The secrets of Rita Ora’s party-wear style

Rita Ora says “I hate being cold,” who's lounging on a sofa at the Mercer hotel dressed in a cosy and quite elegant off the shoulder parka coat dress by Acne Studios. The British singer is in New York to promote her latest turn as host on the brand new show of America’s Next Top Model, which airs on VH1 and is taking the opportunity to road test all her new statement outwear finds in the city. I adore layering and I’m a huge coat collector ,” says Ora, including that her recent prized property is a cow print Vivienne Westwood topper. Just in rotation are a Shrimps faux-fur trimmed biker jacket and a floor-skimming emerald Pucci coat. Ora is planning a holiday season cupboard detox to make room for all that fantastic new style. “I have plenty of clothes I don’t wear so I always give them to charities like Oxfam she says. Her holiday plans are still up in the air as of now, though she’s expecting to put the party-ready pieces in her wardrobe to great use over the break. “I find it so hard to not need to simply party and not work for New Year’s,” says Ora, who rang in 2016 at Sean Combs’s Cîroc bash in Florida with a Dolce & Gabbana frock; the year before that it proved to be a sequined look for the Boom Boom Room in New York. “ It’s all about figuring out what character I want to be,” says Ora of her glamorous appearances. “This New Year’s I might just take it easy.” But for a committed fashion plate like Ora, what does that really mean? “A nice pair of Zuhair Murad pants with a T shirt,” she says laughing. I ’m proud to be British. I like being from London and having those designers and having the ability to take risks and be gritty with it,” says Ora, who mentions Molly Goddard and Ashley Williams as current favorites. “Molly did just win finest breakthrough designer I think she’s amazing and she’s from my neighborhood.” In addition to experimenting with new designers, does Ora have some trend resolutions for the year ahead? “It’s for sure about jewelry,” she says without hesitation. “I want to try large neckpieces.”