Fashion: New Year's Eve: the designer's cut

Where will the cream of British fashion designers celebrate Millennium Eve? More important, what will they be wearing? And what, asks Rebecca Lowthorpe, will be their essential item of clothing in the 21st century?

JULIEN MACDONALD

What was your worst ever New Year?

Two years ago, in Rio. We ended up in a tapas bar drinking tequila. Ten slammers and a taco or two later, I had my head in a sink. Very ill. The last two days were spent on a beach with a massive hangover.

What was your best ever New Year?

The year I went skiing in Austria. A winter wonderland. I spent it huddled round a log fire with a friend. You can probably guess the rest.

What will you wear on Millennium Eve?

My Sunday Best.

What won't you be able to live without in the next century?

Easy! My Spanish flamenco boots. I share this passion with Tom Jones. Apparently his wife buys him 20 pairs a year. I only buy four. Tom is a bit of a mover, I bet the heels wear down.

Where will you be celebrating Millennium Eve?

In Tulum, Mexico, in a beach house with a load of friends. It's going to be very rock'n'roll, mixed with a Latino mood. Hold on to your hats, we're in for a ride!

PAUL SMITH

What was your worst ever New Year?

I haven't had one, they're always good. But there was one when I woke up in a hedge with my head in a pool of vomit after a night out with a band from Liverpool called the Mojo's. It was in 1856 - well that's what it feels like.

What was your best ever New Year?

They are always brilliant! One that was exceptional was the time I woke up in a hedge with my head in a pool of vomit after a night out with a band from Liverpool called the Mojo's.

What will you be wearing on Millennium Eve?

Full drag, definitely, like any other evening. No, but honestly, a cardigan, check slippers and a pipe.

What won't you be able to live without in the next century?

Cashmere, darling!

Where will you celebrate Millennium Eve?

At home with my family.

STEPHEN JONES

What was your worst ever New Year?

When I was 18 years old, being snowed in at my parents' house in the country with no electricity.

What was your best ever New Year?

When I was 19, under the influence of a great deal of alcohol. I lay on my back, screaming, in the middle of the M40 along with 10 friends. It was a primal scream to show our new-found independence! I don't remember anyone getting hurt, but then I don't remember much at all.

What will you be wearing on Millennium Eve?

Doubtless, other people's drinks.

What won't you be able to live without in the next century?

Edible knickers.

Where will you celebrate Millennium Eve?

See above, best and worst.

ANTONY PRICE

What was your worst ever New Year?

I went out with my best friends who had a blazing row. I got drunk and mislaid my house keys. The police caught me breaking into my own home via the greenhouse. After protesting my innocence, I managed to climb in through an upstairs window and when, finally, I got upstairs, I found the keys in my pocket.

What was your best ever New Year?

Without a doubt, the time I was on Mustique. It was other-worldly watching fireworks light up the sky over all the neighbouring islands, while I was sitting on tropical blossoms, listening to "Ride of the Valkyries" at full blast on a sound system under a magical moon.

What will you be wearing on Millennium Eve?

Hopefully nothing.

What won't you be able to live without in the next century?

If I said my wellington boots, you'd die.

Where will you celebrate Millennium Eve?

I was supposed to be in Barbados at Lord and Lady Bamford's house, but thanks to the imminent Paris couture show and my shop opening in February, we will be sewing well into the dawn of the new century. Then again, since we'll be in London, we might take up Philip Treacy's offer of a party and go there to drink merrily.

NICOLE FARHI

What was your worst ever New Year?

Luckily, I have never had a bad New Year.

What was your best ever New Year?

It was after I married David Hare. The marriage was just after Christmas seven years ago.

What will you wear on New Year's Eve?

Absolutely nothing... apart from maybe three drops of perfume.

What won't you be able to live without in the next century?

My Playboy T-shirt.

Where will you celebrate Millennium Eve?

I will be in bed.

SHELLEY FOX

What was your worst ever New Year?

1989, stranded at Wimbledon station at midnight and being violently ill over my partner.

What was your best ever New Year?

They are always such a pressure. Being a child was good, watching the adults perform after vast amounts of drinking.

What will you wear on Millennium Eve?

I don't know, but it won't be silver or glittery.

What won't you be able to live without in the next century?

Something that will help me avoid ever going to the gymnasium.

Where will you celebrate Millennium Eve?

Still deciding.

MANOLO BLAHNIK

What was your worst ever New Year?

I always try to ignore New Year's Eve.

What was your best ever New Year?

All of them.

What do you think you'll be wearing on Millennium Eve?

My Banana Republic long johns.

What won't you be able to live without in the new century?

My Banana Republic underwear.

Where will you be celebrating on Millennium Eve?

By a fire, drinking cocoa with my dog.

WAYNE HEMINGWAY

What was your worst ever New Year?

From the time I could first walk I had dreadful New Year experiences. As a kid growing up in Morecambe in Lancashire, I was forced to stay up until midnight, whereupon I was asked to go outside to the coal bunker and fetch a piece of coal and bring it back indoors. It was supposed to be a symbol of good luck, but it just made me feel dirty, cold and miserable.

What was your best ever New Year?

On Dunk Island near the Great Barrier Reef. It was almost deserted and my wife and I decided to have another baby... she turned out to be our fourth.

What will you wear on Millennium Eve?

A ceremonial gown and a druid's hat... worn at a jaunty angle. Perfect for dancing around burning bushes, while chanting Millennial hymns. Nah, not really. I'm not dressing up at all.

What couldn't you live without in the next century?

You know how blokes are? Always passionately attracted to certain clothes, they stick to them until they drop to bits. Well, I feel the same way about my Blue Peter cardigan.

MARKUS LUPFER

What was your worst ever New Year?

1998. I spent it working on my first collection. Luckily, this year, I have more people working with me and can therefore get some time off.

What was your best ever New Year?

1994. On a boat party in Australia. I spent most of the evening scuba diving.

What will you wear on Millennium Eve?

Extra thick socks and a big woolly jumper.

What won't you be able to live without in the next century?

A good pair of slick shoes. I'm sick to death of trainers, they're just so late 20th century!

Where will you celebrate Millennium Eve?

At my brother's place in the Swiss Alps. We plan some night skiing and quite a few hot toddies.

ELEY KISHIMOTO

What was your worst ever New Year?

Wakako Kishimoto: A rave in a derelict house when I was a student in London.

Mark Eley: Sitting on the stairs of my parents' house with some of their friends' children, watching our parents getting more and more drunk as the evening progressed. Being force fed cheese and pineapple on sticks and mini sausage rolls and listening to all the music which bands such as Steps and Westlife seem to be covering now.

What was your best ever New Year?

Wakako: Being at home with my family and children in Japan.

Mark: The first time I spent it in Japan, feeling very tall, drinking Amasake on a hill and waiting to ring a huge bell at midnight.

What will you wear on Millennium Eve?

Wakako: Whatever I put on in the morning, most probably something from our last autumn/winter collection.

Mark: What I always wear: jeans, a shirt or a jumper, a thermal vest, socks, pants and shoes.

What won't you be able to live without in the next century?

Wakako: My thermals.

Mark: See above.

Where will you celebrate Millennium Eve?

Mark and Wakako: At our family home in Takarazuka in Japan.