnight. Just make sure, if you do go with a fascinator, to tone down the rest of your accessories.
In most places in the country, the night of New Year’s Eve is on the chilly side. Sure, you’ll spend most of the evening inside but you don’t want to be shivering while you wait for a taxi or step outside to catch the fireworks.
So, if you’d like to avoid freezing your butt off and cover your legs in a chic way, go for tights in a fun color that grabs attention – try colors like turquoise, purple or golden yellow. If you wear a short skirt or dress with them, you’ll still totally be showing off your stems, but in a way that keeps you warm and a little less exposed.
I fully recognize the fact that it’s pretty darn tempting to pile on all of your favorite blingy jewelry on New Year’s Eve. You want to sparkle, I get it. But if it’s getting to the point that your jewelry is competing with the Times Square disco ball drop, you should probably do a bit of accessory editing.
Just as with your body, it’s a good idea to showcase one killer piece of bling and keep the rest small and subtle. So, if you opt for a pair of long, chandelier earrings dripping with crystals, stick with a tiny, simple pendant and maybe a couple of thin bangles and leave it at that. Otherwise you risk looking like a little girl who got into her mother’s jewelry box, and that’s never a good look.
Don’t fall into the trap this New Year’s Eve of letting your need for glamour reach epically bad proportions.
Follow a few of these helpful tips and you’ll be sure to stay in the “smoking hot” category without veering into the“hot mess” zone as you enter the new year.