How to celebrate – and what to wear – for a New Year’s Eve like no other

“I’m still not 100 percent sure what’s on the program this New Year’s Eve, but I’m hoping to gather all my family together and prepare a delicious meal for everyone. I love to host, but I keep it simple; I can make dinner for 20 in five minutes if I have to – I don’t like spending hours in the kitchen. Of course, there will be music. For me, music is key – it inspires my designs and my food. I like to dance while I cook – I might even get my disco ball out! Dressing up should always be perceived as a joy; women need to wear clothes that make them feel confident. I have always designed real clothes for real life. The key to getting party dressing right in 2020 is to mix and match dressy and casual pieces. Day to day, I have a ‘uniform’ of gray jeans, a comfy sweater and an oversized jacket; but for a party, I can easily switch a pair of boots for high heels and add a sparkly top – then I’m ready to go!”

“This year, I’ll be spending New Year’s Eve at home with my family in Turin, Italy. There are usually fireworks right on the piazza where we live, so the mood is very festive. Fingers crossed the tradition will be able to continue this year. I’m still hoping some of our relatives can come and join us, but if not, we will have a Zoom countdown with them. The secret to being a perfect host is to make your guests feel comfortable, so the more relaxed you are, the better. I usually invite my guests to help out in the kitchen, as it’s fun and social; in exchange, they get more champagne. Some signature dishes from my party repertoire are steamed lobster with sorrel and Jura wine butter sauce, chou farçi [cabbage roll] (one of my favorite recipes from my first cookbook, A Kitchen in France) and, for dessert, chocolate-swirl meringues with tons of whipped cream – it’s always a winner! This year, I’m thinking of a long sequined gown, for a look inspired by Italian-French singer Dalida.”

“After a year filled with so much darkness, I’m looking forward to spending New Year’s Eve somewhere warm with a girlfriend and our dogs; there’s nothing better than waking up by the ocean on New Year’s Day. When it comes to parties, I prefer to be a guest so I can turn up, enjoy myself and then hurry back home to my couch and dog. I’m basically half homebody, half outdoors enthusiast, so not really one for socializing – but then again, I got my fill early on! When I do host, my party signatures are oysters and tequila on the rocks with lime juice. On the playlist I’ll have Adieu au Dancefloor by Marie Davidson, Practice by DaBaby and Be a Rebel by New Order, among many others. I love dressing up. I’m a big fan of colorful dresses, braids and beautiful antique earrings. I guess I’m a bit of a Frida Kahlo imposter. This New Year’s Eve, I’ll be pairing a floor-length vintage chiffon skirt by Valentino with the white silk ‘June’ top from my capsule collection with Anine Bing. I’ll have lots of flowers in my hair, bright red lips, gold hoop earrings and a small vintage mother-of-pearl bag shaped like a seashell, all finished with flat sandals with colorful pom-poms and ribbons that tie up my legs. The secret to getting party style right this year is to go crazy with it – it’s all or nothing these days. Oh, and make sure your mask mismatches perfectly.”

“I’ll be spending the holidays in the South of France at my boyfriend’s family home. It will be two weeks of hibernating – in a different setting – enjoying spending time with our new baby and celebrating his first Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It will all be very quiet – totally different to the past few years, where my plans were all centered around partying and clubbing. When I’m in my own home, I love to host. The kitchen island is the center of the house, so food prep becomes a group activity. It’s just as much a part of the experience as the eating is! However, when we are at my boyfriend’s family home, I leave them to it – I can’t compete with traditional French cooking! Of course, even if this New Year’s Eve is a family affair, I’ll still be dressing up. Two things that make me feel instantly polished are lipstick and earrings, which is why I splurged on a new pair recently. This year I’ll be wearing Anne Manns jewelry to accent a clean-cut Jil Sander look, and a Kassl Editions coat on the rare occasion that I leave the house. Mostly, I’m just excited to be spending some time away from my own home so that I can appreciate it again when I return.”

“I had hoped to throw a dinner party to celebrate this New Year’s Eve; however, having just moved to Paris, and with most of my family and friends back in Finland, we’ll have to get creative with video calls instead. For the most part, I prefer to attend parties as opposed to host, but my number-one rule is never show up empty-handed. Getting dressed up makes me feel hopeful. I think it’s important to hold on to the things that bring you joy, especially in times like these. Of course, this New Year’s Eve the celebrations will have to be more low key, and so my party style has followed suit. I have something chic and backless in mind, but I’ve also come up with ways to elevate pieces, like a basic turtleneck with a satin skirt and layering slip dresses over pants. But the secret to getting it right is to start with the shoes. Choose a pair that won’t kill your feet after a couple of hours and the rest will be easy.”

“I think I’m just going to play this New Year’s Eve by ear. I usually head to bed before the countdown anyway; I like to sit with a glass of wine, get out my journal and set my goals for the next year. It might sound strange, but I prefer not to wake up with a hangover. Dressing up does everything for my mood; it brings me confidence and joy and the sense that anything is possible. I love wearing big dresses, bright colors and lots of jewelry. Nowadays, when we can’t really go out and show ourselves off, dressing up reminds me of when I was a kid and would try on my mom’s clothes. It was so fun, and I felt so stylish – I did it just for me. This New Year’s Eve, comfort is my main priority. I’m going to light some candles, take a long hot bath and watch a good movie. I have some very comfortable loungewear lined up for the evening, and the only accessory I’ll be needing is my teacup. In 2020, I think it’s OK not to have huge expectations for New Year’s Eve. If you can see people in your social pod or over Zoom, then make it happen. But if you don’t have the energy right now, that’s OK, too. My top tip is to go easy on yourself.”