Last or previous?

Hi,
I'm writing a story in third person past tense, and I'd like to know which way is better to write a sentence :

She wore a pink frock, the same she had worn on a party last year.

or

She wore a pink frock, the same she had worn on a party the previous year

Because I though that if I wrote on past tense, I couldn't use "last year", because it would be the last year from the time I'm telling the story, which could be 10 years later the events actually took place.
The thing is, I stumbled upon several uses of variations of my first sentence, and now I'm confused.

Which sentence is right?
If I wasn't clear enough, just tell, and I'll try to elaborate on the next posts.

Thanks

 

You are right. Previous is appropriate here.

 

Also, don't you wear a frock at a party, not on it?

 

At the weekend, the adventurous Englishman wears frocks.
On the weekend, the American washes his car.

Is the latter formulation extended to things other than weekends in the New World?

 

should be 'to a party' not 'at' or 'on'...

and yes, 'previous' would be better than 'last' in most cases, though 'last' can be ok, if the narrative is in first person and it works in context...

 

I asked one thing and discovered that I have to study prepositions ASAP lol

Thank you for all the answers!

 

'Frock' sounds old fashioned -'dress' is more up to date.

 

I know, but I am writing historical fiction
Thanks

 

at a party is fine

 

Third person, past tense, the year before is fine. It doesn't need to be adapted.

 

use previous not last