Red Hot Holiday Fashions

Red is always popular colour choice during the Holiday season, and no more so than this year.  It’s wonderful to see this warm colour everywhere. I love red, but it’s not always the easiest colour to wear.  Here are some hot tips on wearing red, and some perfect red pieces to make your Holiday wardrobe pop.

Red Hot Tips:

• Select the right shade of red for you – especially any red you’re wearing close to your face.  Some reds have blue undertones, such as cranberry red,  and some reds have yellow undertones – so if a red doesn’t seem to be suiting you, it may be due to this. Simply try a different shade. Classic Christmas or mail box red suits most of us, except those who normally wear a strong autumn colour palette i.e. orange, yellow, browns.
• One large or two small red items are usually enough – so, if you wear a red dress, choose accessories and shoes in a different colour – black is the classic, but also consider silver grey or even brown. Wearing a fabulous pair of red shoes? No need to match your purse, but you could add earrrings or a necklace with red gems, for example.
• Unless you’ve volunteered to be Mrs. Claus at the community centre, avoid wearing bright white with red at all costs!  Off-white might work – ask a friend to be sure that your choice of red and white work.
• Coordinating hose and tights – if you’re wearing a red dress or skirt, select hose in a toned down version of the shoe colour. For example, barely black hose with black shoes or soft brown hose with brown shoes.  The standard alternate is nude – and make sure it is nude and NOT tan.

Red Hot pieces to get passionate about:

• Move over little black dress! Stand out in the crowd with a classic Holiday alternate, the little red dress. I have a red cocktail dress that I purchased 9 years ago and have worn it every so often over the years – including this one.  Here are a few options out in the stores right now from Club Monaco (note the black accessories), American Eagle, Gap, Banana Republic and Victoria’s Secret.                                                            
  
  

• Red on top. Add a statement to your closet with the purchase of a red hot top. The choice is endless right now, for every occasion the Holidays call for.  Everything from red hot evening tops to sleek sweaters and cosy knits. Take a look…these are from Gap (ruffled blouse and fitted v-neck sweater), Victoria’s Secret and American Eagle.

• Put on your red shoes and dance. Liven up black, grey, blue jeans or just about any plain outfit with a punch of colour on your feet. Who doesn’t love a pair of fabulous red shoes? Here are some hot heels and fabulous flats in outrageous red. The patent, peep-toe pumps (try saying that fast three times) are from Payless, the power pumps are from Aldo, the ballet beauties are from American Eagle and the party pretties from The Shoe Company.

• Awesome accessories.  Even if you’re not sure how to wear red, you can create the right, red effect with accessories. Consider red jewelry, gloves, scarves and belts. Below is jewelry from Old Navy, ruby ring from ice.com, red leather gloves from JCPenny.com, Payless red bag and belt and Banana Republic evening clutch.

• Cosy up in crimson. Check out the choice of pjs, robes and loungewear choices in red this year.  These items also make great gifts. All the following from La Senza.

• Staying in the red.  if your red budget runs to no more than a few dollars, you can still get miseltoe-ready with no more than a gorgeous red-toned lip colour. CoverGirl Trublend sheer, shiny lip shades works with your natural lip tones and claim to complement up to 97% of skin tones so you can select the perfect shade for you.

• Racy red. Yes, red is warm, cheery and fun, but it’s also the colour of passion. Even if you’re not wearing red on top, you can heat up the Holidays with some senstaional, seasonal undies. These are from Victoria’s Secret and The Gap.

   

Until next time…wishing all you red hot mamma’s a wonderful, safe, healthy and happy Holiday season.

Katie is host of the urbanmoms.ca Style File.  As a public relations professional and a student of style and design, Katie has helped many retail and fashion clients promote their brands. She is mom to two boys (the best anti-shopping devices on the market) and now indulges her love of fashion by conducting wardrobe consultations, personal shopping expeditions and by participating in media interviews, providing advice on everything from wardrobe must-haves to accessories and footwear.  Katie firmly believes that high style does not have come with a high price tag and her shopping philosophy is based on saving both time and money.

For more style musings, visit Katie at Real Canadian Style www.realcanadianstyle.blogspot.com