Zoe Hartley

Zoe Hartley

Zoe Hartley is part of the What to Wear writing team, covering parties, birthdays and after-dark dressing.

What to Wear to a House Warming Party

For a housewarming party, start with comfortable casual or smart-casual clothes: jeans with an interesting top, a relaxed dress, or chinos with a shirt or polo. Add clean sneakers, flats or sandals, and be prepared to remove your shoes if…

What to Wear to an Engagement Party

Engagement party guests in a courtyard: blue wrap dress with silver flats, pink tailored suit with tan loafers, and navy blazer with jeans

For an engagement party, a dress, jumpsuit or tailored trousers with a polished top or shirt is a useful starting point. Keep things relaxed for a backyard lunch, dress up for a restaurant or cocktail celebration, and follow any dress…

What to Wear to a Christmas Party

What should you wear to a Christmas party? Choose your outfit around the setting: a summer dress or relaxed separates for a backyard lunch, tailored trousers with an interesting top or shirt for restaurant drinks, and a cocktail dress, jumpsuit…

What to Wear on New Year’s Eve 2026

For New Year’s Eve 2026, dress for where you’ll spend the evening: relaxed separates for a house party, a dress or tailored outfit for dinner, occasionwear for a cocktail event, and comfortable walking shoes with a light layer for outdoor…

What to Wear to a 40th Birthday Party

For a 40th birthday party, choose your outfit around the venue and dress code: jeans and an interesting top for a casual house party, a dress or tailored separates for dinner, and a cocktail dress, jumpsuit or suit for a…

What to Wear to a 21st Birthday Party

Two women in a silver sequin mini dress and red satin slip dress walk with a man in a navy suit outside an evening venue

For a 21st birthday party, a party dress, jumpsuit or tailored trousers with an interesting top or shirt is a useful starting point. Choose jeans and clean sneakers for a clearly casual celebration, and proper occasionwear if the invitation says…

What to Wear to a 50th Birthday Party

Three people dressed for a birthday party: woman in cream jumper and brown satin skirt, woman in a pink suit, man in a navy blazer, walking through a courtyard venue

For a 50th birthday party, dress for the invitation and venue: a printed dress or trousers with an interesting shirt for a relaxed lunch, polished separates for a restaurant, and a cocktail dress, jumpsuit or suit for a dressed-up evening.…

What to Wear to a 30th Birthday Party

For a 30th birthday party, choose your outfit around the venue and invitation: jeans and an interesting top for a relaxed house party, a dress or tailored separates for a restaurant, and cocktail clothing for a dressed-up evening. Finish with…

What to Wear to a Party in 2026

What should you wear to a party? For a casual party, start with jeans or relaxed trousers, an interesting top or shirt, and clean sneakers, flats or boots. For a dressier celebration, try a party dress, jumpsuit, tailored separates or…

What to Wear to an 18th Birthday Party

Four women in black cami dress, black halter top with sequin skirt, white corset top with trousers, and blue cutout mini dress walk on a rooftop at dusk

For most casual 18th birthday parties, start with good jeans or tailored trousers, a top or shirt with a bit of personality, and shoes you can comfortably stand and dance in. A backyard birthday might call for denim and sneakers;…