By: Bonnie Dickson

Can’t believe that it is already New Year’s Eve? You’re not alone. What’s more, if you’re anything like me, in addition to scrambling to finalize your plans for the evening, you are probably wondering what on earth you are going to wear for the sparkliest night of the year. Here are a few tips to looking fabulous for the big night without spending wads of cash or time today.

Threads: First and foremost, choose your outfit. If you don’t have an outfit picked out yet, stay simple and stock to what you know will flatter your figure. Think of your outfit as a blank canvas, and use accessories to paint your picture. This year, textured fabrics and sleek and sophisticated jumpsuits are in style, as are fitted skinny jeans paired with a tailored blazer or elegant draped blouse. Black, grey, and blue are all good colors for New Year’s Eve, and a little black dress (LBD) is always a safe bet when you have nothing else to wear. While sparkles and sequence are not completely out of the question, entire sequin outfits are a bit overdone. Word of warning: Avoid busy patterns, bright colors, and too-tight dresses.

Polish: If you can spare a few extra dollars and an hour of your time today, spend it on a manicure and pedicure. If you’re strapped for cash, skip the pedi and opt for closed-toed shoes tonight. However, DO do yourself a favor and go for the mani. Why? A little self-grooming goes a long way for dressy events, and everyone will notice your primed and polished fingers. A manicure is also a great way to add a pop of color and sparkle to an outfit. Word of warning: If you’re doing your own nails, stick with a neutral, pale shade to hide any imperfections and avoid a self-mani mess.

Accessorize: Accessories can make or break your outfit. If your outfit has lots of texture and design to it, let the outfit speak for itself and accessorize simply. Remember, less is more. Pair a striking dress with studs such as pearls or diamonds and a simple ring or bracelet. Have a plain dress with an exposed neckline? Opt for a statement necklace or long, glitzy earrings to bring attention to the face and neckline. Another accessory that you want to consider tonight – a warm coat. Word of warning: Avoid jewelry that looks cheap or gaudy and never wear a large necklace and large earrings together. When in doubt, lose the extra bracelet, ring or necklace that you’re tempted to add.

Hair and Makeup: As with accessories, less is more. Updo’s are great for classy events, and are easy to maintain throughout the night. If you are wearing your hair down, be sure to use plenty of bobby pins and hairspray to keep locks in place and prevent over-touching through the night.  When applying lipstick, use a liner and add loose face powder in between applying lipstick layers to hold color in place. This trick will keep your color in place for hours and keep you from re-applying every 15 minutes. Word of warning: Just in case mama never told you, pin bobby pins ridged-side down to properly secure hair. Also be sure to blot your lipstick to prevent it from ending up on your teeth.

Purse: Bring a small purse or clutch that you can easily carry all night and that can comfortably fit everything that you need throughout the time. I prefer purses with a chain that can rest over your torso so you don’t have to worry about holding on to your clutch and champagne all at once. Always leave room for emergency items in your clutch. My suggestions: extra bobby pins, a hair-tie, extra powder for touch-ups,  band-aids and/or moleskin, a travel-size baby powder (works wonders when the dance floor gets too hot to handle!), and lipstick or gloss.

So there you have it ladies. Go forth, have fun, and be fabulous. For more on San Diego’s biggest New Year’s Eve event this year, check out our event page or click here.

Happy New Year!