Hi all! I try to incorporate a touch of red or green or metallic each day from Dec. 1 on. I find workdays more challenging because of practical considerations, including weather and being on my feet all day, and also trying to keep it subtle. These are the three that got photographed.

1... On this day I went straight from the office to my Line Dance Christmas party, which involved eating and dancing. Under the black cardi is a sleeveless raspberry satin shell. The bootcut pants have a subtle white on black plaid that doesn't show up well in the pic (I like something swishy that moves with me, so flares was it). The silk square has red flowers and green leaves and has become my go-to holiday scarf this year. The almond toe booties are new (Sears closeout) and survived this breaking in.

2... I don't often wear this red and white pinstriped shirt; it's actually a man's shirt, and very big. On this day it reminded me of candy canes. I reined it in with a black knit vest and added Ponte pants. These shoes are my supportive Clarks high vamped loafers (is there a word for that style) worn as alternate to the heeled booties I left home in.

The same scarf shows up. We were having issues with the heat in the office. Finally fixed -- apparently the thermostat had defaulted to an "oil furnace" setting, that turned on the heat but not the fan. (Now that it's fixed, I'm removing layers instead of adding them.)

3... My version of plaid shirt for holiday wear. It's black and white and sort of flannelly. Balanced with a shimmery gold knit vest. The same Ponte pants and booties.

Every year I long for a red tartan shirt and/or pants. Mostly what I have is black and white, or green and navy (the family tartan is Black Watch based). It feels like a betrayal to buy the Stewart tartan, but you all keep showing your lovely outfits and I just might cave.