I have always counted New Year's Eve as one of my favorite holidays. It's an excuse to wear something sparkly and drink champagne with my friends and family as we bid old Father Time adieu.  Other times I've swapped the sparkle for my Bean boots for bonfires up in the hills.

However, my usual New Year's outfit consists of pajamas because typically I'm sick. My family likes to make the joke that it's tradition for me to be sick between Christmas and New Year's.  This year I've had to deal with complications from the flu (don't put off getting a flu shot!) so my plans are to just have a quiet evening in.  If I'm lucky, I'll be awake to see the ball drop in Time's Square.  For those of you heading out for the night, here are some last-minute suggestions:

[ 1. ] Land's End //  A pretty, easy-to-wear casual dress for a casual evening.  I like that the colors in the dress allow it to be worn in all but the hottest weather. Please excuse the horrible picture, I was trying something new in Photoshop and it didn't quite go as expected.

[ 2. ] Nordstrom //  You're going to be invited to Gatsby parties for years following this year's movie adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel.  This feather detail and scalloped hem actually make this dress somewhat historically accurate. This is the best flapper dress I've seen and it would work well as a cocktail dress.

[ 3. ] Nordstrom // For those needing something formal, this cobalt dress is a stunner.

[ 4. ] Macy's //  This is another cocktail dress that can be worn any time of the year and is an excellent choice to have in your wardrobe. This will pair with almost any accessory and your friends will constantly ask to borrow it.

[ 5. ] JC Penney //  If you're lucky enough to be on the beach or somewhere else very warm, grab this dress. You can wear it over a swimsuit or if you don't want to sweat to death in the heat. Pair with flat sandals and a simple clutch for the best look.

Needing makeup and hair ideas? Lauren Conrad (yes, she of The Hills fame) has an excellent site called The Beauty Department which has amazing step-by-step instructions complete with pictures. While aimed at twenty-somethings I think many of the ideas would work well on all ages. 


Howling at the moon with friends or tucked away in bed when the clock strikes midnight?
Let me know in the comments. --Kiki