When it comes to New Year’s Eve, every girl wants to look fabulous. To feel fabulous. To BE fabulous.
And the first step to achieving any of the above is to wear a freakin’ fabulous dress.
Last year, and the year before … and probably every year I’ve been able to party for NYE, I went the usual route to achieving that fabulosity. I went to my local H&M/cheap party store and picked myself up a party frock. I didn’t even CONSIDER looking in my closet at the [many] dresses I already owned, and instead of buying a cheap substitute for the night, could rather reinvent into that fabulous edge I wanted for the few hours of party-happy limbo from one year to the next.
In all honestly, when I started thinking about my NYE ‘09 outfit, the first thing that came to mind was: “Shit, I can’t buy a new dress, because I have no money AKA I’m unemployed.”
But then I thought again. And I realized that NO! I have two fabulous dresses recently acquired over the course of two weddings – my cousin Mary’s in August, and my stepmother Jes’ in May.
Bridesmaid dress? For NYE?
I know what you’re thinking. Ugh. That’s gross. Who would wear a bridesmaid dress out on NYE?
But seriously, let’s think about how and when you’re [not] rocking a bridesmaid dress. You’re in a conservative environment where style is first dictated by the family affair nature of the event, but also mostly dictated by the likes and dislikes of the bride.
What does all of that mean, exactly? You wear the bridesmaid dress in every other way than the way you’d like the best.
So, for NYE, I chose to wear my bridesmaid dress from my father and stepmother’s wedding the way I wanted to rock it. For NYE. Not for a country club wedding in May.
Last night was December 31st, 2009 in NEW YORK CITY. And I was going to wear that dress however the heck I wanted.
THE BRIDESMAID DRESS: First worn at my father and stepmother’s wedding in Lancaster, PA at Lancaster Country Club in May 2009. We’re shown here posing for pictures on the golf course.
THE BRIDESMAID DRESS, REMIXED, NEW YEAR’S EVE ‘09
For NYE, I had dinner at my running/eating/holistic life partner Rachel Mount’s apartment. She prepared this DELICIOUS meal of kale/seaweed/tofu/sobe noodles for me. Amazing. Check out our new blog to learn more about my running/eating/attempts to balance my life muses and stories.
Anyway … onto the outfit!
THE DRESS: Remixed bridesmaid dress
THE HEAD PIECE: See picture below. Remember when I turned this plain Jane headband into something with its own unique energy by wrapping a headscarf in tight loops around and around? Well if you forget, you can remember by clicking here
THE PEARLS: Vintage costume jewelry, my Great Aunt’s collection
THE NECKLACE: [you can hardly see it - hidden below the pearls] Gifted/consignment
THE TIGHTS: New fishnets, compliments of Mama D’s Christmas presents
THE SHOES: I received TWO more compliments last night for these gifted/consignment Jessica Simpson boots from Sabrina at anewmode.com. It pays to raid the closets of your fashionable friends.
The headband in its old days, sans vintage bow.
WHAT I DID: Used a safety pin to attach a vintage bow onto the cloth of the head band. The bow was originally fastened to a hat that unfortunately was damaged in a rained-upon Brooklyn Flea sale.
But all was not lost — I salvaged the piece and made it into something wearable and memorable.
These pearls, when unfastened as a necklace, stand at about 5 feet tall. That’s approximately the height of the average woman.
So, how do you play with the height of the average woman in pearls, exactly?
Maybe above inspires you — under the armpit, looped behind and over my shoulder. Both sides. Voila. Looks like bondage? Whatever. I like it.
FULL DISCLAIMER: I drank champagne before the clock struck midnight.
Diana Vilibert [my left] and Olga Povarchuk [my right]. Diana and Yelena [not shown] hosted the NYE get together.
They called it a “Russian Christmas,” since both fine ladies have Russian ancestry and if I’m not mistaken, speak to certain members of their family in Russian. Thirteen days after what we know as Christmas on December 25th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas. So, for last night’s NYE, the lovely ladies with Russian roots hosted a Russian Christmas. Because it’s all about the holiday love in Russia.
I LOVE that. I wish I weren’t just a white girl with pitiful Welsh and English ancestry. I guess that’s why I like to dress up — it’s like pretending I’m of a different breed everyday. Wait, did I just call myself a dog? Oops.
What did you think of my NYE outfit?
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Tags: breezeway beauty, bridesmaid, bridesmaid dress, dress, new years eve, sustainable fashion, wedding
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[...] Bridesmaid dress flashback: At my Dad’s wedding, May 2009. See how I re-wore this dress for New Year’s Eve here. [...]