Red is the color of extremes. It’s the color associated with passion, fire, love, danger, anger. It’s a powerful color. What color is a power tie? Red. What color dress does the seductress wear? Red. POWERFUL.

Such a strong and vibrant color for people to work into their wardrobes, especially if they’re not looking to be the center of attention. Like me! So while I do like red, I can find it challenging to include in my wardrobe.

If you’re not looking to make a big statement, there are less attention-grabbing ways to wear red.

Wear it as a layering piece over a subdued base

Red cascade cardigan from Torrid, size 3x / White tee from H&M, size 4x / Scottsdale wash Gloria Vanderbilt Amanda tapered jeans, size 22W short / Black Skecher’s Arya

Doesn’t get more laid-back than jeans and a white tee.

wear a red top

Don’t go head-to-toe red, as you would in a dress. A top is just half your body!

WEAR YOUR RED IN A PRINT

In this case, plaid. All the other colors mixed in tone down the red.

use red accessories

Shoes, or…

A bag!
These are just some easy, low pressure ways to add red to your outfits.
Or, if it feels right for you, Go For It!
This was my mother in a tea-length red velvet number. She LOVED red. This dress even has a matching jacket (sidenote: that is not my father). 
I still have this dress and matching coat, wasting away in a plastic tub somewhere, which is criminal. I need to find someone who could, and would, wear it. Her waistline was so teeny at that time…my super-slim daughter tried one of her cocktail dresses and we couldn’t get it to zip up at all.
I only got a fraction of the red gene from here. She used to dress me in red all the time when I was little, but…sorry Mommy, it didn’t stick.
Much.
Most photos by me. Not the ones of my mother – I wasn’t even born yet when those were taken.
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