The Style Files : Seeing Red!
One of the most loved, talked, tweeted and shared about looks was from the Gucci Autumn/Winter 2015 show, when the new creative director, Alessandro Michele, sent out look number 14, a dream of a ruffle-tiered dress in “hibiscus red” silk-georgette.
Look 14 summed up the decadence, but relaxed decadence, of this collection, which defined the mood of the season. Styled with spectacles he underplayed a colour that has the potential to be problematic. A red dress may be grandiose or little much, but this was neither, it was worn with flats for that added librarian appeal.
But this red dress was one of many. A micro-trend in the international collections, red dresses now seem to have blown up into a full-on crimson wave.
From Valentino to Wickstead, designers are producing scores of knock-out scarlet numbers.
But why red? It’s maybe the most powerful colour because it’s symbolic of so many things – danger, passion, blood, love. The beauty of red is that it suits most skin tones.
Red dresses haven’t always had such a good press. Clearly Chris de Burgh didn’t help in 1986. A scarlet woman and the ridiculous notion of all that it entails is still somewhat stuck in our collective fashion consciousness. Although thankfully that seems to be lessening but there can still be a shyness about decking yourself out entirely in red.
The secret to wearing it well is to choose longer rather than shorter lengths and looser fits. You want a style that hangs slightly away from the body. Underdressing it is also key, as Gucci showed, although some may draw the line at fake specs.
Interestingly a new branch of science called “colour psychology” has found that red can have a profound influence on our mood, perceptions and actions. Wearing red can even change your physiology and balance of hormones.
However you choose to wear it, make sure you incorporate a bit of red into your wardrobe.
By Minoli Ratnayake
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