Do you fall into a rut with black during the holidays?

Sure, it’s easy, and maybe it’s even slimming.

But … yawn … it can also be predictable and boring.

This year, try bringing some color into your holiday outfits. Here’s how:

Midnight mass

Many holiday events call for daytime dressy outfits or business casual outfits. Consider these possibilities:

1. Team shades of pale gray and silver together in a sweater and pant. These colors will reflect light and create beauty without being flashy.
2. Sheath dresses in red, pink, blue, or green are festive alternatives to black. Create an accent with a multicolor orbit scarf that stays close to your neck.
3. A brocade or jacquard jacket. Even if they have a small amount of black in them, you can play up the other colors in the print by adding gloves, a small handbag or shoes in one of the other dominant shades.

Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/other parties

Festive party invitations should sending you reaching for a jeweled clutch, sparkly brooches, and faux fur wraps in every color but black. Some ideas:

• For a casual party in a home, consider a tartan-print blouse with a dressy flared jean, heels, and a juniper-green faux-fur cropped jacket.
• A white, tailored silk pantsuit with burgundy suede heels, burgundy jeweled handbag, and a statement necklace in purples and reds is much more interesting than black.
• A long dress in an exotic print. If the party is more casual, add a wide belt and suede ankle boots.

Party with the office

Although it can be fun to celebrate the holidays with your colleagues, it’s a terrible time and place to let loose. Make sure to have a little nosh beforehand, and limit your drinking. And keep your sexier outfits for another occasion.

• Wear an olive green leather skirt with a shimmery gold silk blouse tucked in. Add a kitten heel in a houndstooth plaid or tartan fabric for fun.
• Wear a flowy pant in a jewel tone like sapphire, emerald, ruby, or amber or a jacquard print with a simple sweater or blouse in white or ivory. Add a colorful statement necklace.
• Head-to-toe neutrals can be beautiful. When you focus on just one color, make sure to vary the textures in each piece. Choose your bottom—a long skirt, shorter skirt, pants or culottes—and add a cashmere sweater. Decide on single shades of gray, champagne, forest green, silver, blush or ivory and you’ll stand out in a sophisticated way. Add fine jewelry and you’re good to go!

The big ball drop

New Year’s Eve: Think upbeat and sparkly rather than predictably black. Whether you’re feting the new year at a gala or an intimate house party, stand out with color, print, textures, or all three and add to the excitement of the holiday with:

• A navy tuxedo pantsuit, metallic or sequin pump, and an ivory silk blouse make a comfortable yet festive combination. If heels are out of the question, go for a metallic flat, but make sure your pant are tailored accordingly. You don’t want to trip over your pant legs!
• A cranberry silk jumpsuit with ankle-wrap heels and a midnight-blue leather moto jacket. Add a bold necklace and a bangle or two.
• A pink satin top paired with a dark, dressy jean for a loft party in the city. Add a pearly white tuxedo jacket, heels, and long metallic necklaces to complete the look.

Nutcracker, anyone?

Performances, concerts, and events fill the month of December. You might get dinner or drinks before or after. Make the occasion special with colors that make you look radiant—even if you’re attending a matinee with the kids.

• A burgundy velvet long-sleeve top with a faux fur burgundy stole and a wide-leg dark gray pant.

• A snow-leopard-print stretch-knit dress with a cropped white faux-fur jacket
• A multicolor graphic-print wool coat over a smoky blue pantsuit or jumpsuit.

Ketura Persellin is an image consultant and personal stylist in Washington, DC, and surrounding suburbs. Please contact her for a complimentary get-acquainted session.