Fashion

10 New Year’s Eve Dresses to Ring in 2025

We’re well into the last weeks of December, and that means New Year’s Eve parties are on the horizon. Now that the Christmas present shipping window has closed, there’s never been a better time to start thinking about ordering your New Year’s Eve dresses before the impending Christmas parties and drinks have us rotting in bed for three days. Am I speaking from experience? Yes—no one wants to be scrambling for a New Year’s Eve outfit last minute.

So, in a bid to help you get organised and to ensure you fully enjoy the holidays, I’ve put together a list of 10 New Year’s Eve dresses that will help you ring in 2025 in style. Whether you’re watching the fireworks display at a festival, hitting up a party, or even celebrating on your couch (as I did last year), there’s something magical about wearing a new dress for NYE. It makes the night feel that little bit extra special.

From sparkly sequin numbers to timeless satin midis, we’ve got all your New Year dress ideas covered. By the end of this post, you’ll have your New Year’s Eve look sorted.

How To Dress For New Year’s Eve

@hoskelsa

Check The Dress Code

Before you start shopping or planning your New Year’s Eve outfit, it’s really important to check the dress code for the event you’re going to. So, how do you dress to impress for New Year’s Eve? Some parties might have a specific theme or require more formal attire. Trust me, it’s always better to know in advance so that you can feel completely comfortable in whatever you choose to wear.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the typical NYE attire:

Casual: Relaxed but stylish—perfect for low-key New Year’s Eve looks.Cocktail: A step up from casual, think a semi-formal NYE dress that could mini length or longer and classy dresses.Formal: Floor-length gowns and elegant silhouettes—a classy New Year party outfit at its finest.

Your Favourite Colours For The Win

When picking your New Year’s Eve dress, let’s start by figuring out the colours that make you feel your best. Think about the ones you find yourself wearing often or receiving compliments in. If you love how jewel tones like the ruby red look on you, why not embrace it for your New Year’s Eve look? And if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, why not add some sequins or metallic accents to make your outfit extra festive? NYE is your one night to go all out—your outfit included.

Don’t Be Influenced

One of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a New Year’s Eve dress is to find one that fits you well. Comfort is key, as they say. There’s nothing worse than buying dresses for New Years eve after seeing it on Pinterest or an influencer and not feeling yourself. We’ve all been there, and this year we’re all going to avoid it by planning first. If the dress is made for a long time, you’ll be in for a good time.

Rain Check The Weather

New Year’s Eve can be a tricky night to dress for because the weather can vary depending on where you are in the world. If you’ll be spending the evening outdoors like a festival, make sure to choose an outfit that will keep you warm and comfortable (minus the heels). On the other hand, if you’re indoors at a heated venue, embrace the lighter layers. Or, if you’re in a country as unpredictable as mine that loves putting on four seasons a day, take some thin warm layers with you that you can pop in your bag like Merino. There’s nothing worse than hobbling home freezing cold.

Sequins Are Calling

We’re having fun this New Year’s Eve, so make your outfit fun. After all, this is one of the only times of the year when seeing sequins everywhere is acceptable. Don’t hold back when it comes to sparkly or metallic pieces if you’ve been looking for a reason to invest. If a full sequin dress is too much for you, try adding some subtle shimmer with accessories like statement earrings or a sparkly clutch instead. They’re fun and can go with any style of dress you choose.

Comfort Is Always Key

While looking good is important, again, feeling comfortable in whatever you wear is equally crucial. You don’t want to spend your New Year’s Eve adjusting a dress that doesn’t fit right or hobbling around in painful shoes. Try out your outfit beforehand to ensure you feel good in it and as a hot tip, wear in your heels on Christmas Day. It’s the perfect test to see if they’re fit for the night.

Makeup And Accessories Are Make Or Break

Even if you decide on a simple dress, maybe even one you could wear to work, you can always make it NYE perfect with accessories and makeup. Go big or go home I say—invest in some diamante sparkly earrings, a chunky gold bangle, or add a bright red lip to your look. Even holiday nails, like glitter or cherry red will do the trick. Accessories and makeup let you be creative and change it up from the usual day-to-day. Have some fun experimenting with different looks until you find one that makes you feel fab.

Top 10 New Year’s Eve Dresses For 2024

New Year’s Eve is your moment to go big or go home when it comes to style. Whether you’re hitting up a New Year’s party, keeping it low-key with friends, or planning to sparkle your way through the night, finding classy New Year’s Eve dresses is half the fun.

From bold sequins to sleek classics, I’ve pulled together the best New Year’s Eve dresses to help you nail your NYE look. Because let’s be honest—starting 2024 in a dress that makes you feel amazing is the ultimate vibe. Let’s get into it!

1. Cocktail Dresses

What would New Year’s Eve parties be without a cocktail dress? They’re flirty, a little bit sexy and always make a statement. Since we’re leaving 2024 on a high, I wanted to include a few extra-special cocktail dresses that will have you feeling your absolute best. Think more form-fitting, longer styles and tight everywhere that you want them to be—nowhere that you don’t. A staple for New Year’s Eve outfits.

Depending on where you live in the world, you might have to add some tights and a jacket to your New Year’s Eve outfit, but I’ll leave that up to you. Just make sure that the star of the show is your cocktail dress because I know how easily they are lost under layers.

Shop New Years Eve Cocktail Dresses

Shop New Years Eve Short Cocktail Dresses

2. White Sequin Dress

There’s no better time to wear head-to-toe sequins than New Year’s Eve. With the promise of a new year and a fresh start, these dresses are the perfect way to add some sparkle to your outfit. Plus, with all those disco balls around you’ll fit right in.

Ever since I saw photos of the Rat & Boa dress above, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of wearing a white sequin dress for New Year’s Eve. There’s something about white that makes the idea of sequins less scary, and more elegant. Especially because so many of the sparkly New Year’s dresses stare away from typical sequins, using sheer fabrics and big discs instead. If you feel the same about a good white sequin dress, here are some options to try below.

Shop Holiday Part White Sequin Dresses

3. New Year’s Eve Sequin Dress

Sequins are practically mandatory for NYE clothing, and they’re perfect for an all-out celebration. I couldn’t just leave you with white sequin dress options, of course, there’s more. The 16Arlington Solaris long-sleeved sequin dress has been all over my feed this past year after seeing Hailey Bieber in it, but after hearing that it’s incredibly uncomfortable I knew I had to find a dupe. And that I did—I found an almost identical black cocktail dress.

If you aren’t after a long-sleeved sequin dress though, I found some amazing other options from Paco Rabanne chain mail dress look-a-likes, to red sequin dresses (the colour of right now), there are a heap of different sequin dresses to choose from. A full sequin New Year’s Eve dress guarantees you’ll sparkle into 2025.

Shop Sequin New Year’s Party Dresses

4. Satin Midi Dress

Satin midi dresses are another great option for NYE outfits. They have a more understated glamour compared to sequins, but they’re not boring. The key to matching the dress code lies within the accessories you choose. Plus, they’re perfect for dancing the night away since they’re usually very comfortable. No accidental nip slips in sight.

One thing I love about a simple satin midi dress is that they’re so versatile. You can dress them up with some vintage earrings, a sequin handbag and strappy heels. Or, if you’re playing it cool (or you’re in the middle of summer like I will be) you can add some sandals and you’re good to go. What’s even better, you’re guaranteed to reach for this beyond New Year’s Eve.

Shop Holiday Satin Midi Dresses

5. Formal Wedding Guest Dress

In case you’re one of the many attending a wedding, or another formal type event this New Year’s Eve, you’ll need a dress that is slightly more formal than the others. Think long gowns with some sparkle and maybe even a bit of lace.

After trying to help my flatmate find a wedding guest dress for her brother’s winter wedding, I can only imagine how hard finding a dress for a New Year’s Eve wedding would be. So, to help you out, I found a few options from designers like Bardot and Bec + Bridge that would work well for a formal event.

Shop Formal Wedding Guest Dresses

6. Ravishing Red NYE Dresses

Red, after all, is the colour of the season. If you want to make a statement this New Year’s Eve, red is your colour. Red dresses are always a hit for this time of the year because they’re bold, confident and just feel like an appropriate choice for this celebration.

When it comes to holiday red dresses, you need to be careful that you avoid looking like Mrs. Claus right after Christmas. So, instead of picking a full-on red dress, try for a dress with red accents or details such as lace, sequins or ruffles. Long, over short. Your Instagram photos will stand out, and not in a bad way.

Another thing to consider is the shade of red. A bright flat red can be quite harsh (and again, not great straight after Christmas), so try looking for a deeper, richer red earring on the side of blood red. It’s more rich for the occasion. Anyway, here are some gorgeous red dresses to consider for your New Year’s Eve outfit.

Shop Holiday Red Dresses

7. Velvet Vixen

Velvet is definitely a staple in the New Year’s Eve dresses circuit. Nothing says luxury more than a rich velvet dress. I would recommend going for a midi length or long-sleeved to keep you warm as the temperature drops.

A black New Year’s dress is timeless, elegant, and always on trend. But, if you’re worried about wearing black, there are some beautiful options in navy, forest green and even burgundy. They’re just as luxe as black but add a bit of colour to your NYE attire with a bow accessory or some sparkly earrings.

Shop Holiday Velvet Dresses

8. Floral Fantasy

If you want a more casual New Years Eve outfit, this is it. Floral is often reserved for summer parties and weddings, but I think it’s time we move on from that. Darker florals are ideal for this time of year, with rich colours like burgundy, navy and emerald green being perfect choices. But maybe, like me, you’re in the thick of summer so it’s the perfect time to bring out a colourful floral maxi dress.

Floral dresses are also great because they’re a universal staple. AKA you’ll be wearing this more again in future if you choose it for your next holiday dress or New Year’s eve dress. Add some strappy heels for a fancier look, or some white sneakers for a more casual, festival vibe. It’s all about finding the right balance and making it work for you.

Shop Holiday Floral Dresses

9. Cut Out Queen

Holiday New Year’s eve dress? Say no more. If you want to show a little more skin, without going overboard, cut-out dresses are a great option. They add some edge and sexiness to your outfit without being too revealing. Whether it’s a cut-out at the waist, shoulder or back, showing a little skin can elevate your look and make you stand out in a sea of dresses.

My top tip here is to keep the rest of your outfit simple so that the cut-out detail can be the main focus. And don’t forget to pair it with some statement earrings and sleek hair for a complete look.

Shop New Years Eve Cut Out Dresses

10. Lace Elegance

Finally, we can’t forget about the party lace dress but it’s the pattern of the season. This year it’s all about moving away from the terrible mini aline and instead going for a more modern, fitted lace dress. Maybe a straight maxi, maybe a little tight. Sexy and sophisticated overall and perfect for your New Years party.

Whether it’s a small lace trim or a full lace dress, you can’t go wrong with this choice. Plus, with all the winking at boys you’ll be doing, you need to be feeling confident.

Shop Party Lace Dresses

New Year’s Eve Accessories

While the dress is often the main focus of a New Year’s Eve outfit, accessories can make all the difference. They can elevate a simple dress or add some extra sparkle to your ensemble. Here are some must-have accessories to consider for your New Year’s Eve look.

Shop New Year’s Eve Party Accessories

So with that, I hope you found some New Years eve dresses for 2024. While the dress is often the main focus of a New Year’s Eve outfit, accessories can make all the difference. They can elevate a simple dress or add some extra sparkle to your ensemble. Here are some must-have accessories to consider for your New Year’s Eve look.

At the end of the day, it’s is all about having fun and welcoming in the new year on a high. I fully stand behind sending the past off with a bang, and I think your New Year’s Eve dresses should reflect that too. I hope you found something to wear in this post, or at least some inspiration for ringing in 2025.