You Didn't Think I'd Forget New Years?

Personally, I think New Year's is the funnest thing to dress up for all year. It's the only day you can go all out sparkles, glam, girly, crazy, whatever you want, and it's totally acceptable for public consumption. Want to wear an outfit composed entirely of sequins? Go for it. Of course, there's always a way to work fashion into it. The runways are always full of night on the town worthy outfits, and there were a few trends this year that fit into the New Year's themes perfectly.

Lanvin Spring 2010, Naeem Khan Pre-Fall 2010, Derek Lam Spring 2010: This could go a thousand different ways, but here are my three favorite trends for New Year's dressing. There's soft and assymetrical, like we saw at Lanvin. There's showgirl, Moulin Roule-inspired glam, like we saw at Naeem Khan, and there's bold and rock and roll inspired, like we saw at Tracy Reese.


So I'm doing three separate dresses that you can rock with similar accessories and makeup. I know it's pretty late notice to go shopping for a New Year's outfit, but these are just guidelines or inspiration if you haven't put one together yet.

Haute Hippie Ostrich Cocktail Dress, $595 at shopbop.com, Alice + Olivia Wrapped Goddess Dress, $264 at shopbop.com, Torn by Ronny Kobo Olivia Crystal Mini Dress, $440 at shopbop.com: I love this Haute Hippie dress. It's very over the top glam with the feathered skirt, but the simple top keeps it from being too costumey. The basic black makes it perfect to showcase statement jewelry. There's just something so innocently girly and yet very femme fatale about this dress at the same time, which makes it easy to wear in so many different ways and gives it longevity beyond New Year's Eve. This Alice + Olivia dress reminds me of the Lanvin runways. It's chiffon and jersey, and is the perfect combination of asymmetrical draping and a body-con fit. I love the tension between the sexiness of the fit and the softness of the detailing, and grey is such an unexpected but perfect New Year's color. This Ronny Kobo dress ties back to that Tracy Reese look, and also has a serious case of Balmania. It's definitely the trendiest way to ring in 2010--by celebrating the biggest trend of 2009. It's obviously really sexy, but it's easier to wear than a strapless dress and provides a bit more coverage, while the crystal detail provides subtle, but high-impact sheen.


ACB Suede Tassel Chain Necklace, $275 at net-a-porter.com, Tory Burch Caecey Clutch, $295 at shopbop.com, Dolce Vita Trinity Studded Suede Pumps on Hidden Platform, $215 at shopbop.com: There are a lot of jewelry options for a going out look like this, but my bet's on a statement necklace. It's the easiest thing to wear, and gives you the most bang for your buck. I'd pair this tassel necklace with all three dresses because it's a very on-trend piece with a simple silhouette. The mixture of leather and chain adds a ton of visual interest and a little bit of quirkiness. It would balance the all-out glam of the Haute Hippie dress, anchor the floating draping of the Alice + Olivia dress, and add a bit of organic earthiness to the sleek Ronny Kobo dress. I'd top it off with these shoes and clutch because both pieces are in neutral palettes and won't detract from the dresses, but the mixture of textures on the heels and the metallic leather of the clutch add so much richness to the overall look. Both pieces are very polished, but with a lot of attitude which is perfect for ringing in the New Year.


Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Oil Slick, $ at sephora.com, NARS Shadow Duo in Eurydice, $32 at sephora.com, Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips Gloss in Jessica, $18 at sephora.com: Makeup is obviously a huge part of any going out ensemble, and that's especially true New Years. This is the night you get to have fun with your makeup. I'd do a subtle, but dewy face--maybe some tinted moisturizer, a little bronzer/blush, and a lot of highlighter, and a strong brow to balance out what I'd do with the eyes. New Year's calls for a smokey eye, but not just any black/grey smokey eye. I'd brush the purple half of this NARS duo across the lid and the lower lashline, and then blend the dark grey into the crease and outer V for a smokey eye that really pops. Line the upper lashline and waterlines with Urban Decay's liner in Oil Slick, a shimmery black, for extra definition. Finish with a coat of Bare Escentual's gloss in Jessica, a coppery pale pink, on the lips for a flash of subtle shimmer that doesn't distract from the eyes.


Happy New Year's, guys! If my calculations are correct, Awkward Chic is almost a year old, so it's gonna be a very new year for us too!

Image Sources:
Lanvin: style.com, Naeem Khan: style.com, Tracy Reese: style.com, Haute Hippie dress: shopbop.com, Alice + Olivia dress: shopbop.com, Torn by Ronny Kobo dress: shopbop.com, ACB necklace: net-a-porter.com, Tory Burch clutch: shopbop.com, Dolce Vita pumps: shopbop.com, Urban Decay Liners: sephora.com, NARS shadow duo: temptalia.com, Bare Escentuals lip gloss: sephora.com .