New Year's party dress for the office, club or gala

The right New Year’s party dress depends on the invitation, so we’ve sorted ours by the kind of night you’re heading to. Most are velvet, some are lurex knit, and a few are warm angora. Nearly all of them cover your arms, which you’ll appreciate in a December wind.

Office party, family dinner or a club after midnight

A work celebration often starts right after the last meeting. Our black turtleneck mini covers the neck and arms and shows only your legs, so it goes from your desk to the toast with a quick shoe change. The red version with the same high collar is bolder. Tall boots that climb past the knee leave only a few inches of skin showing.

Dinner with your parents calls for something you can sit in for hours. The purple lurex midi is a stretchy knit, so it feels just as easy at the table as on the dance floor afterward. Want color but more warmth? The red angora mini has ruffles at the hem and long soft sleeves. You won’t need a sweater over it.

Clubs are easier in a short green lurex mini with a V-neck. Because its sleeves stop short of the wrist, rings and a bracelet get their moment. Is anyone really going to stand still all night? Probably not, and a fitted knit moves with you.

Dancing, a gala or a hotel ballroom

For dancing we’d pick a skirt that swings. The emerald velvet with a half-circle skirt flares on every turn and stops at the knee, and our white velvet midi has pleats that move with each step. Mid-height heels will get you through the whole night in either one.

A formal ball wants length. We sew a navy velvet mermaid gown, close-fitting down to the knee and flaring out from there, plus a floor-length gold velvet with one long sleeve and a slit on the leg. Wear real heels under both, so the hem stays off the floor.

These are cold-season dresses, so plan your fitting a few weeks before December. Sizes go from XS to XL. For pure shimmer, see our sparkliest picks, or try dresses for the midnight countdown and other holiday party styles.

Frequently asked questions

Which new years party dress is easiest to dance in?

Anything with a flared or pleated skirt. Stretchy lurex knit works too.

Velvet or lurex for a work party?

Velvet looks quieter. Lurex is for the office that really celebrates.

What should I wear over a floor-length gown?

Something cropped, like a little faux fur, so the long skirt isn’t bunched under a coat all the way to the door.

Fitted velvet makes me nervous about sizing. Any advice?

Go by your bust and hip measurements, not the label on your last dress. If you’re between sizes on a close-fitting style, our manager can help you decide from your numbers.