In a world where trends come and go as quickly as a summer breeze, one hue remains unyielding in fashion: red. As the legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland once said, “Red is the great clarifier – bright and revealing. I can’t imagine becoming bored with red – it would be like becoming bored with the person you love.” From vivid primary cherries to deep, sultry wine tones, red has officially become the colour du jour. Fashion insiders Brittany Johnson and Vivian Vassos share their take on this glorious hue.
Brittany’s Take
Loving the red renaissance but not ready to commit to an entire look?
Small, strategic pops of colour can make a bold statement: a dash of red on your wrist that peeks out just when you reach for your coffee, a sleek, modern handbag under your arm, or a dramatic ruby necklace draped elegantly along the collarbone. Even a silk scarf in crimson, tied creatively around your neck, can transform an outfit. These subtle touches are sure-fire style winners, proving that red doesn’t always have to dominate—it can whisper just as powerfully as it shouts.
Highlights
Longines Mini Dolcevita – $2,100
Photo: Longines
DeMellier London The Siena Hobo in Poppy Red – $880
Photo: DeMellier London
Birks Snowflake Ruby & Diamond Pendant – $2,940
Photo: Birks
Birks Snowflake Cluster Diamond Earrings with Ruby – $4,240
Photo: Birks
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Icon Lipstick, Cinematic Red – $47.50
Photo: Charlotte Tilbury
Clé de Peau Cream Rouge Matte #121 – $68
Photo: Clé de Peau
Vivian’s Take
From hot hotel bars to haute couture, red’s appeal is universal.
Interiors, lifestyle, and beauty are embracing this bold hue: Conclave’s crimson-clad cardinals, the Fairmont Royal York’s lipstick-red Library Bar banquettes, and The Red Room at London’s Connaught hotel, featuring red-themed artworks by women artists, are just a few examples. Beauty brands are making a statement as well: Clarins marks 10 years of its Comfort Lip Oil with the new No54 Iconic Red, while Cartier’s latest ambassador, Zoe Saldaña, is photographed in a sleek red sheath paired with Cartier jewels. At Dior, excitement continues with Rouge Dior. The long-lasting formula, infused with red peony extract, ensures a luxurious feel. With 70 shades in satin and velvet finishes, the cult-favourite Dior 999 remains the perfect red, a warm tone heightened with a touch of blue, housed in Dior’s revamped CD packaging featuring the signature buckle and cane-pattern “cannage.”
Jennifer Lawrence attends the “Die My Love” red carpet at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 17, 2025 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Highlights
The Fairmont Royal York’s lipstick-red Library Bar banquettes
Photo: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Clarins Lip Comfort Oil 54 Iconic Red
Photo: Clarins
The Red Room bar at The Connaught, London
Photo: The Connaught, London
Zoe Saldaña photographed in a sleek red sheath paired with Cartier jewels
Photo supplied
