THEY say that the way you spend New Year's Eve is indicative of how you'll spend the rest of your year. If that theory stretches to our sartorial choices, then most of us are in trouble.
With the weather almost guaranteed to fall somewhere between unpleasant and hideous come tonight, anyone venturing outdoors tends to, understandably, opt for Michelin Man-style attire. But with the night also host to some of the most glamorous partie
s of the season, Hogmanay is one of the most difficult nights of the year to dress for.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations start at 9pm this year and go on well into the wee hours, with revellers expecting to dance around to Groove Armada and Paolo Nutini among others. It's not exactly stiletto territory but, ladies and gents, this is still a party and as such you're expected to make a bit of an effort to look good.
Celebrations go on for hours and can incorporate everything from the street party to a cocktail party. So, how to glide effortlessly between the two via drinks with friends, a sit-down meal, a ceilidh and any other spontaneous gaieties that you might happen upon? How to contend with cobbles, ropey weather and the prospect that someone might just vomit on your shoes?
The temptation to don a sleeping bag and snowshoes before heading out into the elements can be strong. But looking like that you're probably not going to pull – and it's certainly not the only option. I headed along to John Lewis for a consultation with their personal shopper, Lorraine Majdi, presenting her with my conundrum: how do I stay warm yet stylish on Hogmanay and move with ease from dinner with friends to the street party, then drinks in the wee hours, while adhering to the varying dress codes?
This presents less of a challenge for Lorraine than I had first thought: before long, she's layering me up. Layers, she explains are key to pulling off this look. She dresses me in a roomy coat with space underneath for extra knits and suggests a cosy but chic poloneck.
"Bright colours are great for Hogmanay," she explains as she buttons up my royal purple coat. "It means that your friends can see you in the crowd. And you don't need to be afraid of heels. Either take a spare pair of flats in your bag or go for a pair of shoes with a chunky heel and a platform: they're much more comfortable for walking and standing around, yet smart at the same time."
Despite my aversion to diamanté, Lorraine persuades me that it's a great way to dress up relatively practical pieces. She suggests a pair of smart jeans with diamanté detailing on the pockets and a silver-grey poloneck with diamanté buttons. She finishes the look off with suede fuchsia gloves, a glittery scarf and that all-important pair of earmuffs: warm and practical, but there's no danger of them causing the dreaded "hat hair".
So, to summarise. Layering good; chunky knits bad. Go with colour, add a touch of sparkle, and under no circumstances compromise your hairstyle. Keep footwear smart but practical and, if you can't face wearing heels all night, keep a pair in your bag to change into before a party. To that I would add one suggestion of my own: make sure your lower half is easily accessible. No, not for that reason; rather you'll be knocking back the drinks and there's nothing worse than wrestling with layers of tights, zips and thermals in order to go to the loo.
And so to the chaps. Yes, you're expected to make an effort too. Walking boots may be perfect for tackling the soggy cobbles, and a bobble hat will keep the cold at bay, but that's just not going to cut it at the after-party.
On to our lovely assistant Paul Moore, a menswear partner at John Lewis, who faces a similar New Year conundrum. To his rescue comes Ricky Scott, who offers a personal shopping service to John Lewis's male customers. Ricky is just as enthusiastic about layering as Lorraine. "Chunky knits are a no-no," he explains. "You'll be too hot indoors, so it's better to go for layers of fine knits that you can take off. Go with colour – purple is really big this season, and very festive. The most important thing is that you nail your coat – smart, warm and good-quality. If you do that, everything else will fall into place."
For men, practical shoes are a must. Trainers or flimsy footwear will let the water in and leave your toes cold, so Ricky dresses Paul in a very warm and sturdy pair of Timberland boots, which don't look at all out of place with his smart cashmere overcoat. So, we're both ready to face the elements come Hogmanay, missing that one essential that can always be donned at the last minute: the beer jacket.
TOP TIPSStill looking for some sartorial inspiration for Hogmanay? Here's what to buy and where to get your hands on it:
WOMENWith the trend for high-waisted jeans pretty much over, the dreaded muffin top is back. Among the many hazards of low-rise jeans, none is more unpleasant than the chilly midriff. No matter how tightly wrapped up you are, you only have to spend five minutes outside to find your top riding up, exposing a strip of lower torso to the elements. The solution is that 1980s staple, the bodysuit. TopShop has a great selection of bodysuits (albeit for the young and brave) that are style statements in themselves – if you're feeling bold, go for a one-shouldered metallic number under your layers of knits, perfect for when you want to peel off in a sweaty nightclub after the bells. For more casual offerings, head to American Apparel but, be warned – they don't come with poppers at the crotch, which could make for a few tipsy accidents…
That other 1980s favourite, the legging, is a great option for Hogmanay. Because they sit next to the skin they're cosy and comfortable worn under jeans while you're outdoors and, later in the evening, you can wear them with a chic tunic or dress over the top. H&M do cheaper options, but head to Harvey Nichols for Sass & Bide's ruched black leggings (and don't let the fact that Russell Brand owns a pair of these put you off).
MENIt sounds simple, but don't try and brave Hogmanay without a pair of gloves. So many of you do it, yet it seems torturous. Knitted gloves can actually be quite impractical, particularly if it's a wet or snowy night – they end up getting soggy and the wind can whistle through them. Leather gloves are much smarter, but to keep your fingers really cosy go for a lined pair. If you're feeling flush, head to Mulberry for brown leather wool-lined ones, otherwise Jenners has a wide selection in its accessories department.
We're assuming you'll be sensible enough to don a hat for the outdoors events, but a surprisingly small number of men actually think to take a scarf out with them. Entirely practical, it's also a great way of bringing a bit of colour to an otherwise pragmatic ensemble. Try Reiss for smart options and finer knits, or Urban Outfitters if you're looking for something chunkier that's a bit more "down with the kids".
The full article contains 1250 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
