The photos for this post were shot a while back already, as part of the series about rewearing things and making dresses autumn and winter appropriate. This dress makes complete sense in that context, as I’ve worn it many times over several years (friends from Brussels know I have a habit to change into this dress around 2am in the morning, even if I didn’t start the party in it). One can also easily layer something on top and pretend it’s a skirt, making the outfit warmer. Here, I wear it with a coat, as I’ve always loved the wooly coat over frilly dress combo.

But suddenly it was December already and I realised this would make the perfect New Year’s Eve post. It’s not that I think you have to have a huge party and dress up; mandatory revelry at prescribed times doesn’t work for everyone. It is a symbolic moment, though, a time when glamour and glitter and silliness are encouraged, when going all out is allowed even in cultures that are usually more reserved. And I think these moments are important, no matter if they actually take place when the year changes or not. Even in dark times, especially in dark times, celebrations and joy are necessary. Sometimes it helps when you are explicitly given permission by the society to party.

It will not surprise anyone that I would make a case for the non-ironically over-the-top dress. Again, it is less about this specific dress and more about the idea. I remember when I bought this dress, I wasn’t entirely convinced. I thought it was maybe too princess-y, too Hollywood, too big. It had so many ruffles and I’m not a ruffle person. It was also entirely see-through, which I of course considered to be less of an issue, but still. Then I stopped worrying about what other people might think of the dress and fell in love; I put it on one evening and never looked back.

Every time I wear it, I feel gorgeous, invincible and impossible to ignore. And yes, I realise that it is very difficult to ignore a half-naked woman that takes about 10 square meters of space. It’s irrelevant. It also doesn’t matter if people say I shouldn’t need a dress to feel that way. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t. It’s me charging the dress charging me charging the dress.

I want everyone to have a dress like that. Or if you really don’t like dresses, to have something that makes you feel that way.

Happy New Year.

Dress Ketlin Bachmann, coat Zara, shoes Aldo. Images Stina Kase, makeup Erle Taklai.