Stateside, we all know that New Year’s Eve can be, well, rather anticlimatic. There’s the very real possibility that we may be standing for hours in a pair of heels that are gorgeous to look at, but have a life expectancy of about two cocktails. The fear of the champagne running dry always keeps us on edge, and did I mention that Uber’s prices will be surging? It’s all so predictable, it just makes you want to get out of town altogether.
But before you cancel all your plans, why not take NYE style cues from some of the chicest citizens across the world? After all, a fashion designer from Côte d’Ivoire and a stylist from Denmark have a different approach to the ball drop look, one that will surely inspire fashionable new adventures, wherever you choose to ring in 2016.
Loza Maléombho, designer, Atelier Loza Maléombho
Celebrating in: Abidjan
The Game Plan
I will be celebrating New Year’s Eve in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. I’ve been invited to a few parties so I will probably hop between my different options.
The Local Traditions
There are firework celebrations all over the city, usually near the business center, Plateau and Zone 4, where nightclubs are always full at that time of the year. Some people also retreat to lodges on the beaches of Assinie or Bassam and celebrate in families or in groups of friends around bonfires and more fireworks.
The Ensemble
I am so grateful for the year-round tropical weather that allows me to wear this outfit during the month of December! I am wearing a dress of my own design from our Spring 2016 collection. It was inspired by a Princess called Djela Lou Zaouli, she was alive in the ’30s, and belonged to the Guro tribe from the northern part of Côte d’Ivoire. Nowadays she is celebrated by her people through a mask dance performed by men intended to replicate her graceful dance moves: You can see there’s a mask peeking through the silhouette of the dress. On my feet are Jonak shoes; I like the hardness and contrast between an effortlessly cool dress and menswear-inspired shoes, I think it reflects the dualities in my personality. I recently cut my hair into this Cleopatra-style blunt bob, and I think it fits right within the contrasts of the look. Lastly, my leather bag is from the local artisans’ market.
2016 Style Resolutions
I love designing, but I tend to stay stuck on the creative side of the business and rarely take advantage of the benefits—which are to wear whatever I design. Instead, I get lazy and stick with basics. So in 2016 I will wear more of Loza Maléombho designs!
Leaf Greener, fashion stylist and creative consultant
Celebrating in: Yangon, Myanmar
The Game Plan
This year, I will be in Yangon, Myanmar, to celebrate New Year’s Eve. My friend Ivan Pun is organizing three days of festivities and celebrations in his hometown, to support the local talents in his TS1 project.
The Local Traditions
For New Year’s Eve in Shanghai, people love to go down to the Bund to have an extravagant dinner. You can get a great table by the windows of Otto e Mezzo Bombana and see the Huangpu River with the beautiful Lujiazui skyline and lights from the Oriental Pearl Tower; fireworks look amazing at midnight, reflected in the Huangpu River. I normally love to go listen to the Wiener Johann Strauss Capelle New Year concert at Shanghai Concert Hall, which is a family tradition.
The Ensemble
To wear something that is chic but also comfortable is very important for me, so I always consider the weather. I won’t ever wear something really light during a freezing winter. I mean, if I can’t enjoy my look no one else will enjoy it either! So I will be creating a very Shanghai-style look for 2016 New Year’s Eve. Inspired by the film In the Mood for Love, I will wear a custom-made cheongsam from a local boutique store called Shanghai Chic. They have the best tailors in Shanghai. Two pieces from their atelier were shown at the Met’s “China: Through the Looking Glass” exhibition this year.
2016 Style Resolution
I might try to wear more black in 2016.
Pernille Teisbaek, stylist and blogger
Celebrating in: Tulum, Mexico
The Game Plan
I always spend my NYE somewhere warm—nothing like starting the new year with a swim in the sea followed by a long nap in the sun. I will be spending New Year’s Eve in Tulum, at a place called Be Tulum. I have never been in Tulum before, but perhaps a sombrero and a tequila shot will replace my traditional NYE glitter hat and a glass of champagne.
The Ensemble
I decided to feature what I would wear for a New Year’s Eve party in Copenhagen, where I’m from. This look would totally be something I would wear to a good party: I feel comfortable and it will keep me warm in the cold weather here (the patent material is seriously warm). This dress is from Miu Miu and I think the old-fashioned ’50s shape together with the modern patent croc plastic material creates the perfect contrast. I added a pair of red tights to make the look slightly more fun, and to add a bit of color to it, which matches the color on my lips. I’m finishing off my look with my best dancing shoes from Gucci.
2016 Style Resolution
One of them is to travel more—not for work, but pure vacation.
Michelle Elie, jewelry designer of Prim by Michelle Elie
Celebrating in: Cologne, Germany
The Game Plan
We are normally in Zermatt, Switzerland, skiing for the the New Year. This year will be different; we are planning to stay home to celebrate and watch the fireworks from our terrace with lots of champagne and kisses. My husband is a huge fan of music. He always creates a playlist for the evening. We normally dance all together and celebrate until exhaustion and sleeps kicks in from staying up so late. There are rules on this day for the children: They are free to stay up but somehow they tend to sleep wherever they find a spot on the couch or on the carpet by the fire. My best friend from London will come and welcome the new year with us along with few other great friends. Everyone is allowed to stay in their PJs on New Year’s Day and not do anything but relax and eat.
The Local Traditions
I start cleaning the entire house from corner to corner to get rid of old, evil spirits and bless the house with candles and prayers. I place fresh cut flowers everywhere for the Flower God to bring good blessings; fresh fruits are stacked in the fridge, and I open every window and every door to wipe out the past year from the house. Then I prepare my traditional Haitian pumpkin soup for the next day for late breakfast or brunch. Since January 1, 1804, the Haitian culture has preserved this important tradition. Cooking and eating the soup on New Year’s Day is a way to celebrate freedom. Eating for us, in general, is really important: We will all be eating twelve fruits on New Year’s Eve and making twelve wishes for that year to celebrate the twelve months of the year. This is a tradition from my late parents, which is important for me to pass onto the children. Also, fireworks (or “feuerwerk”) on New Year’s Eve is pretty much a custom all around Europe meant to drive out evil spirits with loud noises and sparkling. This will not be missed, and we will watch it from our terrace with everyone.
The Ensemble
For New Year’s Eve, I will be wearing my favorite designer—as you might already guess, Comme des Garçons—along with Prim by Michelle Elie’s new collection for Fall 2016 and my favorite accessory designer, Prada. This is just an incredible piece to welcome in the new year. It might be tricky to cook the entire time but I think I will manage to stay pretty and chic. For New Year’s Day, I got this beautiful dress and sleeveless coat from Tome’s 2016 Resort collection, which I will combine with my No. 21 flat sandal. I love the color combination: I find them festive and positive. The best way to start year fresh and colorful.
2016 Style Resolution
A bigger fashion budget!
Cindy Ko, blogger
Celebrating in: Hong Kong
The Game Plan
I will be celebrating in Hong Kong with loved ones. There are fireworks every year! I’m not much into crowds, but I will watch it live on TV.
The Ensemble
I’m wearing a Nasty Gal dress and Chanel vintage tweed jacket. I was going for a fun look but more age appropriate, more my style with the tweed jacket. Anything metallic or shiny is always fun and is my go-to New Year’s Eve look. But of course, to make it my own I like styling it with something slightly more sophisticated. I love this combo. It’s influenced by how I want to feel that night! A lot of fun!
2016 Style Resolution
For 2016 my style resolution is to dive into the ’70s! Stay tuned!
Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjarta, writers and models
Celebrating in: Sweden
The Game Plan
We will be heading out to a house at the countryside together with our best girlfriends. There we will be driving snowmobiles, bathing in an outdoor hot tub, eating dinner, dancing, and eating ice cream in front of the fireplace.
The Local Traditions
There are a few nightclubs and restaurants in the city with New Year’s Eve celebrations, however people traditionally arrange private parties. We are bailing on all of those to have our own all-girls-escape in the mountains.
The Ensemble
We are wearing jumpsuits in black and white from H&M and a Chanel bag. We knew instantly that the jumpsuits needed to be ours—they made us feel like ’70s Bond girls. The bag is where we keep our secret spy gadgets. At first we thought about going all in on the coziness and wearing pajamas, but we also wanted to end this amazing year looking like antagonist babes from a Tarantino movie, and still be flexible enough to dance to everything from Earth, Wind & Fire to Drake’s “Hotline Bling.” This felt like all of that.
2016 Style Resolution
To be more daring, and to finally find the perfect black faux-leather one-piece.
Banan Alawneh, art director
Celebrating in: Dubai
The Game Plan
This New Year’s Eve we are planning an intimate gathering at a friend’s house which overlooks the Burj Khalifas’s stunning firework show.
The Local Traditions
In Dubai, New Year’s Eve is a big occasion, people take it very seriously and almost every venue has an event happening. There are no specific customs per se, however I try to take the most laid-back approach to the evening.
The Ensemble
I’m wearing an embroidered sleeved top and ruffle-paneled pants both by Emirati designer Madiyah Al Sharqi. The outfit is really feminine and delicate so I tried to add a tough element with this beautiful marble box clutch by Dubai-based brand L’Afshar. I wanted to create a look that was soft and serene, hence the muted color palette. It has been a chaotic year for most, and this is my way of creating the first steps to a calmer 2016.
2016 Style Resolution
To break out of my comfort zone. Fingers crossed!
Tamu McPherson, photographer
Celebrating in: St. Moritz
The Game Plan
My family and I will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with friends at El Paradiso, a mountain resort in St. Moritz. My husband usually picks up some fireworks and lights them in the garden in our building.
The Ensemble
Since we’ll be taking a snow lift up to the mountain resort, I decided to wear a Ms Min jumpsuit and printed chevron coat. I’ll layer the coat over a fur gilet. I’ll probably wear a pair of Céline sneakers because they give the look a sporty feel, and are practical considering that the ground at 2174 meters will most likely be icy; they’re also perfect for dancing.
2016 Style Resolution
Continue to have fun with my style choices.
Alisa Ueno, producer and designer of Fig & Viper
Celebrating in: Tokyo
The Game Plan
I haven’t made any plans yet, but I’ll be spending the countdown with my boyfriend and my friends. We’ll probably go to a club and head to one of our friends’ bar afterwards.
The Local Traditions
In Japan, there is a custom to spend time with all of your family and relatives on January 1. You have a traditional meal called osechi and eat ozouni (mochi in a broth). If you are a teenager or younger, you get a gift called otoshidama, a little envelope with cash inside, from the older relatives. It depends on your religion, but people go to temples and shrines to pray for a healthy and good year. I do all of the customs above on New Year’s day every year—although I’m usually hungover from partying the night before!
The Ensemble
Since it’s cold out—and as I mentioned before, since I sometimes go straight to the shrine or temple straight from the club—a warm jacket is a must. It’ll be warm indoors at the club, so I wear something light under my jacket and lately I’m into leopard prints and I wear them with black outfits. I wear a lot of sneakers—black sneakers will go with my outfit and also give me the mobility.
2016 Style Resolution
I want to wear more pink next year! I also want to get back into wearing more miniskirts.
Ruffles! The perfect solution to holiday dressing:
The post What the Most Stylish Women Across the World Are Wearing for NYE appeared first on Vogue.