My dad used to tell me the colour red suited me when I was younger. I was never a full-on red kinda girl but I had a few statement pieces in my wardrobe and it was indeed a colour that always lifted my spirits as well as those of any outfit I put together.
The first time I rocked a bold red lip I knew it was my (strawberry) jam, and I could feel the power that emanated from this bright hue, often associated with blood, fire, passion & love. If neutrals calm our mood and help us blend in with the surroundings, red is the colour of those brave and feisty souls that were not made to blend in.
“It’s just a colour” you might be thinking, and a so much celebrated one in fashion (especially this season), that it has become sort of an ordinary one at that. However if we look back in fashion history, we find that the colour red was for many centuries only accessible to wealthy people, given that the cochineal, the little bug used to create the red pigment for the dyes, could only be found in Mexican cacti and therefore had to be imported into Europe. For instance, it is a well-known fact that the almighty Louis XIV was a red enthusiast and he loved to add a touch of crimson to all of his ensembles, being it a bow, the heels of his shoes or the robes he wore, as a clear sign of power and class.
Nowadays red is a totally accessible colour in fashion and no bugs are harmed in the process thanks to the creation of synthetic dyes, but it is nonetheless a hue that conveys a powerful message, a bold statement, a passionate declaration… yet the best thing about it is that you don’t need to go over board, for a few subtle pops of red are enough to make an outfit stand out!
If you are not that much into bold colours, but you want to learn how to add that extra oopmh to your looks, here are my…
3 simple tips to incorporate red into your wardrobe:
- Think of your accessories: as I mentioned earlier, subtle pops of red is all you need to make an outfit stand out. Add a red neckerchief or bandana to your casual look (exhibit A here), a hair ribbon for a classy look or simply a red bag that will take most of the attention off of the actual clothes (like this one in my latest post).
- Makeup and Nails are your allies: if you think step 1 might be actually too much for starters, you can go with an all-time-classic red nail polish (exhibit B here). It’s a colour that suits everyone and you can’t go more subtle than that 😉 The next level would be trying on a red lipstick, but we can leave that one for later…
- Go bold or go home: sometimes the best way to overcome our insecurities is by a healthy dose of exposure to our “fears”. When done right, red is a colour that speaks volumes about your confidence and style so why not go full on red-madness by wearing a bold coat or a red skirt paired with a white/neutral top? Andreea from Couturezilla knows the power of this colour all too well and she uses it to her advantage in every look. J’adore! ♥
Now, on this particular outfit at hand, I’ll confess these pics had been sitting on my laptop for weeks, as newer fresher content kept coming, and somehow I forgot about them. But now that everyone is talking about V-day, I thought I’d make a case for red all year round 🙂
This oversized boxy sweater caught my eye during last autumn sales and I had been thinking of ways to style it without it being too overpowering. Even if I do like red, I don’t necessarily fancy looking like a walking strawberry, so balance is key here! Minimal makeup and black jeans + shoes were my styling of choice.
Although it’s fair to say this outfit was put together before the all-red everything trend hit the streets (was I a visionary during the sales?), and I won’t lie to you: I am now considering bolder combinations with this baby. That’s the beauty of fashion, once you cross your limit line once, it’s much easier to push that line further and further away each time 😉
I recently read that, whether you love it or don’t dare to wear it, red is rarely an accident. It may symbolise different things in your culture, and you may use it to celebrate fertility, good luck, love or happiness, but one thing is always sure: your red garment was made red on purpose.
What does this colour mean to you, glamistas? Do you wear it boldly or subtly? I would love to hear your thoughts!
Peace&Love
Saida
high neck top
24th April 2018 at 8:21 amI love the all-black shoes for any season. so comfy and so stylish!
Lauren Conrad
8th February 2018 at 5:47 pmPretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing
your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
le blonde
2nd February 2018 at 10:57 pmAnd you look so good on it!!
XOLB
http://www.le-blonde.com
Rachel
2nd February 2018 at 5:23 amSimply cool and stylish! Looks great!
http://chicglamstyle.com
yuka
1st February 2018 at 9:59 pmI love the detail on the bag! it’s such a cute accessory!
http://www.prettyinleather.net
tu estilo - look & chic
31st January 2018 at 11:20 pmstas preciosa en este outfit informal, te queda perfectamente. ¡El jersey de color rojo es una pasada! Besitos y feliz día
http://www.tuestilo.eu/blog/25_san-valentin-que-me-pongo.html
Simply Sory
31st January 2018 at 3:02 pmQue lindas fotos y que bonito tu sueter, ese color alegre el día a cualquiera.
Te dejo mi último post, french girl
http://www.simplysory.com/2018/01/31/oui-french-girl/
Saida
31st January 2018 at 8:15 pmLa verdad es que sí, el rojo siempre nos alegra un día gris. Un abrazo, Soraya!
Linda
31st January 2018 at 1:55 amAmazing look! So elegant!
xx
Linda from Beauty And Tips
Saida
31st January 2018 at 8:14 pmThank you!
Luz Oliva
30th January 2018 at 8:32 pmMe encanta el color rojo para vestir. Y como dices, siempre levanta el ánimo!
Gracias por los consejos.
Un besazo!!
http://www.luztieneunblog.com/
Saida
31st January 2018 at 8:13 pmGracias por pasarte y dejar un comentario, Luz, espero que estés pasando buena semana. Un abrazo!
Jules
30th January 2018 at 12:44 pmBeautiful outfit, love your bag!!
https://julesonthemoon.blogspot.it
Andreea Birsan
30th January 2018 at 10:46 amShould I state the obvious? You know I love red and your dad was right! It really suits you well and it looks great in this outfit. Sometimes it can be hard to pull off a black and red look, but you nailed it. Wishing you a lovely day. xx
Andreea,
http://couturezilla.com/
Alessa
30th January 2018 at 8:19 amI love it! soo cute and simple and casual is so amazing!
Please visit my Blog!
http://www.alessabernal.com/
Alessa Bernal
Short Girl Long Jacket
29th January 2018 at 11:51 pmRed does look good on you! And thanks for the little history lesson, I didn’t know it was a symbol of the wealthy. I’m half Russian and in Russian ‘red’ and ‘beauty’ both have the same root word so it has that special little meaning for me. But otherwise it’s what I wear when I want to be extra bold 🙂
xx
Didier
29th January 2018 at 8:15 pmFunnily enough I have always hated wearing red until recently. Now I just adore the colour!
-Didier
http://www.didieryhc.com
The Fashion Folks
29th January 2018 at 6:36 pmRed suits you so well indeed! Love how you limited the statement to one pop of red and paired it with the sunnies, pants and shoes. A lovely Audrey Hepburn vibe to it if you ask me. Have a lovely week hun! Xx
http://www.thefashionfolks.com
sonia // daring coco
29th January 2018 at 9:27 amI love red, it is such a luxurious hue and it doesn’t surprise me that is was something available to the wealthy few. (What surprised me was that I didn’t know this hahaha!)
Sxx
daringcoco.com
Dominique
29th January 2018 at 4:23 amI’m loving red at the moment! You look fabulous in it and love it paired with black xx
http://www.thatnewdress.com
Neguine
28th January 2018 at 11:29 pmGirl girl. So glad I discovered your blog (sorry I showed up late). I’m totally with you on this one, red shades are the only ones I incorporate in my lipstick department. It always gives that special touch to otherwise plain outfits. Your dad was right, red is your color! It looks gorgeous on you. xxx
http://www.persianbrunette.com
the adventurer
28th January 2018 at 10:18 pmI think I am going to need to go shopping to get myself a red piece for my wardrobe =o)
https://dreamofadventures.com/
Morning Mountains
28th January 2018 at 2:17 pmyour hair girl.. GORGEOUS! and red shades fit you so well! i will definitely go for lipsticks or nail polish when it comes to incorporating red in my wardrobe. this outfit is totally cool!
have a lovely day!
Saida
28th January 2018 at 5:52 pmAwww you are always so sweet Grace, thank you for stopping by. I love me a good red lipstick as well, happy week!
Sofia
28th January 2018 at 1:51 pmLoveeee that jumper!!
xx Sofia | SOFIAADOT
Saida
28th January 2018 at 4:24 pmHahaha, it’s really warm and cozy Sofia! Thanks for stopping by, girl!
Florentina
28th January 2018 at 1:26 pmLove this outfit, it is glam and comfortable at the same time, and that is not easy. That purse is a perfect accessory for this look.
Have a fantastic Sunday!
Greetings,
Flo
Saida
28th January 2018 at 4:23 pmThank you very much darling, this little bag has been the perfect accessorize to many of my looks indeed! Hope you have a fantastic week Xx
Anne
28th January 2018 at 1:25 pmCan we talk about that hair?! It’s so epic! You look stunning xxxx
Saida
28th January 2018 at 5:52 pmYour comments always make me so happy, Anne. I hope to see you soon, my dearest!