New Year’s Eve outfits for women: glitter, sequins & warm layers

A New Year's Eve outfit for women is built around one shiny piece, such as a sequin dress, a sequin blouse or a glitter skort, combined with calm basics in black, brown or burgundy. If you celebrate outdoors, add tights, boots and a warm coat so the look also works during the fireworks.

The question "What should I wear on New Year's Eve?" depends above all on where you celebrate. A party calls for something different than a dinner, an evening at home something different than a night outdoors.

Which New Year's Eve outfit suits which occasion?

Party. This is where things can sparkle freely. A sequin dress or a glitter skort with a simple top is the classic choice. Make sure you can move comfortably, as the dancing usually goes on long after midnight. You will find ideas for clubs, birthdays and company parties in the guide Party Outfits for Women.

Dinner at a restaurant or with friends. One shiny piece is enough, the rest stays calm. A sequin blouse with wide black pants looks festive without being overloaded and stays comfortable when seated.

Celebrating at home. Here comfort with a festive detail counts: wide pants with a glitter effect and a soft sweater, or a glitter top with jeans. That way the evening feels special without you feeling dressed up.

Celebrating outdoors. If you are standing in the street, in the garden or on the balcony at midnight, plan your outfit from the outside in: first coat, tights and boots, then the shiny piece underneath.

How to dose glitter and sequins

A simple rule for a glitter outfit: one shiny main piece per look. If you wear a sequin skort, the top stays matte. If the blouse is sequined, the pants stay plain.

• Matte partners. Fine knitwear, jersey or cotton make sequins stand out more, because the contrast is greater.
• Dark shades. Black, brown and burgundy look calmer with glitter in the evening than very light colors and are easy to combine.
• Shine in the details. If you prefer something subtler, choose mesh with a fine glitter thread or pants with a glitter effect instead of large sequins.

Glitter from head to toe is possible, but can quickly look like a costume. A second shiny piece works well when both are the same color. You can find the current selection in Glitter & Sequins.

New Year's Eve outfit ideas for women

Sequin dress with boots. A short sequin dress in brown or black, with thick tights and lace-up boots. The chunky shoes take away the stiffness and make the dress party-ready. You can find more styles among our dresses.

Sequin blouse with bows. A black sequin blouse with bow details paired with wide tailored pants or shorts with tights. The bows add a playful detail, the simple pants keep the look calm. You can find matching pants among our wide-leg pants.

Comfortable New Year's Eve outfits: skort, mesh and wide pants

Glitter skort with sequins. A burgundy skort with sequins paired with a light knit sweater and boots. It is festive and comfortable at the same time, because the skort wears like shorts. You can find more styles among our skorts and ideas for cold days in our guide How to wear a skort in winter.

With a glittery top, a brown skort with a ruffle also works for a festive look.

Glitter mesh skirt or blouse. Mesh with glitter looks lighter than sequins. A mesh skirt over thick tights goes with a black turtleneck, a glitter mesh blouse with a top underneath and black pants.

Wide pants with glitter. A comfortable option for long nights: wide pants with a glitter effect and a simple top or a short cardigan. Add ankle boots or flat shoes.

A jumpsuit as an alternative. A plain jumpsuit with a shiny accessory or a festive jacket is a one-piece outfit. Which shoes and jackets go with it is explained in our guide How to style a jumpsuit.

Which colors do you wear on New Year's Eve?

Black is the classic New Year's Eve color and makes sequins sparkle clearly. Brown looks softer and warmer, especially with camel and cream. Burgundy is festive without looking as strict as black and goes well with brown and gray.

Silver and gold are the typical glitter shades and combine well with the dark colors when the rest of the outfit stays calm.

Staying warm during the fireworks: the New Year's Eve outfit for outdoors

Standing outside at midnight often means cold, wind and sometimes wet weather. So plan the outer layers as carefully as the shiny piece. How to stay warm and still look festive is explained in the guide Christmas market outfit for women.

• Coat or winter jacket. A long jacket keeps your dress or skirt covered. Choose one wide enough that the outfit underneath does not get crushed. You can find styles among our winter jackets.
• Tights. Thick tights are noticeably warmer than fine ones and go with dresses, skirts and skorts.
• Boots. Closed boots with a sturdy sole are more comfortable outdoors than heels and look relaxed with sequins. You can find a selection among our boots.
• Scarf. A large scarf keeps you warm and is easy to take off indoors.

Wear a thin long-sleeve top or camisole under a sequin blouse. That way nothing scratches and you have an extra layer.

Jewelry and accessories for your New Year's Eve outfit

Accessories for a New Year’s Eve outfit should match the shiny main piece and not compete with it.

• Jewelry: with sequins, simple jewelry is enough, such as small earrings or a fine necklace. With a matte outfit, the jewelry can be bigger.
• Bag: a small clutch or a crossbody bag keeps your hands free when you toast at midnight.
• Metal tone: gold goes with brown, camel and burgundy, silver with black, gray and cool shades.

Shop the look: Glitter & sequins for women.

For the holidays before, you will find ideas in our guide Christmas outfit for women. More festive ideas are in the guide festive outfit for women.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear on New Year's Eve?

That depends on the occasion. For a party, a sequin dress or a glitter skort works well, for dinner a sequin blouse with simple pants, and outdoors you will also need a coat, tights and boots.

How much glitter is too much on New Year's Eve?

As a rule of thumb, one shiny main piece per outfit, the rest stays matte. Two shiny pieces work well in the same color.

Which shoes go with a New Year's Eve outfit?

Boots and ankle boots are comfortable and go with dresses, skirts and pants. If you celebrate outdoors, closed boots with a sturdy sole are a good choice.

Which color do you wear on New Year's Eve?

Black is the classic, brown and burgundy are warmer alternatives. Glitter shades such as silver or gold work as accents.

What should I wear on New Year's Eve if I celebrate outdoors?

Thick tights, boots, a scarf and a coat or winter jacket over your festive outfit. A thin long-sleeve top under the blouse adds an extra layer.

What do you wear on New Year's Eve at home?

Something comfortable with a festive detail, for example wide pants with a glitter effect and a soft sweater, or a glitter top with jeans.