This holiday season, there are endless options for festive, fun dress. Think about ways to add to a current favorite dress, or purchase a new outfit that will put you in the spirit.

Before you pick out what to wear, be sure to think about the type of event or party that you’ll be attending. Also, keep in mind the weather — even when it’s sunny out, winter nights quickly grow chilly once the sun has set.

Some updated favorites as well as a few new styles from the 2010 trend reports appear below. Read on for plenty of ideas about winter party or special occasion dress.

Color-block trends:

Although monotone color-block clothing dominated the shelves in 2009, 2010 offers a fresh twist. This new outlook bends the traditional rules regarding color coordination. Look for any dress in your favorite shape that features multiple, bright blocks of color. A healthy dose of color will add a bit of pizzazz and holiday cheer to your outfit. Achieving such a bright, color-blocked look can be accomplished in alternate ways, too. Mix and match your favorite separates–especially bold colors that bring out your features. Cinch a belt around your waist as a transition from one color to the next.

See Oscar de la Renta’s latest all-over color blocked masterpiece.

Sequins, glitter, glam:

This winter, and even more during winter holidays or on New Year’s Eve, sequined clothing is the hottest and freshest way to celebrate! Look for clothing that features sequins as a small detail, but don’t shy away from all-over sequins. There’s nothing better than an all-over winter shimmer. Sequins will make your glittering top or sweater-dress stand out among the crowd. So many designers are incorporating sequins into their clothing designs, so don’t be worried about someone else wearing the same thing. Sequined items can be found in fun colors, fabrics and styles, so play around and explore your options in order to find your favorite. Check out Stella McCartney’s sheer sweater dress, completely adorned with sequins. For another idea, see Alexander Wang’s new mesh sequined mini-dress.

High dress splits:

For big occasions or a special night out, try 2010’s latest dress trend. A high dress split, running up the front of one side, is elegant, very sexy-sophisticate. The split should hit near your upper thigh, revealing the length of your legs. For petite women, this is a great full-length alternative. Because long dresses frequently overwhelm small frames, dresses with thigh-high splits are a great trick to visually elongate the legs. Style your high-split dress with tights or stockings that are mostly sheer for a refined evening look. Check out Versace’s Spring 2010 ready-to-wear line for ideas. Also, look at Lanvin’s ready-to-wear collection for a high-slit dress that feels more modest — its flowing fabric provides more overall movement, not just drawing attention to the thigh.

Other ideas:

If you want to re-style an old favorite, pick up a pair of new heels or bright-colored hose to jazz up your outfit and make it feel like new again.

Mix and match other clothing pieces that you already have for the perfect holiday look — ruffles, satins, silks, and tulle fabrics or details tend to feel more dressy.

Also, look back at my old column, “Mix daywear, evening wear to achieve casual chic” for more thoughts and ideas about dressing up.