Fashion 8 Outfits to Wear in January That Aren't All-Black Fight the urge! By Frances Solá-Santiago Frances Solá-Santiago Frances Solá-Santiago is the Fashion Editor at InStyle covering style and culture. Prior to joining InStyle, she held roles at Refinery29 and People en Español. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on January 2, 2025 @ 11:59AM Close Photo: Getty Images The new year always feels like a breath of fresh air. New goals take action, and the promise of a more perfect version of ourselves carries us back to work. That is, until the frigid winter temperatures make our closets feel like a bad film we've seen before. Piles of black clothes, winter layers you're not sure how to wear, and dreaded puffer coats are still there despite the year's renewed feel, and we're left to ponder each morning how to be stylish when the weather begs us to stay in bed. Simple style adjustments are all you need—I promise. Transforming an all-black palette for darker, muted tones or elevating a pair of Ugg boots can actually make all the difference. There are also simple ways to turn all your holiday season outfits into work-ready ensembles and even start wearing the spring/summer 2025 trends before they even hit stores. Whether your closet feels a bit boring or you're just unsure how to style all those winter essentials you've bought impulsively over the past few weeks, here are 8 outfit ideas to wear in January for a warm and stylish month ahead. 01 of 08 Mossy Green Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images The urge to wear all black in January is real. But try to steer away by instead wearing moss-like green shades from head to toe, mixing in textures that distract from the nature-adjacent palette. Just make sure to add a heavy turtleneck and maxi-length coat. 02 of 08 Knitted Balaclavas Edward Berthelot/Getty Images January is a perfect month to play around with warm and cozy accessories, making the balaclava a must-have for the month. For a ladylike look, pair one with a white skirt and faux fur jacket, adding black leather lug sole boots for some contrast. 03 of 08 Draped Action Christian Vierig/Getty Images Winter is all about draping items over us for warmth, whether it's a scarf or a blanket. But a coat can actually double up as well, giving you an elevated take on Lenny Kravitz's infamous blanket scarf look. For an edgy take, pair it with a leather dress for added texture. Look of the day Must see fits from all your favorite celebs. See the looks 04 of 08 Tie It Edward Berthelot/Getty Images If Saint Laurent's spring/summer 2025 runway lineup is any indication, the suit-and-tie combo is the year's hottest combo. Sure, spring is months away, but going for a suit in velvet textures (worn under a coat, of course) is a good way to winterize this trending outfit formula. 05 of 08 Ugg-ly Chic Edward Berthelot/Getty Images The January blues may make you give up on everything, including on dressing up. Thankfully, Ugg boots are currently an It-shoe, worn by celebrities like Bella Hadid. To build an outfit around them, take a classic puffer coat and a sweater, paired with leggings and a chic tote bag. The morning coffee run never looked so good. 06 of 08 Merry January Edward Berthelot/Getty Images Just because Christmas is over doesn't mean you have to give it up yet. A mistletoe-ready plaid jacket is all it takes, adding in some everyday staples like a double-breasted black coat, pumps, and a tote bag. For some added holiday-inspired drama, add a faux fur cropped jacket over the coat. It's like going back to Christmastime. 07 of 08 Brighten Up Photo by Christian Vierig/Getty Images A maxi coat and knit dress is a classic winter fashion combo. But while it's common to go for more muted tones in the winter, this January, let fashion's maximalist bug bite you with a bold-colored dress. Let it shine with neutral-toned accessories, whether it's a pair of sneakers or a structured handbag. 08 of 08 Red Wine Supernova Edward Berthelot/Getty Images If a long winter coat is not your suit, an oversized jacket (with room for underlayers!) may be just what you need this January. Sacrificing a coat's length needs to be balanced by warm accessories, which can come in the form of knee-high boots, a knit balaclava, and a draped blanket scarf.