Dress to Impress New Year Event 2026 Guide

What is Dress to Impress?

Dress to Impress is Roblox’s fashion competition game where players style avatars based on runway themes, then vote on who executed the theme best. It’s part creativity challenge, part social competition, with a massive catalog of clothing, accessories, hair, and makeup.

Core gameplay loop:

• Each round gives a theme (e.g., “Tennis Match,” “Fairy Princess,” “Cyberpunk”)
• You have 5 minutes to create an outfit matching the theme
• Players walk the runway and pose
• Everyone votes on which outfits best captured the theme
• Top 3 players earn rewards (currency, items, recognition)

The game’s depth comes from learning which items work for specific themes, mastering color coordination, understanding toggle options, and staying updated on new releases. Experienced players can create looks that consistently place top 3 across dozens of themes.

Fashion updates matter because DTI’s item catalog is how you express creativity and compete effectively. New hair or makeup expands what’s possible for themed outfits.

Event Overview

Duration: December 27, 2025 - January 3, 2026 (estimated based on code expiration)

Location: Existing lobby with New Year decorations added

What’s new:

• 1 new hairstyle
• 9 new eyeshadows
• 1 VIP-exclusive set (5 pieces)
• Returning Sparkling Resolution set (4 pieces)
• Free code items (3 pieces)
• Quality of life toggle updates
• Lobby decorations and fireworks

The update keeps the Christmas lobby infrastructure but adds New Year elements - fireworks in the sky, 2026 balloons scattered around, confetti effects. It’s transitional: not fully New Year-themed, but acknowledging the holiday.

What’s NOT new:

No runway changes, no new themes, no lore additions. Players expected more story content after the Halloween and Christmas lore developments, but this update focuses purely on fashion items.

New Hair & Makeup

DTI added one hairstyle and nine eyeshadow options. That sounds minimal, but the quality is high - these are items that’ll see use beyond this event.

Free Code Items

The code “2026baddies” gives three items, and DTI literally called players “baddies” in the code name. Respect. All three are accessories with different levels of long-term value.

2026 Balloons are celebratory balloons with “2026” printed on them. The toggles are what make them special - you can hold balloons in one hand, both hands, or actually fly with them. The flying toggle is wild. Combined with DTI’s /fly command, you can pose mid-air on the runway with balloons lifting you up. For New Year themes or celebration categories, this creates unique poses other players can’t replicate. They work for party themes, fantasy themes (balloons = whimsical), and poses that need vertical height variation.

2026 Glasses are novelty glasses shaped like “2026” where the zeros are the lenses and the 2 and 6 frame your face. Honest assessment: these are fun for exactly one week. After New Year’s, you’re probably not using glasses that literally say “2026” on them. They’re a novelty item, not a wardrobe staple. Best use case is New Year’s themes during this event week, then they’ll collect dust in your inventory. The glasses have item adjustment, meaning you can reposition them (move them up to rest on your head like sunglasses, tilt them, etc.), which adds some utility for creative posing.

Star Headpiece is a golden star headpiece with sparkle effects. This one has staying power. Toggle between sparkles on or off - with sparkles off, it’s a clean gold star crown; with sparkles on, it’s celebration-themed. That flexibility means it works for New Year themes, royalty themes (acts as crown), star/celestial themes, and celebration themes year-round. This is the keeper from the code items. The balloons are event-specific, the glasses are a novelty, but the star headpiece is versatile enough to use across multiple themes for months.

VIP Exclusive Set

If you have VIP (premium subscription), you get access to one of DTI’s most elegant sets in recent memory. The set includes five pieces: headpiece/crown, necklace with “queen” toggle, dress with multiple toggles, shoes (mysterious functionality), and a boa/shawl fur wrap.

The dress is the centerpiece - elegant, formal, with versatile toggles. You can wear the full dress with fur trim, dress without fur for a cleaner silhouette, or top only for layering with other skirts. The “top only” toggle is huge for layering enthusiasts. You can pair it with different skirts, pants, or layered pieces to create custom combinations that don’t exist in DTI’s catalog. Color customization works well - the dress takes patterns and colors cleanly without weird texture issues, which means it works for color-coordinated themes where you need specific palettes.

The necklace is a statement piece with a “queen” toggle that adds visual weight and elegance. The standard version is subtle, while the queen version has bold, royal aesthetic. For formal themes (Royalty, Gala, Red Carpet, Old Money), the queen toggle elevates outfits. For modern or minimalist themes, the standard version works without overwhelming the look.

The boa/shawl is a fur wrap that drapes over shoulders. No feathers - it’s smooth fur texture. Shoulder accessories are rare in DTI since most items focus on head, face, hands, or legs. A shoulder piece adds dimension to upper body silhouettes, which helps outfits stand out on the runway when players are voting. Works perfectly for vintage Hollywood themes, formal winter themes, Old Money aesthetics, and layering over simple dresses.

The shoes are where it gets weird. They don’t function as standalone footwear in the traditional sense. They might be an accessory for other heels (like the diamond heel toggle), a bug that’ll be fixed, or decorative leg accessories. Players are still figuring this out. If they’re heel accessories, that’s actually more useful than standalone shoes - you can apply the aesthetic to multiple heel types.

Sparkling Resolution Set (Returning)

Last year’s New Year set is back for players who missed it. If you already own pieces, you only pay for what’s new. If you’re starting from scratch, budget ~9,500 currency for the full set: Sparkling Dress (4,500), Sparkling Necklace (500), Sparkling Sleeve (1,000), and Sparkling Heels (3,500).

These items have proven staying power. Players who got them last year still use them regularly because they’re versatile across multiple theme categories. The dress works for party themes, celebration themes, formal events, and sparkle/glitter themes. At 4,500 currency, it’s the most expensive single piece but also the most versatile.

DTI retroactively added toggles to last year’s items, which means returning players get new functionality on items they already own. That’s smart - it rewards loyalty while giving new players reasons to buy. The dress now has corset toggle (changes dress structure), remove chains option, and top-only version for layering. The sleeve now has both arms toggle (wear on both sides) and remove glitter option. Last year you could only wear the sleeve on one arm, which was limiting - the both-arms toggle makes it significantly more useful.

The heels are clean, sparkly, formal heels that work for dozens of themes. At 3,500 currency they’re expensive, but if you compete regularly, they’ll pay for themselves through versatility. They’re a solid foundation piece that pairs with almost any formal or party outfit.

Toggle Updates & Quality of Life Changes

Beyond new items, DTI added functionality updates to existing pieces that improve layering options and customization.

Diamond Heels from the Christmas advent calendar now have a toggle to remove the shoe portion, leaving just the decorative fishnet/accessory part. Now you can wear the fishnet aesthetic with different heels. Want the diamond heel look but with black shoes instead of the default? Toggle off the shoe, equip your preferred heels, and layer the fishnet over them. This turns one item into a layering tool compatible with your entire shoe collection.

Snowflake Dress added toggles for top only and skirt only. Another layering option - mix the snowflake top with different skirts, or pair the skirt with other tops. One dress becomes multiple outfit components, which is exactly what layering enthusiasts want.

Christmas Shoes from the Weekly Boutique got toggles to remove socks or wear socks only. The “socks only” toggle lets you use the Christmas sock aesthetic with any shoes. Great for themes that want festive legs without committing to the full Christmas shoe aesthetic.

Pattern Support expanded to some items that previously didn’t accept custom patterns. This includes parts of the VIP set and winter items. Why patterns matter: themes often require specific colors or color combinations. If an item doesn’t support patterns, you’re stuck with its default colors. Pattern support means you can match any theme’s color palette.

Masculine Avatar Updates include a turtleneck chest rework for masculine body types - flatter, more proportional. Small change, but masculine players have been underserved in DTI’s fashion updates, so any improvements help.

Limited Time Window

Most of this content disappears after January 3rd, 2026.

What’s going away:

• The free code (can’t redeem after Jan 3)
• The Sparkling Resolution set (won’t return until 2027)
• Potentially some lobby decorations

What’s permanent:

• New hair (stays in catalog)
• New eyeshadows (stays in catalog)
• VIP set (likely limited, but VIP items sometimes return)

The urgent priorities:

1. Redeem the code immediately. Don’t put this off. It takes 10 seconds and you get three items. Even if you think you won’t use them, claim them anyway - you can’t get them later.

2. Buy the Sparkling Resolution set if you want it. If you skip it now, you wait an entire year for another chance. That’s a full 365 days of missing out on versatile items that work across dozens of themes.

3. Decide on VIP. If you’re VIP, grab the set. If you’re not VIP but considering it, this set might be the push you need.

Should You Prioritize This Event?

Dress to Impress’s New Year update is small, but that’s not necessarily bad. Quality items that you’ll use for months beat 50 throwaway cosmetics you’ll equip once.

Do this event if:

• You play DTI regularly (the items genuinely improve your outfit options)
• You collect limited sets (Sparkling Resolution won’t return until next year)
• You’re VIP (the exclusive set is gorgeous)
• You want more eyeshadow variety (9 new options is significant for makeup-focused players)

Skip or do casually if:

• You don’t play DTI (no point buying items for a game you don’t engage with)
• You’re broke on in-game currency (Sparkling set is expensive, save for items you’ll use)
• You’re burned out from other events (it’s okay to sit this one out)

The honest take:

This isn’t the update that brings new players into DTI. If you don’t already like the game, one hair and some eyeshadows won’t change that.

But if you’re already a DTI player, this update gives you genuinely useful tools. The eyeshadows expand creative possibilities, the VIP set is elegant, and the toggle updates improve items you already own.

Currency Management Tips

If you’re buying the Sparkling Resolution set and don’t have 9,500 currency saved up, here’s how to earn it before January 3rd:

Play ranked rounds and place top 3:

• First place: ~200-300 currency per round
• Second place: ~150-200 currency
• Third place: ~100-150 currency

If you can consistently place top 3, you need roughly 40-50 rounds to earn 9,500 currency. Across 6 days, that’s about 7-8 rounds per day.

Focus on themes you know:

Don’t waste time on themes you can’t style well. If “Y2K” comes up and you don’t know what that is, skip the round. Wait for themes you can execute confidently.

Use the advent calendar:

If you’ve been keeping up with the Christmas advent, you’re getting daily currency rewards. That helps offset costs.

Don’t buy everything:

You don’t need every piece of the Sparkling set. If you only want the heels or the dress, buy those. You can always get the other pieces next year.

Comparison to Other New Year Events

Compared to Grow a Garden and Plants vs Brainrots, DTI’s update is the least grindy.

DTI’s approach:

• No daily login requirements
• No competitive mechanics
• No time-sensitive countdown events
• Just: redeem code, buy items, play normally

This is good if:

You’re tired of events that demand hours of daily commitment. DTI respects your time - grab what you want and move on.

This is bad if:

You wanted event activities beyond “buy items.” There’s no special game modes, no event-exclusive themes, no New Year’s Eve countdown party in-game.

For a full comparison of New Year events across Roblox, check our complete New Year’s events roundup.

What Happens After January 3rd?

Once the code expires and the Sparkling set leaves the shop:

Code items become status symbols. Players who didn’t redeem the code will ask where you got the star headpiece or balloons. You can’t trade DTI items, so missing the code means you missed your only chance.

Sparkling Resolution set vanishes. It won’t be in the shop again until December 2026 at the earliest. Players who want it for the next 12 months are out of luck.

New items stay in catalog. The hair and eyeshadows are permanent additions. You can buy them anytime after the event ends.

VIP set status is unclear. VIP items sometimes cycle out, sometimes stay. Assume this is your best chance to get it and plan accordingly.

Time Investment Reality

This is one of the lowest-effort events on Roblox right now.

To get everything free:

• 1 minute to enter the code
• Done

To buy the Sparkling set:

• 30-60 minutes of gameplay per day for 4-5 days
• Assumes you’re winning/placing top 3 consistently

To just play casually:

• Launch DTI, redeem code, browse new items
• 10 minutes total
• Come back if you decide you want the Sparkling set

No daily login requirements. No grinding mechanics. No competitive spawn camping. Just play the game normally or don’t play at all.

If you’re suffering from event fatigue after Christmas updates, DTI is the lightest time commitment on the platform.

Final Thoughts

Dress to Impress’s New Year update isn’t flashy. It’s not trying to compete with games that have massive content drops or week-long grinding events.

It’s a curated selection of quality fashion items that players will actually use beyond this week. One good hair beats five mediocre ones. Nine versatile eyeshadows beat 30 theme-specific options you’ll equip once.

The Sparkling Resolution set returning is smart - it gives new players access to proven items while rewarding existing players with new toggles on pieces they already own.

The free code is generous. Three items, one of which (star headpiece) has genuine long-term utility.

And the VIP set is legitimately gorgeous.

If you play DTI regularly, do this event. Redeem the code, grab the Sparkling set if you want it, and enjoy having more tools for future runway competitions.

If you don’t play DTI, this isn’t the update that’ll change your mind. But if you’re even remotely interested in the game, spending 10 minutes to redeem a free code costs nothing and gives you items you might want later.

The code expires January 3rd. Don’t be the player who asks where everyone got the 2026 balloons after it’s too late.