Kerry Washington, Tracee Ellis Ross and Katie Holmes Are Making It Clear This Is the ‘It’ Color of Late Summer

When our own closets stop energizing us, we typically look to our favorite celebrities for fashion inspiration, and based on the latest looks from Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington and Katie Holmes, it seems that there's one color we should definitely be rocking for the tail-end of summer: black.

All three of these stylish stars have been spotted in outfits where black was the centerpiece, and you may be thinking to yourself, ‘Why would I wanna wear black in the dead of summer?!’ But, each of these looks included a clever twist so that their wearers wouldn't be too hot in the scorching weather.

Washington wore an-all black ensemble when she visited the set of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and acted as a host for the night. The Scandal actress was styled by Law Roach, and he outfitted her in a black, satin minidress from David Koma. Although she wore a dark color, Washington stayed cool in the breathable, lightweight fabric, and the design also featured a cutout along the neckline (a trend that we've been seeing all summer). She shared her ’fit on Instagram, along with a joking caption that said, “Once again, a woman has to come in and do a man’s job. @jimmykimmel, enjoy your vaca though!!!!”

Along with Washington, Ross recently opted for an all-black ensemble, which she wore to a “Diner De La Mode” fundraiser in Paris. The Balenciaga-designed ’fit included a black leather maxi skirt and short sleeve top. She then layered a leather coat over the outfit while walking the red carpet.

While decked out in leather, Ross kept cool by removing the jacket (as seen in a series of photos she shared to Instagram), and a high side slit kept her skirt breezy, not stifling.

Finally, Holmes added a splash of black to her latest outfit by adding a midnight-colored blazer over a t-shirt and jeans. She styled it smartly by rolling up the blazer's sleeves and wearing a light-colored tee underneath it.