Anthropologie Embroidered Dress {on sale!} // Macy’s Sweater Tights // Madewell Boots {similar} // Valentino Bag {on SUPER sale!} // Madewell Ring {my new favorite, and on sale!} // Tiffany Pearl Earrings {similar}

HAPPY 2016 AMIGOS!!!!!!!! {Can you tell I’m excited?!}

I don’t know what it is about a new year, but I feel so refreshed and ready to kick ass and take names in 2016! I hope you’re feeling the same energy {and hopefully not nursing a two day hangover from NYE!}  This New Years Eve was an extra special one, and I got dressed up with a few of my besties to celebrate the first annual Chi Town Rising at the Hyatt Regency Chicago! To be honest, I haven’t gone out for NYE’s in years {at least 5} since I’m usually traveling over the holidays, so it was a nice change of pace to ring in the New Year with blogger friends, Jimmy and of course an open bar 😉

The Hyatt seriously spoiled us with the ultimate VIP experience during the party which made for the best NYE ever. It was freezing {at least to us after the crazy warm last few months} so we got to enjoy the view of the party indoors in the Hyatt’s ballroom. From the open bar stocked with champagne, the most insane spread with sushi, crab claws (!!!!!!), and a delicious dessert table I ravaged, it was such an epic night.

While there were too many highlights to count, ringing in 2016 with a beautiful fireworks show was probably the best part of the night. The New Year is about celebrating the year behind and the year ahead, and the fireworks made it way more ceremonious than years past. With the Chicago skyline in the background, it was nice to ring in the year in a city that truly feels like home. I am so darn in love with Chicago {I think I fell for it even harder in 2015!}, and I feel so lucky to be able to enjoy  this city every day. Here’s to loving Chicago even more in 2016! And of course – what NYE isn’t complete without totally acting a fool and tearing up the dance floor? After a few glasses of champagne, Lauren and I felt the need to show off our favorite show choir moves {including full ponies and jazz squares!} while attempting to match pitch to the party horns. You can take the girl out of the theatre, but you can’t take the theatre kid outta the girl 😉

After midnight Kit, Anna, Lauren and I tore up the dance floor with a few of our favorite 90’s hits and Bieber jams {as Lauren once said, who would have thought we’d all be Beliebers in 2015?}. It was seriously so much fun, and I’m already looking forward to ringing in 2017 the same way 🙂   So, how did you ring in 2016? I’d love to hear all about it {and I hope you had a few champagne inducing dance floor memories too!}

Thanks to Lauren for the photos!

A big thanks to Hyatt Gold Passport for sponsoring this post! I so appreciate you supporting the brands that keep Charmingly Styled running.