How 6 Fashion Designers Are Celebrating New Year’s Eve
A lesson in gratitude and keeping a “glass half full” mentality.
What a year it has been. I think we can all agree that 2020 has been one of, if not the most, challenging year we’ve experienced in our lifetimes, and it is finally coming to a close. That said, we also have much to be grateful for. As has been the case with most holiday celebrations recently, everyone has had to invoke a little creativity to work within the various restrictions and safety precautions of their states and find innovative ways to get in the festive spirit. Since this holiday is best known for its glamour, we decided to consult our most stylish friends—fashion designers, of course—to gauge their mindset come January 1st, discover their plans for celebration, and to find out how they are carrying a bit of optimism into the new year.
Alexandra O’Neill of Markarian
Photo: Courtesy of Alexandra O’Neill... Read More
“I’m a lover of any event that requires you to dress up in celebration, especially when that means glitzy silver sequins, so naturally, I love this holiday. The tradition of New Year’s Eve—something that celebrates the close of the past year with all of the hope and excitement that the year ahead will bring—is especially meaningful this year. I will be celebrating at home with my sister and her husband this year. Sadly, we are not able to travel to be with the rest of our family or friends without putting anyone at risk. We are still planning on getting fully decked out (or at least I am!) and decorating the house to celebrate the end of this truly challenging year.”
Photo: Courtesy of Sade Mims... Read More
“This year—the most trying of them all—has taught me so many things. It has also repositioned my way of thinking in some really beautiful ways, but also in some less positive ones. I am working through it all—taking each day, each moment, each interaction and opportunity at a time. With the ebb and flow of 2020, I’m looking forward to the new year, to say the least! I’ll be celebrating with deep reflection followed by a whirlwind of gratitude. I’ll be journaling my initial thoughts and reflecting on the year with ink and a new notebook. I’ll also be looking forward to manifesting new things for myself. I grew up in a household where a to-do list and goals were a part of how we planned our life—it was our foundation. So I’m sticking to those teachings for a lifetime, but this year it feels grounding and a lot more imperative. I need that!”
Photo: Courtesy of Roxanne Assoulin... Read More
“Ha! I have zero plans this season...It’s been such a challenging year for so many of us. Lots of pain, lots of teachings, lots of realizations, and lots of gratitude. I won’t be going very far, probably just to my home in Sag Harbor to celebrate ‘outdoors’ with whomever is around, take some long hikes, light fires, and watch movies. I’ll probably laugh a bit and cry a bit, write, read, and pray for peace in a big way.”
Photo: Courtesy of Tanya Taylor... Read More
“I am excited for New Year’s this year. A friend said to me the other day, ‘At least 2021 is most likely going to be better than 2020,’ and I think that’s something we can all look forward to. In reflecting about this past year, I am grateful for all I have learned. 2020 has been a year of growth for me. I’ve grown up a lot, and I am looking forward to taking a new sense of responsibility, confidence, and energy into 2021. I feel incredibly lucky to be continuing our tradition of celebrating the new year in Barbados, where my mother lives, with our family. We get dressed up, make a beautiful meal and dance to the music from our favorite steel-drum player, Eric. At midnight we celebrate by jumping into the pool fully clothed.”
Photo: Courtesy of Deborah Pagani... Read More
“In a normal year, we are so not into going out on New Year’s Eve—especially for a prix-fixe dinner in NYC. It’s never the kind of night you envision. A couple of years ago we went to Troutbeck in upstate New York, and they put together a very country-chic evening in the most beautiful setting—fireplaces everywhere, tons of candlelight, and amazing food served by gorgeous men in plaid shirts. I’m all about a theme! Other than that, our ideal New Year’s Eve is at home with our kids, dressed-up pajamas (usually some sort of a silk robe for me with lots of gold jewelry), caviar, champagne, and we dance around the apartment to Frank Sinatra all night. I couldn’t think of a better way to kiss 2020 GOODBYE than doing the same thing this year.”
Suzie Kondi of Suzie Kondi
Photo: Ursula McNamara... Read More
“I’m a ‘free-wheeling optimist’ who’s always celebrated the new year with a sense of positivity and enthusiasm—optimism that has allowed me to take pride in my accomplishments during the year and dream about new beginnings for the next. This New Year’s, however, does not really feel like a moment to see the glass half-full, but I’m going to try. I am not trying to minimize the harsh reality of an incredibly difficult year. Many are struggling, feel sad, are scared, frustrated, and broken, but while this year has been especially hard, there are many reasons to be grateful: dedicated frontline workers, steadfast friends, parents, and teachers everywhere getting their children through, smart epidemiology, vaccine research and development. I am grateful for the design and production deadlines and pressures which get me doing the work I love and am so passionate about. But most of all, I am grateful for all the New Year’s celebrations of the past and the prospect of a better year. I’m optimistic that will be 2021.”
Top photo: Ursula McNamara
Want more stories like this?
Gobble, Gobble: Here’s What Coveteur Staffers Are Wearing This Thanksgiving
Bubbly & Beyond: The Best Pairings for the Holidays
5 Ways to Have the Perfect Winter Saturday
