Three Menswear Outfit Ideas for New Years Eve

Or any festive evening for that matter.

If you’re going to a formal event where black tie is appropriate, 100% do black tie (if you’ve got a tuxedo; if not, honestly just buy one from SuitSupply, options 1, 2, 3, and 4, or Spier & Mackay for your next party). If not, here are some ideas from my own experiences for appropriately festive outfits.

1- The white jeans look

A few years ago, we hit downtown Nashville to see a band our friends knew play. It was a cold night but not freezing so I was able to forego a coat. This is one of my go to outfit combos and it works equally well in summer or winter (forget not wearing white after Labor Day). I wore suede loafers, I believe, because it wasn’t wet, but I’d easily swap them for suede chelsea or chukka boots with dainite soles if it were.

Shop this look

Navy blazer: Spier & Mackay herringbone donegal navy blazer | SuitSupply navy wool-cashmere jacket

Navy polo: Natalino button-down polo, cutaway version

White jeans: Sid Mashburn natural denim | J. Crew 770 slim straight white jeans

Suede loafers | suede chukkas

Outerwear option: Billy Reid Astor coat in gray

2- The Tartan trouser look

Winter is the time that tartan feels most at home (although the official Tartan Day is in April), and I’m partial to Black Watch tartan as any good menswear dude is. I bought a pair of large-Black Watch flannel trousers from Land’s End several years ago, and they work masterfully with a navy jacket. Not too loud, Black Watch tartan adds some color and makes it feel festive without screaming “I AM VERY JOLLY!” That said, an exploded plaid in a slim fit is my personal preference, to help them avoid looking like pajama pants. With this much blue going on, go with a white shirt and dark tie (black grenadine ideally), and black cap toe shoes (or possibly cordovan), and you’ll look sharp, festive and warm. If you want to really look festive, go for velvet slippers.

Shop this look

Navy blazer: Spier & Mackay herringbone donegal navy blazer | SuitSupply navy wool-cashmere jacket

White spread collar shirt: Anglo-Italian | Drake’s | Kamakura

Black grenadine tie: Berg & Berg | Drake’s | Granqvist

Blackwatch tartan trousers: Brooks Brothers

Black shoes: Beckett Simonon Dean oxfords (use code MM20 for 20% off your first purchase) | Brooks Brothers option 1, option 2

Brooks Brothers Velvet slippers

Outerwear: Navy top coat: Brooks Brothers option 1, option 2 | Spier & Mackay topcoat

3- The slightly intellectual look

Tailoring might be a bit much for some parties, especially if it’s at a friend’s house or apartment and you’ll be drinking beers and playing Garage Band most of the night (wait a minute I just described my high school NYE parties at my friend’s house—minus the beer). So instead, go for one of two knitwear pieces: either a chunky shawl cardigan (preferably navy), or a turtleneck in a dark color (black or navy, though wine would work as well). If you go shawl cardigan, wear it over a white broadcloth or pinpoint shirt with a spread collar, worn open, which will help make the chunky cardigan feel less like what your grandpa would wear at home than if you paired it with an Oxford cloth button down shirt. Pair it with dark jeans and tassel loafers (cordovan would be killer, but dark brown calf works as well; heck go for black if you really like to watch the world burn).

If you go turtleneck, you could also pair it with dark denim, but also consider some flannel trousers in gray. Light gray if you want to feel classic, or dark gray if you’re feeling rakish. For shoes, go brown calf penny loafers for the light gray trousers, or black Chelsea boots if you’re going dark. I think chunky knits look better with flannel trousers than lighter, smoother knits. The latter will look better with dark denim. If you do that, my personal preference is to pair with dark brown or snuff suede, or cordovan; in either case, probably penny or tassel loafers.

Shop these looks

Shawl Collar Cardigan: Kent Wang | Drake’s in luxurious cashmere, or in lambs wool | Scott & Charters

White spread collar shirt: Anglo-Italian | Drake’s | Kamakura

Dark denim: Sid Mashburn | Gap | AE | Polo option 1, option 2

Tassel loafers: Meermin horsebit loafers, brown tassel loafers | Brooks Brothers cordovan tassel loafer, black calf version, brown calf version, second cordovan option in more sizes | Sid Mashburn black tassel loafer, Alden cordovan tassel loafer

Turtleneck: Brooks Brothers option 1, option 2 in cashmere | Spier & Mackay merino turtleneck, or cable knit one | Suitsupply merino turtleneck

Flannel trousers: Spier & Mackay light gray | Suitsupply light gray, dark gray | Drake’s charcoal trousers

Brown calf penny loafers | brown suede penny loafers | brown suede tassel loafers

Black Chelsea boots: Meermin | Beckett Simonon (MM20 for 20% off your first order)

Outerwear options

With the cardigan: Balmacaan: Corridor NYC, Spier & Mackay gray herringbone; 

With the turtleneck: Navy polo coat: Polo Ralph Lauren | Spier & Mackay

So there you have it, my three options for New Year’s Eve outfits for a stylish man. Comment below if you’ve got another idea for an outfit, or if you’ve got something already planned out to wear!

(Help support this site! If you buy stuff through my links, your clicks and purchases earn me a commission from many of the retailers I feature, and it helps me sustain this site—as well as my menswear habit ;-)  Thanks!)