Sunday, November 18, 2012

Scarlet Theory

They say everybody can wear red, it is just a matter of finding the right shade, do you agree? I, for one, find red beautiful but difficult to wear as solid, close to my face. I never used to wear it because I had acne as a teenager and young adult and red tends to emphasize any pimples and blotches you may have.

I also don't look good in deep blue tone reds, they make me look pale and washed out. Orange tones are also a no-no. I like pink soft reds the best but I find that the medium bright red also works.


This cashmere v-neck is from Brora and the color was call scarlet. It is a pure medium red and I love it. 

Another difficulty with red is styling it. Of course it goes perfectly with black and white and leopard but it is so predictable. I like it best with gray and khaki/tan. You can also try pairing it with pink or red print, but you have to be bold to wear it. Red prints, on the other hand, are easy to wear and  they look great with denim. With solid red, I usually only do one piece. Here, I am also wearing the red Tillary purse, but I actually swapped it for black messenger bag for the office. Mostly, because it is just too small, but also to tone it down even more.


I liked the pairing of red with black and tan and I did not feel too conspicuous in it.  The blazer makes it business-like and I think the tights and flats offset the shorter length of the skirt.

My blazer is at least 8 years old and it is from Theory. They currently have Gabe B blazer that looks very similar. I love the cut of those blazers and they are totally worth the money. They run small, I usually wear a 6 in J.Crew blazers but I need 8 in Theory.


The Nico Black Blossom skirt was originally even shorter, I sized up and have let down the hem about inch and a half. I could wear it lower on hips to make it right above the knee length. In the picture it sits pretty high up but I like the look. The herringbone tights (also J.Crew) are one of my absolute favorites. I also bought them in black/brown, they elevate any skirt outfit. The ballet flats are from Tahari and the purse is from J.Crew.



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That's all folks!

Do you wear red? What do you like to pair it with?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!

26 comments:

  1. I do much better with orange-y reds than true reds. In fact I didn't have a single red top or sweater (OK, I had a poppy turtleneck cashmere from HO 2006 - I remember because I was pregnant when I bought it - but I threw it away last year, it looked too ratty). I just bought the heathered red cashmere cable which is as red as I can do. It looks like a true red but when you put it against the maraschino cherry you see the orange undertones.
    I like how you styled the skirt!

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    Replies
    1. I love the maraschino cherry color, I bought couple t-shirts in it, because it is rare for J.Crew to do a medium red. Orange reds are better on me than blue reds but the clear or pink red are the best.
      I was inspired to wear my Theory blazer after seeing your post the other day.

      Delete
  2. I read a book called "The Naked Ape," it's kind of anthropology lite, and about the only thing I remember from reading it is that the best red for your complexion is already on your body. It took me a long time, and some contortions with a pocket mirror, to figure out what this meant, but it is true.

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  3. I love wearing red. I don't usually buy anything that reads too orange. I like to pair red with camel or chocolate brown, as well as navy and gray. In the Summer I like to add a bit of red to an outfit that has turquoise as the main color.

    I think the red top looks great with that cute skirt. I love the print in the skirt. Pretty outfit all the way around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tahnk you maryeb! Me too, in the summer, I love red with navy and denim, it is so classic.

      Delete
  4. I love you in red! No surprise I love it with pink! I also love it with browns. Fred is killing me with the Naked Ape reference; hmmm......

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  5. red is such a fun colour - i wear it often, with the colours you mentionned, and navy too - and stripes. it just really brings a pop of colour to any outfit.

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    Replies
    1. Red is great on you! Also, red photographs so well, it is great for the occasions when you know there will be pictures. I always bring some red on vacations just for that purpose.

      Delete
  6. Red's always been my colour, but I've only just started wearing it again as my mum must have had me in about 200 red party dresses when I was young!

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    Replies
    1. You need to wear it more Tabitha, I am sure you are stunning in red!

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  7. I like red with denim, and may add in a neutral like camel, brown or gray. I usually don't wear black with red, for some reason, I think the colors look too harsh on me. I need blue-tone reds. The orange-y ones look terrible with my skin tone. J. Crew is not my friend when it comes to red. I am still waiting for them to make the elusive true-red chino shorts! They did a "Maraschino Cherry" color in the Jackie last year, which I liked and which was more of a true red, but I haven't seen it since. They keep going back to their "Modern Red".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, solid red with black or black and white also read too 'in your face' for me. Maraschino Cherry was my
      favorite, like I mentioned in reply to Ema.
      I don't like Modern Red close to my face.

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  8. WFF the contortionist you are killing me! I stick to wearing reds in plaids, prints and occasionally a bag. I also have a medium red cashmere hat from JC of yore (when the end-of-year catalogues were really festive) that comes out for the holidays. Somehow my masses of dark hair in between makes that OK for me. ajc, compliments on the subtle pinstripe, floral and herringbone combo. With you and Ema on Theory jacket appreciation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the idea of red hat but never found one that looks good on me. WFF never fails to crack me up...

      Delete
  9. This is a great red for you, AJC. I only recently started with a little red or red/orange-- amazed at the compliments I have received. I should listen...

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Lane, it is funny that we are often so critical about red on oneself but when we look at others it always look so great.

      Delete
  10. I like red. I don't have a lot of it in my wardrobe but the pieces I own are all cool reds and look good with my pale complexion.

    You have some bold pattern mixing going on there with the stripes, the floral and the herringbone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think when you like purples you also would like cool reds, so it makes sense. Most purples are horrible on me and so are cool reds.
      I am getting more adventurous, I think it is because of having this blog.

      Delete
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