Wear the shoe the plan calls for. A black tie gala wants the black velvet Belgian, a countdown party wants the burgundy tassel loafer, a long dinner wants the red velvet Wellington, and a house party wants a suede Belgian. The shoe must feel good at midnight, because the night is long and the floor is yours until the countdown.
New Year's Eve is the one night of the year when every plan is a different dress code. Perfect Corp's New Year's Eve guide sorts the night into seven plans, from a countdown party to a black tie gala, and the men's section reads like a dare. A velvet blazer for the dressier party, Chelsea boots for the countdown, patent shoes for black tie. Moss's festive partywear range, published November 4, runs 144 pieces with velvet featuring heavily and a tuxedo headlining. The shops have made their bet. Velvet owns the night.
The guides get the clothes right and leave the shoes to chance. That is the gap this piece closes, one plan at a time, with the shoe for each.
What shoes do you wear to a black tie New Year's Eve gala
A gala is the most formal room of the night, and the shoe should know it. Black velvet is the answer, on a Belgian slipper, with tassels. The velvet drinks the ballroom light instead of throwing it back, which is exactly what black tie wants after midnight. Patent has its place, and the black velvet tuxedo piece on this blog makes the case for it, but velvet is the warmer choice when the room is full of sequins and satin.
The pick is the Belgian Slipper in black velvet, $325, built in the Design Studio with black tassels. It is the same shoe the atelier recommends for a black velvet dinner jacket, and the gala is where it earns its keep. The black velvet tuxedo piece argues the same shoe for the same reason, and the gala only raises the stakes.
What shoes do you wear to a New Year's Eve countdown party
The countdown party is the loudest plan of the night, and the shoe can afford to be the loudest too. This is where the burgundy tassel loafer earns its place, polished box calf in a jewel tone that reads festive without a single sequin. The photo at the top of this piece is the look. Dark velvet blazer, dark trousers, burgundy loafers, both feet on a dance floor that will see midnight.
Burgundy is the color the season keeps returning to, and the loafer is the shape that survives hours of standing. A slip-on means no laces to think about at 11:58, and a low heel means the countdown finds you upright. The tassels do the talking, they say you dressed for the party, not the coat check.
What shoes do you wear to a New Year's Eve dinner
Dinner is the slow plan. Two or three hours at the table, candlelight, a menu worth sitting still for. The shoe should be comfortable seated and handsome standing, which is the Wellington's whole argument. Red velvet is the festive note, and it works because the rest of the outfit stays dark.
The pick is the Wellington in red velvet, $325, built in the Design Studio with dark brown tassels. The red is deep enough for a candlelit room, and the dark brown tassels keep it from tipping into costume. Wear it with a dark suit and a white shirt, and let the shoe carry the celebration.
What shoes do you wear to a New Year's Eve house party
The house party is the relaxed plan, and the shoe should relax with it. A suede Belgian is the answer, navy or brown, with a bow. Suede reads softer than velvet under living room light, and the Belgian slips off at the door and back on for the countdown without a second thought.
Keep the rest simple. Dark jeans or dark trousers, a fine knit, the suede Belgian. The host asked for festive, not formal, and the shoe agrees.
A pair ordered by November 19 is made in time for December 31. Standard production runs four to six weeks, so the calendar does the deciding. Order while November is still young and the shoe is waiting by the door when the invitations land.
One last note for the planners. The night has four plans and only one pair of feet, so pick the plan first and the shoe second. The wrong shoe at the right party is a long night. The right shoe is the one you forget you are wearing until someone asks about it at midnight.
Ready to build your pair? Design Your Pair in the Design Studio, and it is made to order for you.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best New Year's Eve shoes for men
The best shoe depends on the plan. A black tie gala wants the black velvet Belgian, a countdown party wants the burgundy tassel loafer, a long dinner wants the red velvet Wellington, and a house party wants a suede Belgian. Pick the plan first, then the shoe.
Can you wear velvet loafers to a New Year's Eve party
Yes. Velvet is the season's fabric for the night, and a velvet slipper is the natural shoe for it. Black velvet suits the gala, red velvet suits the dinner, and a velvet blazer with a polished leather loafer suits the countdown party.
What shoes do you wear to a New Year's Eve party for women
A women's velvet loafer in black or navy velvet, with a small gold monogram if she likes one. It carries an evening dress or tailored trousers from dinner to the countdown without a heel change. The women's velvet loafer pairs with the same made-to-order approach as the men's styles, and the wedding page shows the velvet loafer range.
When should you order shoes for New Year's Eve
By November 19. Standard production runs four to six weeks, so a pair ordered by November 19 is made in time for December 31. Ordering in mid-November leaves room for the making, and the shoe arrives before the invitations do.
