New Year’s Eve Glam: How Fashion Icons Welcomed 2026 in Style

New Year’s Eve Glam: How Fashion Icons Welcomed 2026 in Style

As we bid farewell to the tumultuous year that was 2025, we usher in 2026 with open arms. According to the Chinese zodiac, the year of the horse awaits us, promising a fresh start and new beginnings. With a World Cup and Winter Olympics on the horizon, and 365 days of celebrity style to look forward to, the new year is already shaping up to be an exciting one.

The Glamorous Affair of New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is always a night of glamour and celebration. For those who love to party, it’s a time to don sequins, velvets, sharp tailoring, and feather trims. However, this year, several notable names opted for a more low-key celebration, choosing comfort over contour. This shift perhaps signals a desire to leave behind the challenges of the past year and embrace a fresh start.

A Mixed Affair for the Fashion Set

The fashion world saw a mix of celebrations. While some opted for cozy nights in, others brought in the new year with their signature style. Here’s a look at how some of your favorite fashion icons celebrated:

• Dua Lipa

  Dua Lipa slipped into a vintage Thierry Mugler Couture blazer for the evening. The buttery soft leather piece featured a zesty orange flame print, a concealed front snap button closure, and a stand-up collar, making it a rare and stunning choice for the night.

• Alexa Chung

  Alexa Chung, our ultimate It-girl, bid adieu to 2025 in a velveteen Comme Des Garcons jacket. The model dazzled in the rare vintage blazer featuring blossom embroidery, which she paired with jeans for a perfect after-hours look.

• Hailey Bieber

  Hailey Bieber, the founder of Rhode, gave her California cool-girl style a NYE spin. She teamed a gold party hat with a plunging neckline in red and cream tie-dye. The model also shared a sweet snap celebrating her 10-year anniversary with music maestro Justin Bieber.

• Jennifer Lopez

  Jennifer Lopez celebrated the first night of The JLo Show in Vegas, sporting an array of showgirl-inspired outfits. Our pick of the bunch was an incredible glittering lime two-piece with a matching mic stand, perfectly on-trend as we head into 2026.

• Victoria Beckham

  Victoria Beckham, true to her trademark style, opted for slinky glamour. The fashion designer wore a dress from her eponymous label’s SS26 line, a gorgeous silhouette she also sported in a teal shade over Christmas.

• Elsa Hosk

  Supermodel Elsa Hosk, currently on holiday in St. Barths with her family, didn’t brave the cold for NYE. However, she delivered on glamour in an incredible sheer black shirt and furry skirt combo.

• Maura Higgins

  Maura Higgins lived out our cabin dreams for NYE, opting to sheathe herself in a snuggly duvet and enjoy a glass of red wine in front of a log-burning stove. Other snaps showed her enjoying cinnamon rolls and tucking into a delicious carb spread.

• Jackie Apostel

  Cruz Beckham’s girlfriend opted for high-octane glamour on the night, sporting a black dress with a very low back, teamed with a furry scarf. The songwriter also shared her 2026 vision board on Instagram, including the sweet line: “I want to make sure I…”

New Year’s Eve Fashion Trends

As Tania Leslau, Fashion Features Editor and trend expert at H! Fashion, says: “New Year’s Eve is a time for maximalists to shine. From sequins to feathers and layers-upon-layers of crystal-dotted mesh, the annual event calls for unapologetic glamour. Unless you spend the evening curled up on the sofa in pajamas with a glass of wine in hand (understandable), there is no excuse not to go all out come December 31.”

If you missed the looks while busy partying, fear not: XL glam is here to stay in 2026. Hollywood has already set the tone, ushering in Pinterest-predicted ‘Glamoratti’ – think funnel necklines, sharp tailoring, chunky belts, and full-blown 80s opulence. Add a surge in vampiric glamour – glossy palettes, romantic drama, and femme-fatale dress codes – and it’s clear our favorite stars were already ahead of the curve in time for New Year’s.

For more insights into the latest fashion trends, check out Vogue.