The hue of the moment is scarlet – in all its hues.
Burgundy, vermillion, pinkish, nearing brown: every shade on the red scale is up for grabs, and the key trend is wearing them together.
However, it’s a tricky one to pull off. Rescu. is here to give you the ultimate guide.
Pick shades with a distinct relationship. Make them clash or make them tonally blend – don’t just pick out reds willy-nilly in the hope that they’ll make a cohesive look. Pay attention to how they work together.
The most important aspect of this trend? Subtlety. Stay away from all-over vibrant, searing reds and exactly matching hues, unless you want to look like a crazed grandmother. Think of it as creating your own ombre.
Also check how the reds work with your skin tone. Overtones of pink or orange can make lighter skin look over-ruddy, while very dark tones might leech out any brightness from darker skin. Look at things under various lights to make sure the colour works for you.
A good match: lighter and darker ‘pale’ reds together. Go for washed-out shades for day and punchier for night. A good limit is two or three shades of red per outfit, as any more will overwhelm anybody except the most striking of features.
If you have a pair of decadent red trousers, pair them with a top which picks up the notes but doesn’t copy exactly, and so on. Do not match your accessories – pick basic black or another colour entirely.
Make-up needs to be pared back to work with this trend. Don’t give in to the temptation to work a bright red lip – you are not the Queen Of Hearts. Simple sophistication and a lick of eyeliner is all that’s required.
Ready to go red?
Image: Valentino
