A Red, Red Christmas

The Date: When a holiday invitation says black tie, women start wishing for the perfect dress. It’s got to be glamorous, but classic, and simple enough to justify the price tag. If you can get it in red this season, even better.

The Details: A couple of dramatic accessories can really make heads turn. An extra-long chiffon scarf that matches the dress can be dramatically draped, like a hood. For a touch of Dracula, as in the movie, add a ribbon choker, with a rhinestone-encrusted cross.

How to Do It Big: A red silk jersey dress, a fabric Halston made popular, can be a great basic. One version by New York design team Badgley Mishka is sleeveless and floor length with a sporty, mock turtleneck and a sexy slit to show off a bit of leg. The dress is $1,160. That’s a lot, but could be considered a good investment because it’s a classic. It is available at Saks Fifth Avenue, I. Magnin and Neiman Marcus. The red chiffon scarf is $75 at I. Magnin. The necklace, by A.C. Ancorniel, is $110 at Fred Segal, Melrose.

How to Do It Budget: If spending more than $1,000 on a dress is out of the question, a similar version by Los Angeles designer Geary Roark, for Kamisato, is an option. It is made of rayon crepe, with a jewel neckline, and is mid-calf length, but it has that sexy slit on the side. The real surprise is the back: It’s cut out to the waist, with five strands of pearls that drape across the open space. It’s a lot of dress for $198 at I. Magnin stores. Accessories pictured here are the same in both shots. But there are less expensive crosses at Fred Segal, and long red scarves in synthetic fabrics can be found in most department stores for under $30.