So how are you getting on? One more week of work to go for most of us… and are you skipping or limping? I'm really looking forward to Christmas but this week has felt like one of those long runs where you hit a wall and getting to the end seems impossible. Extra stuff has just toppled me over – like the heating breaking down and a car needing a new wheel… things that involve lots of phone calls and waiting around when every spare minute was already allocated. However I imagine that at least 50% of women are feeling the same way and experience tells me that Christmas will all come together next week in a glorious rush of muscle memory backed up by everyone pitching in. It does mean though that for today's post I don't feel like portraying the perfect Christmas, instead I'm looking ahead at New Year's Eve thoughts – and what to wear.
New Year's Eve is something that I don't often have the chance to cover on Midlifechic because it happens during the two weeks I take off and yet it's an important time. I know some people hate it and I always think that's a shame because any year lived is a blessing and so is the chance to look into a brand new one. There are, of course, the New Year's Eves where you feel bruised and battered – sometimes you're just glad to see the back of the old one or you're looking into the new one with trepidation. I'm not saying that every single NYE is a cause for celebration but even the tougher ones offer an opportunity to review what's gone well and what hasn't – and to work out what positives you can condense from everything you've lived through and take into the months ahead.
For me New Year's Eve has never really been about going out and partying. For almost all of my life it's been about wrapping the year up in the heart of my family. When I was little it marked the end of Christmas which was an extra special event because it was the one time that I didn't feel like an only child. My much older brothers and sister and their families always came home for the fortnight surrounding Christmas. By New Year's Eve all of the boring adult conversations had been held and so it was a time for board games with a few tipples which was unusual in our house. I used to really enjoy seeing them relax, laugh and make jokes that were usually kept away from my young ears.
Even my dad who was a stickler for his 10 o'clock bedtime would stay up… only until about ten minutes after the clock had struck midnight but he'd be there with us. And he'd enjoy the Westmorland traditions of first footing and pan banging which I've kept going with my boys to this day. So New Year's Eve for me has always been the acme of the Christmas celebrations, the point where things don't have to be perfect any more, where you all just relax together and have fun.
Sometimes now friends or family come round, sometimes we pop out to the village pub for a while but it's almost always been the five of us together as the clock strikes.
I can feel the winds of change are blowing though and so I'm feeling a bit reflective this year. I'm thinking back across the years but also looking ahead, wondering what we'll do when it's just the two of us. And so for today's Boden edit I thought I'd put together a few different scenarios and weave through some of my own New Year's Eve memories as I go along.
New Year’s Eve thoughts – and what to wear
A proper New Year’s Eve Party
Before too long there’s going to come a time when the boys have other places to be and both Christmas and New Year’s Eve will change for us as a close knit family. I suspect that when that happens for the first time we’ll go away and it will partly feel like marking an ending which is a bit sad – but we’ll make the most of it by doing something indulgent and special. That will give me an opportunity to really dress up and if it was this year, this is what I’d choose.
This is such a beautiful dress. It has a hint of Needle & Thread’s whimsy but it avoids slipping into the twee girly twist that their dresses have which often looks odd on a grown woman. Instead if you crossed Needle & Thread with Self Portrait this is what you’d get and it’s a fraction of the price of the designer versions. If you’re looking for a dress that will take you to summer weddings, graduations and other formal events this is a great choice. It’s slightly frothy on the bodice but that stops at the waist and it doesn’t descend into a frilly tiered skirt. It has gravitas thanks to the colour which takes it even further away from any hint of Bo Peep.
Purple has been a new discovery for me over the last 12 months – maybe I’m hitting my Jenny Joseph era. It’s one of the few colours that is said to flatter all skintones but more importantly than that, strong purple is unusual. People wear lilac but not often a bolder shade of Liberty purple so it will always give you standout.
The dress, as you’d expect, is beautifully made with a fitted bodice and a full skirt that moves with you beautifully as you walk. The cuffs are elasticated so you can position them between your elbow and wrist for a flattering effect that makes the most of the sheerness. It’s a dress that suggests good times but doesn’t scream party so if you think about it, it will be one to wear for lots of different occasions. In terms of sizing I found it came up big, I could slip the whole thing over my head without needing to undo the side zip which mean it felt a bit loose at the waist so I’d recommend trying a size down as well as your usual size. As comments are saying it’s generous even for anyone with a bigger bust, it also comes in navy.
A New Year’s Eve Memory
The only time I’ve ever been out to a New Year’s Eve party was when I was 18. My friend Mike’s parents were away and so he invited a group of us over to his house which was a beautiful country home in the very picturesque village next to mine. His dad worked overseas so Mike was a term-time boarder and the house was exquisite, like something out of an interiors magazine with exposed stone and beams, cream linen curtains and sofas and carpets and highly polished surfaces. The very first time I visited I decided that I too would soon have a home just like it – I just needed to pass my A Levels… graduate… and then surely it would be in reach.
So that night the games began and after a while somebody suggested that we walk down to the equally picturesque village pub for a while. I remember it being a proper new year’s night with thick frost and slippery lanes and dragon’s breath as we walked in a noisy gang. Spirits were getting high both literally and metaphorically… the boys started doing shots… so did some of the girls (not me – I knew that I had to be coherent when my dad picked me up or I wouldn’t be allowed out again!).
There came a point where the locals had had enough of us and it was suggested we go home… and so we did. I remember someone shouting ‘more drinks’ as we piled through the door and I watched in horror as they stumbled over the carpets in muddy boots. Mike wasn’t making much sense but I managed to find out where the hoover was kept and I made a start on the floor.
I’d just put it away when my friend Claire stood up to rush to the loo sloshing red wine all over the sofa and the carpet as she went – so it was out with the salt and the kitchen roll as I did what I could to mop it all up. After a while the dancing began and glasses were smashing and bowls of snacks were being crushed into the carpets… the whole evening felt like the Sorceror’s Apprentice – as soon as I’d managed one catastrophe there was another to move on to but I just couldn’t bear to see that beautiful home upended.
There was no malice involved, just teenage high kinks and my reward came every time I went back to see Mike over the years. As soon as I walked in his mum would sigh and say, “oh it’s SuperNikki, my house fairy.” At the time I think she harboured hopes for Mike and me… it was a few years before she realised that he was keener on the boys in our group than the girls. Anyway I never went to a New Year’s party again but I like to think that I paid it forward because there have been some lovely teenagers who’ve done similar things when the boys have had gatherings at our house.
And looking back I realise that I did end up living my dream of the old farmhouse with exposed stone and beams – I even have cream linen curtains… but no cream sofas, just one cream carpet and no highly polished surfaces. New Years’ Eve 1985 was a useful interiors lesson for me!
New Year’s Eve thoughts – and what to wear
In the pub with friends
Back to 2025 and my next outfit scenario is a more relaxed one, similar to the level of dressing up that I’ll be doing this year. I think for a lot of us who’ve spent Christmas at home by this point any level of ‘trussing up’ is over. After indulging for weeks all you want is comfort that still has a touch of easy glamour. That’s where a top like this comes in, made from stretchy velvet with a lace trim in a non-Christmassy colour that you can throw on with jeans to take you into the new year.
You can’t get much easier than this on New Year’s Eve. I’ve paired it with sparkly shoes and a jewelled belt, a pair of flared jeans and a clutch with some contrasting texture. I notice in the reviews that a few people have felt the V is too low but I don’t see why, I think it stops at just the right point – it’s low enough to feel sassy but without any bra on show. If the neckline was any higher than this with velvet it would just be frumpy.
Another New Year’s Eve Memory
A New Year's Eve that our family will never forget is 2018-19. We call it 'Enjoy Yourself' and the boys were 22, 17 and 15. We spent the evening playing board games and then at the appointed time, switched on Jools Holland's Hootenanny to count down to midnight. The boys are always perplexed by Hootenanny and the sight of midlifers out in the wild having fun but we make them watch it anyway and before too long they're up and dancing with us happily.
Anyway the evening was going as planned, here are the oldest and youngest doing the first footing. If you're not familiar with it, it's an old custom that seems to be a Scottish and North of England tradition. A dark haired man knocks on the door after midnight bringing a coin for wealth, coal for warmth, bread for food, salt for spice and whisky for good cheer.
But soon after that we noticed that the youngest was a bit unsteady on his feet as he slid down the wall and settled himself in the dog's bed. By the time Jools Holland started on his last song 'Enjoy Yourself… it's later than you think' he was clapping away but somehow couldn't get his hands to meet at the same time. I can tell you this because his brothers have video evidence which they replay with glee whenever we're all together!
It transpired that every time he'd gone to the kitchen for one of the J2Os that we'd bought for him, he'd been adding what he called a 'shot' of vodka. And being the innocent that he was, he assumed a 'shot' was the same measure as one of our glasses of wine! That's when we knew we had a problem. We laugh now but at the time it was 'one of those' parent nights. Mal ended up hoisting him into the bath so that we could 'contain the outcome' and there he stayed, all night long, with Mal sitting beside him mopping his brow.
New Year’s Eve thoughts – and what to wear
Staying In
Back to outfits and actually there is one step easier than the velvet top and that’s staying at home in your pyjamas. If you’re having a year where all you want to do is stay at home then that’s what you should do, especially if it’s been a difficult one. Hunker down and remind yourself that not every year will feel like this. Make your night feel as good as it possibly can with warmth and treats. These brushed cotton pyjamas are the epitome of chic comfort with their elegant graphic print. They’re the colour of ripe sloes and they’re soft and cosy, just the thing to make winter nights feel more special.
Brushed cotton pyjama shirt; brushed cotton pyjama trousers
They made me think of this photo that I took on a frosty morning a couple of weeks ago with Christmas in mind – seven swans a-swimming. I've been watching these cygnets since they were born back in the spring. Originally there were nine, the most we've ever had in 21 years of living on the canal and they've survived all summer long. Two have now fledged but these seven are still hanging around their mum and dad. Any day now he'll chase them off but they aren't in a rush to go… and I can hear Mal in my ear muttering that young adult swans have a lot in common with the young adult humans of 2025!
Anyway back to the pyjamas, this is to give you a clearer idea of the rich damson colour because I found it hard to work out from the Boden site. It shows you the soft texture too and the fine detail of navy piping on the collar and pockets with a navy ribbon at the waist. They're beautiful.
One More New Year’s Eve Memory
Thinking back to nights when you don’t feel up to partying takes me back to New Year’s Eve 2002/3. After a hectic Christmas in London we’d driven up to visit the family in Newcastle first and then looped over to this side of the country where we’d rented a pretty little cottage in Kendal. I was newly pregnant with the youngest and even though we hadn’t hit the twelve week safety mark we’d decided to make our announcement that night with my whole family together at my sister’s house. It was a bit risky because I’d had miscarriages when we were trying for the middle one but times when I could be with all of my siblings and niece and nephews with my mum and dad too were so very rare.
We had a lovely evening. Everybody was thrilled with our news, my sister had put on a delicious spread, there were early fireworks in the garden for the little ones, a family quiz and a gang of six boisterous boys tearing around but at about 10 o’clock I was hit with the fatigue tsunami that washes over you in early pregnancy. Mal took one look at me and decided it was time to go so we packed our two protesting little ones into the car and drove back to Kendal. We were all tucked up in our beds just in time to hear the midnight bells chime and so we opened the curtains and lay watching the fireworks exploding over the hills. I remember feeling so happy that I’d been with everyone I loved and that I was growing my own new branch of our family. Sometimes the quietest starts to a new year can be the most profound.
New Year’s Eve thoughts – and what to wear
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day for us is the last of our Twelve Days of Christmas. We start them on 21st December because it’s the eldest’s birthday and they go on until 1st January. During that time the house overflows with good things to eat and drink and calories don’t count. So New Year’s Day is about the last of the hearty meals and I do beef in beer with a cheesy cobbler topping. I prepare the casserole during one of the quieter days of Twixmas so that it has time to steep in the fridge which means the beef is fully infused with the rich juices. All I have to do on New Year’s Day is warm it through slowly and then pop the cobbler on top. Everyone’s always glad for something hearty and wholesome that feels a bit special so it’s a big bang dish that actually requires minimal effort on my part. In a very rare Midlifechic domestic goddess moment I’ll share the recipe at the end of this post but for now, here’s what I’ll be wearing on New Year’s Day.
The thing about January 1st is that I want to start the year feeling clean and fresh which isn’t always the case if we’ve had a late night but I at least try to look the part. So I want to talk to you about this particular blouse which was the first thing to catch my eye when I saw the new Boden drop last week. You see it gives all of the appearance of being a crisp, striped number but it’s actually jersey. That means of course that it’s soft and super stretchy and it doesn’t demand any tricksy ironing which is always the thing to put me off a crisp looking shirt.
It has the shirred cuffs that I’m delighted to see Boden working into more of their tops because they’re so easy to style, enabling you to elegantly expose a wrist without any hassle. And the shirred detail over the chest means that it fits nicely over the bust and there’s no straining, it expands or contracts to fit depending on how ample you are. It’s also available in a deep green or amethyst and I’m hoping they’ll add more colours as the season goes on because it’s a winner.
You’ll see I’ve topped it with a cardigan – my current obsession. Rather than a winter wool one this already has an eye set on spring because it’s cotton. It’s a heavy enough knit for cooler days but it’s right for January because it’s nodding towards light and sunshine. It makes me so happy when these pieces start to drop around Christmas and the autumn colours and textures are out in the cold. For me this cardigan has all the things I love, good structure on the shoulders and pockets that make it more of a jacket so it’s less Miss Marple.
Boden has a lovely range of winter into spring knitwear out now, all in a heavy cotton like this. There are various colours and cuts, plains and stripes, you’ll find them all here. And note how nicely the collar and cuffs of the shirt work beneath a cardigan or jumper – little details like this are such outfit elevators.
Chunky cotton cardigan; smocked jersey shirt
That casserole dish was a wedding present from Sarah, my friend and deputy at Selfridges. It always makes me think of her and she and I still have a tradition of writing each other a handwritten letter every Christmas. Anyway, here’s the recipe for the beef in beer with cobbler topping, I don’t know where it came from because I’ve been making it for as long as I can remember.
Beef in Beer with cheesy cobbler topping
Serves 6
- 50g butter
- 250g pancetta
- 500g shallots
- 1.5kg stewing beef
- 50g seasoned flour (salt & pepper)
- 300ml stout
- 500 ml beef stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 sprig thyme
- 400g baby button mushrooms
- salt & pepper
Heat the butter in a big frying pan and brown the pancetta until the fat runs. Transfer to a casserole pot that is both oven and stove proof.
In the same butter gently fry the shallots until lightly browned.
Toss the beef in the flour, shake off any excess then brown in batches using more butter if necessary, transferring to the casserole when coloured.
Pour some of the stout into the pan to deglaze it then tip into the casserole along with the remaining beer and enough stock to cover it.
Add the herbs tied into a bouquet garni and season.
Bring to the boil on the stovetop then reduce to a very gentle simmer and put on the lid.
Place in the oven at 130C for 1 hour 45 minutes.
Just before the time is up, raise the heat to 180C.
Sauté the mushrooms in butter until the moisture evaporates and they colour then add to the casserole.
Cobbler
- 180g self raising flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 tablespoons of chilled butter cubed
- 100g good, strong grated cheddar
- 1 big handful of chopped chives
- 2 large eggs
- 70ml milk
Sift the flour and salt into a bowl.
Rub in the butter and stir in the cheese and chives.
Whisk the eggs and milk and stir into the flour mix – it should be fairly sloppy,
Drop spoonsful of cobbler dough all over the top of the casserole.
Brush lightly with more milk and bake, uncovered, for 35 minutes until the cobbler is risen and golden.
Serve immediately with fresh steamed greens.
So that’s it for today, New Year’s Eve thoughts – and what to wear along with little memories of times gone by. I wonder if you’re ready to think ahead to the last night of the year yet. We’re doing something completely different for New Year’s Eve this time – we’re going out. You see Newcastle has decided that with the Scots as such close neighbours it needs to up its New Year’s Eve game. So it’s taking Scottish ‘Hogmanay’ and raising it to a Geordie ‘Howaymanay’! Along the Quayside there will be stages with bands playing, roving entertainers, street performers, food stalls and a big firework display over The Tyne at midnight. The boys are joining us and we’ve planned some nice new pubs to take them to so it should be a night of fun and when we’ve had enough, we just have to pop across the bridge to the flat. They start heading away again on 2nd January so I’m determined to make the most of every moment of having them home.
Next week’s post will be my last for this year, I don’t know what I’m going to write about yet but I’m sure something will come. In the meantime have a lovely weekend of Christmas prep and I’ll see you on Friday.
