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:

1. 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).
2. 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…
3. 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

{Newlook red sweater} {H&M mom jeans and loafers} {ZARA gold chain bag} {H&M sunnies}