issue #58: reclaiming red
I would be lying if I said I was totally comfortable wearing the color red these days. It’s been pretty hard coded into our society recently as the color of the right - their red hats a glaring signal, spotted from a mile away. The recent inauguration festivities a sea of red dresses, red ties, red accessories.
Not that I was big into red to begin with. I actually tend to shy away from most color, generally, and as red is a big, bright, bold color, I certainly didn’t feel as if I was missing it in my wardrobe these last, oh, eight years. I brought a little into my home in service of the “unexpected red theory” (hi, Taylor!), but beyond that, red, for me, has become something I pass right by in the store, rarely stopping for a second glance.
But recently I’ve been more inspired to invite it back in. Not in a Mark Zuckerberg-suck-up-and-abandon-all-morals type of way, but in a, you can’t take both my rights and my ability to wear red away kind of way. Leave me something, you know?
In all seriousness though, what we wear is a huge signifier of who we are. From merch to color, from suits to skirts, from denim to dresses. Our clothes communicate, they tell a story. They signal something to the outside world, to others - whether we mean to, want to, or not. Even if we think we’re just throwing on sweats to run to the store, or balking at trends to carve out our own style, or dressing only for the weather, we’re still communicating, still letting passersby in on a tiny bit of who we are, where we’re going, what we’re doing, what we value. And color is a huge part of this.
And so, with that, may I propose reclaiming the color red? It’s bright, it’s fun, it’s poppy. It symbolizes love, power, strength, and confidence, which seem to all be things we could use a bit of right now - or is that just me?
The Sweaters:
A sweater is arguably the best way to invite some red in. Easy to pair with denim and easy to toss over the shoulders if you’re only half ready to commit. And if you’re anything like me, it’s nice to have a rainbow of sweaters on hand at all times just in case. Sweaters and jeans make up like, 80% of my wardrobe, (conservatively) so I’m always down to add in a few more pieces to break up that heavy black/grey/beige rotation.
I personally love this perfectly oversized v neck (because v necks are back, according to
) from Almina Concept. Or this cherry merino sweatshirt for a more casual vibe. I’m also into this cropped fisherman version from J. Crew that would be perfect in the summer tossed over the shoulders with a white tank and jeans (are we doing 4th of July parties this year?). But personally, if I were to add any red into my wardrobe, it would be in the form of a cardigan. This one from Alex Mill is truly excellent, but for something less spendy I’d go with this from Gap.How I’m wearing it:
Really simply. Think jeans and a t shirt. Maybe with the sweater tossed over the shoulders, probably with a baseball cap and a tote bag, likely running around the playground.
The Shoes:
These Proenza Schouler beauties are currently on deep discount, and would be a really playful way to add in red. Here in NYC, I am seeing red ballet flats relatively often, and I love this pair with a more structured toe from 3.1 Phillip Lim. I’m not much of a girly girl, so if I’m going to go the ballet flat route, they need to have just a tiny bit of hardness to them. Of course, the Freda Salvador Jada is an excellent option here as well.
It’s possible these boots are not just a want for me, they’re a need.
On the sneaker front, because I live in sneakers, these leather Adidas Japan’s are really great, if you’re not yet totally rejecting anything Samba-esque. These are called “Rugged Orange” but they read red enough for me to put them here, and I will forever be a Nike stan so this would be my pick.
How I’m wearing it:
Sweatpants + button down + cozy sweater + sneakers = the perfect airport outfit, imo. The boots I’d pair with tonal but vibrant socks, a good jean, and a big oversize sweater for a work day that’s followed by dinner out. I’d pair a bold red flat with a casual sweatshirt and barrel jean for both a work day and for a weekend look.
The Other Apparel:
Listen, I can’t pull this off, but I really want to be friends with someone who can. This overcoat from Staud is also a stunner, but more practically, I love this sporty (and packable) jacket from Halfdays. This mini skirt is a fun way to bring in some color, but truthfully I am finding myself unable to stop thinking about this sheer number from The Frankie Shop. Someone give me a reason to buy it!
A good Breton stripe in red is a classic, try this from Levi’s, or the OG from Saint James. You all know I have an obsession with oversized button downs, and this red stripe one is no exception.
A red pant is extra bold, but if you’re going to go for it, you may as well go big and rock these High Sport Kick Flares. J. Crew does a mediocre dupe as well, if you’re not looking to shell out $600 for red pants (I would understand!). I personally love the sporty look, and these wide leg track pants from Adidas are great. Or you can go classic with these, also from Adidas, the holy grail maker of track pants. Alternatively, you could go extra fancy with these from Tibi - the way they have them styled with black heels and a red sock is just perfect, especially with a fitted top.
How I’m wearing it:
I am truly obsessed with the way The Frankie Shop styled their sheer skirt collection, so yeah, I’d straight up copy it and do it just the way they did - with an oversized sweater dress and tall boots. In quite the opposite direction, I’d wear those wide Adidas track pants with a hoodie for weekend playground jaunts and coffee runs.
The Accessories:
Scarves, hats, and gloves are always welcome ways to add in a pop of color. I love this big striped triangle scarf, this big cashmere triangle scarf, and this beanie (I refuse to spend a lot of money here, they always, always go missing).
These ankle socks are great, and would make a perfect pop of red with loafers and jeans. These are spendier, but the bright orangey red hue is really, really good.
I mention Lindquist a lot on this stack, but it’s just because it’s really that good. It’s truly a shame I don’t already own one, but it’s on my 2025 to buy list. Anyways, she does a really beautiful red called Persimmon that I have regularly been lusting after. I’d go with this cross body because it suits my lifestyle, but if I didn’t often have to have my hands free for a toddler I would go for this one.
The Home Goods:
Ok not home goods, but I’m putting pajamas in this category because they are for the home! This Araks x J. Crew set is so. good. And of course I am always into a full PJ set, like this from Show Me Your Mumu.
Personally, I dipped my toes into the unexpected red theory with this Etsy photo booth frame - I opted for the red mat and it looks very chic with our black and white photo strip. (Although now “unexpected red” is showing up all over our home in the form of Elmo everything, which I tried, and failed, to resist).
I also love this linen blend pillow to toss on the couch, but this velvet one with contrast piping is fun too.
Normally this is where I would recommend a mushroom lamp, because I think they fit in most spaces pretty well and add a really nice hint of warm light and color (still do), but then this cherry lamp fell into my lap while researching and so I’m now encouraging someone, anyone, to buy it. Fruit furniture seems to be a thing right now, and although I won’t jump on that bandwagon completely, I love a little kitsch around the house and this does just that while also being a bit on the subtle side.
You guys probably know by now that I have a thing for fancy plates and fancy napkins. I love anything a little vintage-y in this department, which always just scream heirloom and are great for my quest in collecting things for my daughter to have one day. These tea towels from Porta and this hand painted plate set from Valsa (cc:
) both fit this bill, while bringing in just a little pop of red.
Happy shopping, and deep breaths everyone…four years usually flies right by, right? RIGHT??
xx
jen
Oh!! So happy to see Valsa included—thank you so much, Jen 🤎 Back in Brazil, our flag colors were ruined by the extreme right, so I completely understand how you feel about red right now. Luckily, we can still bring this to the table without fear of being misunderstood—just a pop of color to brighten our days! Thank you again 🌟
I’m a HUGE fan of red - no matter how horrifically it’s currently been appropriated. I love the sentiment behind this post - the more of us who wear red, the more we can normalize the color just being CHIC and powerful !