Walk of shame or stride of pride?

The fabled walk of shame will be a common sight this weekend, as the Hogmanay hardcore greet the new year with shoes in hand for the long, lonely walk home.

Harvey Nichols’ 2011 seasonal advert, based on that most perilous of journeys, invites us to turn a walk of shame into a ‘stride of pride’, recommending a well-chosen dress as the best method by which to maintain (or perhaps more accurately, salvage) dignity.

The video, which has had 677, 509 views, has been criticised in the media and by commenters, with some suggesting that it is misogynist, and prejudiced in its approach to both body size and social class, as well as praised for its wit, and as a refreshing antidote to the wholesome aspirational family Christmas portrayed in John Lewis’ hit advert. One user comment on You Tube sums up the varied reaction neatly, comparing the video to a Rorschach ink blot test, with its reactions revealing more about the viewer than about the content.

The only point the video itself makes, however, is that the only shame is in the wearing of a dress that doesn’t stand up to the harsh light of day. If the dress fits, you can sail on to that early morning bus or through crowds of commuters with your head held high, confidently exchanging knowing winks with the postman. But if the face doesn’t, your new Carven or Christopher Kane may have been a wasted investment. We say the dress is only half the story; the real arsenal for an extended night out, and the resulting trek home or, god forbid, to the office, is the makeup bag, rather than the wardrobe. Although a coat will go a long way in helping.

Here are our beauty essentials to see you on your way from party to public transport, or even back to the pub:

Primer is as vital to pre-party preparation as Prosecco. Not to be dismissed as just another product you don’t actually need, for once you should believe the hype. It really does make a difference; makeup goes on smoother over it, and will stay in place through the small hours. We like MAC Prep + Prime (£18).

Contrary to popular belief, smudged panda-esque eye makeup is not something that needs fixed. It is, in fact, the flattering focal point and saviour of your morning-after look – eyeliner always looks better when it’s a little bit lived-in. Just add cotton buds to your kit for cleaning up any smudges that have actually departed the eye area for the face.

The aim of the game with makeup the next morning is to keep as much of it on your face as possible. Disregard any advice about face wipes and their portability as a plus for an extended night out. You don’t need them. You need products that you can apply over the remnants of your makeup, not instead of them. No 7 Instant Vitality eye roll-on (£12 Boots) sorts out the dark circles and puffiness that indicate a failure to make it to bed, and can be rolled on with minimal disruption to your decadently dishevelled smoky eye.

If you haven’t made it home, or if you made it to someone else’s home and don’t fancy borrowing their toothbrush, however well-acquainted you may now be, crunch on a toothpaste tablet then rinse for fresh breath and clean teeth. Lush Toothy Tabs (£2.50) have a revitalising grapefruit and black pepper flavour.

Dry shampoo is an essential for those with no plans to hurry home when the clubs shut. It keeps hair looking and smelling fresh long past morning, while also imparting a chic bedhead look without the need to go to bed. Umberto Giannini Morning After Dry Shampoo (£1.99 Boots) comes in a handbag-friendly size. Alternatively, just tying your hair up the next day hides a multitude of sins, and hair bands and kirby grips take up next to no room in a handbag.

Used the night before, MAC Strobe Cream is the perfect pearly iridescent sheen for cheek and collarbones. Pop the miniature version (30ml £12) in your bag and the next morning you can blend it over the remnants of your base for a good approximation of a healthy glow.

Concealer will always outlast foundation, and the latter has no place in your makeup bag once you have left the house anyway. It is just not possible to touch up foundation after its initial application, it always looks caked and thus terrible. And you’re not exactly going to be getting busy with the face wipes and moisturiser to apply a fresh coat in the loos. Origins Quick, hide! concealer (£13) lasts 15 hours, so while it’s great for touch-ups, even those will be minimal.

Bronzer is the number one cosmetic item that can make you look like you’ve had eight hours sleep, taken your vitamins, eaten your Weetabix and been to the gym, rather than woken up to the sight of a half-eaten kebab and an overflowing ashtray, and its real beauty lies in the fact that, with a light touch, it can be layered on throughout the night, and the next day. We like NARS Laguna, which is devoid of scary orange tones and beautifully matte – adding sparkle to a bronzer defeats the purpose of it looking like a better version your own skin.

We should add that sunglasses are a viable alternative to all of the above.

What do you think of Harvey Nichols’ video? And what are your tips for a successful stride of pride? Let us know in the comments, or on Facebook or Twitter.