I'm Always Shopping My Closet—3 New Year's Eve Outfit Ideas Using What You Already Own

If you’re someone who's not typically into it, New Year’s Eve presents itself as the nagging holiday after the Christmas rush that commands attention and summons “fun” people to do something glitzy to ring in the new year. Generally, this requires an outfit that leans more sparkly and sexy than what a traditional, family-friendly holiday look usually is giving. At this point, though, buying something new just for this one night would exceed the seasonal spending budget. Plus, silver sequins may not be a typical part of your wardrobe. What’s a person to do?

I say, look towards the least likely part of any closet for your New Year's Eve outfits: your summer wardrobe. While I wish I was spending December 31st in a sultry, warm-weather destination, I drew inspiration from some of my summertime staples for a look that turns NYE dressing on its head. Dressing for a tedious holiday doesn’t need to be a chore—it just requires a little creativity, and, sometimes, that means looking in unexpected places.

Crochet for a Ticketed Event

Winter lace? Expected. Winter crochet? Intriguing.

Since it’s basically a summer sweater, let’s give crochet a try during the colder months. I layered up two crochet pieces: a decade-old Zara find with a Diotima doily top. I added a silk slip underneath for a little subtle sheen and modesty. It’s a decadent amount of texture that I would anticipate putting together for this holiday.

A reflective silver clutch and graphic white pumps tie it all together nicely for a premium cocktail event. It may even pass as black tie.

T-Shirt Dress for Bar-Hopping

All fall long, I’ve been trying to find a place to wear a T-shirt dress with a funky boot. (For some reason, I have a few of each.) I love the effortlessness of these two pieces together, but since boot-and-tee weather has long passed us, I was determined to make this work for my kooky NYE idea.

Sometimes, it’s just as simple as adding a velvet blazer over a weighty linen Jungmaven T-shirt dress, and this old reliable from Frame once again does the trick. The key to this operation lies in the tallness of the boot, which makes it more wintry (no bare leg gap), and this crazy gold Chanel pair feels sparkly and fun for the glitziest holiday.

Though the T-shirt is intended to be dive bar-ready, adding an embellished bag gives me a little more social currency, in case the night ends up somewhere a little more high-end.

Denim Skirt for a Cozy Houseparty

The delicate balance of a NYE house party is meeting comfort with a little bit of glam. You don't want to feel out of place if someone else shows up in a sweatsuit—or in a tux on their way to another event.

A longer denim skirt like this graphic patchwork Saint Laurent one I’ve had for years is almost as warm as a pair of jeans, but slightly more polished. My hint of glam comes in the form of a colorful, tinsel-y Chanel sweater. A graphic lace-up boot adds another layer of visual interest.

I haven’t worn this pink Gucci cosmetic case since high school, but I brought it out of the vault because, duh, it’s pink. All together, this playful but practical look has me ready to take caviar bumps in the kitchen or cozy up on a couch with a glass of red.