There's no dictating holiday trends now that celebrations are going more intimate and small scale.

Luxury hasn't gone away, but the Golden Rule now is, if you've got it, don't flaunt it.

Past holiday seasons have been about bling, shine and one or two hot colors, but the new dress code seems to be “;come as you are.”; The only constant is color, lots of it.

Sure, black remains a classic, but those out for fun are looking for something more playful, less staid, when they've already got a lot of black pieces in their closets to mix and match.

A survey of store racks shows an eclectic mix of prints, solid colors ranging from deep reds to primary blue, matte and shiny fabric, and subtle sparkle at every price point.

Harried hosts have also been running late with their invites this season, but the wide range of choices assures that you'll always be prepared to go anywhere the party is, whether it's backyard casual, downtown clubby or ballroom dressy. And, you'll continue to get mileage out of the pieces in the new year.