What are ya doin' New Year's Eve?

the Halloween of December

I planned out my outfit down to the shoes for a holiday party this past weekend, but unfortunately was not informed that this was a "shoes-off" party until I arrived. Going barefoot in someone else's apartment in December (the cracked heels! the pedicure from September!) while everyone else around you is comfortably ensconced in a pair of wool socks is a particular form of torture. Having to meet someone for the first time—barefoot? Horrible. Anyway, I've learned my lesson: wear the socks!

This is what I wore—I would add red socks if I could redo it.

^^my new-to-me silk bomber jacket with a red silk pajama top (part of a set from a brand I have seen listed variously as “Sleeper,” “Daily Sleeper,” and “F.R.S. For Restless Sleepers,” acquired on Poshmark) and thin wool pants with a drawstring waist (Monse, currently rented.)

There are two types of New Year’s Eve looks I'm interested in this year: a casual, potentially shoes-off affair (at your place or someone else's) and a Going Out Look. Both looks incorporate some element of pajamas. Basically, you should feel as comfortable and simultaneously luxurious as possible.

Look #1
This is essentially what I wore to that party: a pair of slouchy wool trousers, flats or very low heels, a cropped silk pajama shirt, and a silk bomber jacket—with the addition of colorful socks! Though the bomber jacket I wore was just solid black, when I was looking for more options I stumbled upon all of these beautiful embroidered silk Opening Ceremony reversible bombers and now cannot imagine this look without one.

Here are some variations on this look with the Opening Ceremony jackets—all sources listed below! Everything (other than the pajama sets) is under $100, but there are many more of those specific bomber jackets above that price point, too. And remember—the prices are just a suggestion! It doesn’t hurt to make an offer!

SLEEPER SILK PAJAMA SETS
Poshmark:
black, size XS, $22 *just the shorts
light blue, M, $130
light pink, L, $135
yellow, XL, $125

Mercari
navy blue, size M, $108
light blue, unsized, $83
black, size L, $85
pink, size M, $60 *just the top

eBay
light blue, size M, $90
light pink, size L, $156 (yikes!)

The RealReal
white, size S, $64 *just the top
light blue, Size XS, $29 *just the top

BOMBER JACKETS
pink/purple, size L, 100
black/white, size XS, $65
red, size S, $85
red, size S, $100
pink and blue S, $92
pink and navy, M, $58
black floral, S, $75
black floral, M, $80

THE SHOES
Any flat or chunky low-heeled sandal or pump will work here—I just picked some Maryam Nassir Zadeh ones on Poshmark that seemed particularly fun and had some elements that I think would work well with socks (clear plastic straps, patent leather, etc.)
purple/clear with red sparkles, size 10, $75
red suede ankle-strap, size 10, $80
transparent/tortoise, size 6.5, $85
sparkle slides, size 7.5, $95
gold slides, $7, $90

TROUSERS

wool pinstripe trousers, 28” waist, $26
Wool pinstripe trousers, 30” waist, $52
brown wool pinstripe trousers, 25” waist, $24
black wool pinstripe trousers, 26” waist, $45
charcoal wool pinstripe trousers, 30” waist, $19
navy wool pinstripe trousers, 32.5” waist, $20

Look #2

New Year's Eve feels like Halloween to me, in that it is completely permissible to wear something costume-adjacent. This second look is an outfit that embodies that belief. You'll need a fur coat (faux! or vintage real!), some silk boxer shorts (the bottom half of that matching set that you've already made an offer on, perhaps?), an old band tee (bonus if it’s from a concert you attended), black tights, and cowboy boots—very into silver ones right now. Basically, whatever you wear should allow you to fall asleep comfortably (minus the boots) if necessary. Why silver boots? I can’t stop thinking about these Ganni ones (sold out) and these COS ones (mostly sold out).

(The silk boxer shorts you can find in the sets listed above!)

SILVER COWBOY BOOTS**
vintage Wranglers, men’s 8.5, $70 (and what I believe is the same pair but $50 on a different site)
vintage Laredo boots, women’s 7, $105
**it seems very hard to find under $100 secondhand real leather boots but there are many more out there above that price point!

VINTAGE FUR COATS
cream faux fur coat, UK 10, $74
faux fur coat, size M, $88
faux fur coat, size 12, $74
faux fur jacket, size S, $79
faux fur coat, size S/M, $60

BAND TEES
vintage black Dolly Parton t-shirt, XL, $35
vintage red Dollywood t-shirt, L, $15
vintage blue Dolly Parton short-sleeved sweatshirt, XL, $47

Send me your lewks from NYEs past and ideas for this year!

<3 E