Putting together a men’s New Year’s Eve outfit can be tricky. No worries. We’ll guide you through it!
I know New Year’s Eve parties can be hit or miss. When I lived in LA, pre-Uber, trying to figure out the best way to get to and from the party was a whole production.
Now I live in New York, where it’s all about strategizing. You have to figure out where the venue is, whether it is worth going there, and when and where traffic will be bad and where it will be worse.
Regardless of where you live, though, there’s just a lot of expectations. And while you can’t control how your night goes, you can control how you look.
So, in the face of unpredictability, glom on to that power. Dress your best, look your best, and have a great attitude.
Today, I’m going to help you with some New Year’s Eve outfits for men.
Dressing for New Year’s Eve: From Formal To Casual
Obviously, the biggest consideration when it comes to New Year’s Eve parties is the venue and dress code. Is it a formal black-tie event? A casual situation at a friend’s house?
Even if you’re heading to a club, lounge, or restaurant that’s usually casual or smart casual, many establishments tend to level up the dress code for New Year’s Eve. Black suit jackets tend to be popular, as do pops of silver and gold.
Let’s start with navigating formal dress codes.
Formal NYE Outfits for Men
If your party is a strict black-tie or at a banquet or a restaurant’s private room, then that’s easy. Just follow the rules. Wear a proper tuxedo (by the way, this is how you do that), a black bow tie, and polished black dress shoes.
If you don’t own a tuxedo, usually a crisp black suit will do. Just make sure to double-check with the hosts.
There are also slightly lenient formal gatherings, such as ones that sit in between formal and cocktail or semi-formals that lean more on the dressy side. With these, you’d still wear a full, proper suit or tuxedo with dress shoes. But you can have a little fun too!
Perhaps you can go for a dark burgundy suit with either oxblood or burgundy dress shoes. If you pair it with a traditional white shirt and black tie, it’ll temper the expressive color of the suit.
Plus, there’s a style secret: Dark olive and dark burgundy are pretty neutral.
Moreover, a New Year’s Eve formal is a better time to pull out these fun colors. Besides, ladies will be running around in sparkles, gold, and silver, so you’ll hardly stick out in a negative way.
Speaking of sparkle, there are fun ways for you to incorporate glitziness into a suit or tuxedo, dress code willing. The key things here are balance, confidence, going for high-quality accessories that don’t look costumey, and, of course, respect towards the hosts.
Perhaps it’s a metallic silver or gold pocket square. Maybe you go for a subtly sparkly silver tie, but balance it out with a traditional wool suit.
I have a Swarovski-and-pearl bowtie that I (mostly) only ever wear to New Year’s parties.
I balance it out with a traditional tuxedo and whole-cut Oxfords.
Casual Men’s NYE Outfits
If a friend invites you over to their house for an NYE party and tells you it’s completely casual, this doesn’t mean going in the clothes you slept in. Even if t-shirts and jeans are acceptable, you might want to just level it up with an extra layer.
What would you wear to a casual first date? Even though the vibe is relaxed, you still want to make a good visual impression on her, right?
Go for a well-fitted shirt with chinos and clean white
A handsome henley, dark wash jeans, and leather dress shoes would look great with or without a blazer. You’d be surprised how much more party-ready you’ll look when you take a regular everyday outfit and pop on some oxfords over more casual footwear.
Another thing that can level up a casual outfit? Accessories! There may not be room for a sparkly tie or a gold pocket square on a casual outfit, but a gold or silver watch is perfect. If you’re the kind of guy who loves bracelets, go for metallics over leather for a more celebratory look.
New Year’s Eve is the time to experiment with a touch of glamor.
And, of course, you can never go wrong with chinos, a button-down, and a cashmere sweater. These days, that might be considered more smart casual, but it never looks out of place in relaxed events. And that’s even if the party you’re going to is akin to a Super Bowl party. It’s minimal practical, and there’s nothing on you that you don’t need.
Men’s New Year’s Eve Outfits: Grey Area Dress Codes
When in doubt, just go smart casual. Fortunately, we’ve laid out everything you need to know about dressing smart casual right here.
If it was the kind of event that calls for a more business casual situation, you’d likely know about it. It would be on the invite, or your host would tell you. Business casual has a lot of the same silhouettes as smart casual, but the latter utilizes more practical, comfortable pieces.
Still, you’d opt for dark jeans over light ones, minimal
I think the turtleneck is a cheat code for grey area dress codes. It adds structure around your neck, similar to a collar and tie, but is still relaxed-looking.
It brings a dapperness to jeans and
FAQs
Still have some questions about New Year’s Eve attire for men? I’ve got answers!
What do guys wear for New Year’s Eve?
It depends on the dress code. Formal events call for dark suits, black ties, or tuxedos.
For casual parties, level up your everyday outfits with refined layers and accessories, like a cashmere sweater, dress shoes, a gold watch, or a blazer, to be more party-ready.
What not to wear to a New Year’s Eve party?
Again, it depends on the dress code. But you likely won’t wear athleisure or super casual oversized clothes that you walk around the house in when you’re alone.
What do people wear on New Year’s Eve?
New Year’s Eve is often formal or smart casual. This means men can wear suits or simply sport clean lines, while women either wear long or short dresses.
Conclusion: Ring in the New Year in Style
Overall, I think New Year’s Eve parties are a time to do something a little different, even if it’s small. Prior mentioned examples include going for a funner suit color (that’s still appropriate, of course) or incorporating some shiny accessories.
At the end of the day, you really just need to follow the dress code, though. But why not have a little fun?
Do you usually attend more casual or more formal New Year’s Eve parties? Do you have a go-to style for them? Let us know in the comments!
Ask Me Anything