Here’s why you shouldn’t feel compelled to dress up for New Year’s Eve

Patterns of consumerism and capitalism are forcing you to buy that new party outfit which you actually don’t need

Having spent most of the last two years indoors, it’s only fair that you would look forward to bringing in the new year. On the surface, a New Year’s Eve celebration sounds exciting—think shiny outfits, lively parties, free-flowing alcohol and the hope of having a good new year. But here’s an unpopular opinion: New Year’s Eve is one of the most overrated ‘holidays’ of the year. Not only is every place overpriced and overcrowded, but there is also an unwritten norm to look good and dress up in some bling, body-fitting, more-often-than-not black outfit that you’d probably be uncomfortable in the whole night, especially if you’re a few drinks down and dancing in high heels. 

Instead of following the unsaid—and even slightly misogynist—rule of having to look glamorous on New Year’s Eve, why not try a different approach of dressing down in order to feel comfortable in your own skin without indulging in an extreme form of consumerism?

The lure of capitalism

While holiday-shopping is one of the most awaited times of the year for some people, thanks to multiple deals and discounts offered by brands and online platforms, the signs of impending inflation haven't stopped consumers from spending. “With constant over-consumption and over-consumerism, what is fuelling the pressure to purchase is the fact that most brands are running sales right now,” says Dhwani Kathotia, content creator and founder of Distil, a marketing agency, promoting the ideas of sustainability and slow fashion through her Instagram account @mylittlecupboard. “It’s tough to avoid these tempting offers as marketeers do a really good job to make them sound exciting, which, in turn, makes you shop more,” she adds.

Being a mindful shopper is one way to curtail your impulsive one-time-wear shopping urges. The pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns over the last two years have facilitated a level of introspection among people, allowing them to reframe their priorities and intent when it came to shopping. “There has been a huge shift in styling; it’s gotten more classic and that reduces the need to wear something new for every special occasion,” says Deepshikha Khanna, creative director of ‘Flow,’ Good Earth’s contemporary line of ready-to-wear separates. Many people are increasingly inclined towards redoing their homes, which not only dictates how they are spending their money, but also their time. “More and more people are shifting towards entertaining their friends or loved ones at home and that calls for a more relaxed style, compared to one that is otherwise required for a big year-end bash,” says Khanna, whose collection for ‘Flow’ focuses on pieces that are loose and comfortable while being chic and ideal to lounge around in during a get-together or at a house party.

No shame in re-wearing

While Christmas and New Year’s Eve are occasions when people look forward to spending time with their loved ones, it’s understandable to want to make memories by wearing something that is new. But according to Mariya Khanji—founder of Nete, an online retail platform that houses sustainable clothing and accessories by homegrown designers—you can do so by being more conscious of the ways to make the most out of any new purchase. “If you feel the pressure or the urge to buy something new, I’d recommend cleaning out your closet. Look for old gems that haven’t been worn but are too precious to be passed along. If they are vintage pieces or not quite in style, get creative by layering them with complementary colours. There’s so much you can explore by just styling clothes differently,” she says.

Refraining from repeating the same outfit, especially for a New Year’s party, is something that most people subconsciously practise. After all, you don’t want to be clicked wearing the same black dress that you wore last year, right? But according to Kathotia, this is one of the most juvenile and toxic ideas we’ve been made to believe through clever marketing. “There’s a lot of unlearning to be done with people around us being more confident in what we are and what we own. We’ve been made to believe that you need to have something new all the time because people are launching new things and you see everyone, especially on Instagram, wear new things. It has created this mindset that if you’re going out and it’s a special occasion, then you can’t be seen in something that you’ve already worn before,” she says. 

On her part, though, Kathotia swears by the concept of a capsule wardrobe, which she documents on her Instagram. She encourages her followers to edit their wardrobe down to 25 of their favourite pieces and wear them for 60 days straight, on rotation. “If more people start repeating outfits then it would be nice to see people make the best use of what they own rather than always getting something new for different occasions,” she adds. Her thumb rule is to ask a few basic questions before clicking on the ‘buy now’ icon on your screen. “If you are purchasing something, then it’s important to think whether you’re buying it just for one party or it can be worn for other occasions later? Can you see yourself wearing it through the next few years? Can you style it in different ways? I think if these sorts of questions are thought about then whatever you buy would definitely be more of a mindful purchase. Even if you’re getting something new, you’re planning to make the best use in the long run.”

Khanji, too, is an advocate of shopping from your own closet before looking up any store or website. “Jump into your closet, look for old-but-gold pieces, something that’s comforting but not lazy. Mix it up with some accessories;  you can always do this by borrowing pieces from your partner, siblings or even parents,” she says. 

Whether you plan to bring in the new year by partying with a vengeance or by having  a few friends over at home, it’s time to re-evaluate your idea of ‘dressing up’ and how you shop, while being mindful of your already stocked-up closet.

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