Outfit Post: Seeing Red

Red opaque Primark tights | Ship-Shape and Bristol Fashion

Red is a colour that rarely makes it beyond accessorising an outfit. Marilyn Monroe wore a slick of red on her full pout, Dorothy had her ruby slippers, and Grace Coddington, Florence Welch and Vivienne Westwood have their flame-coloured locks, but on the whole I think red can be a colour that insights fear when it comes to wearing it on the body.

It’s no surprise, when you think about everything that red represents; anger, power, passion. We all know how wearing a red lip can completely change the way we feel. Red, in all it’s guises, is a ‘look at me’ colour, one that refuses to sit in the corner, hoping someone, somewhere, will notice it – just look at the way Valentino has used it throughout his career.

When I picked up these opaque red tights (in Primark, of all places) a couple of years ago, they sat in my drawer for months before I plucked up the courage to wear them. Minimal editing has taken place here – they really are that bright! With the weather being so bitterly cold at the moment, tights, leggings and patterned trousers are my friends right now, and I love how a splash of colour on the bottom half of my body can completely change and energise my appearance.

I lover wearing colour and patterns on my lower half becuase I get all of that excitement and ‘power dressing’ without having to carry off strong colours against my pale skin, or worry about bold patterns clashing with my hair.

In this outfit, which I wore to dinner on Sunday, I kept the rest of the look fairly simple, wearing a navy H&M blazer, the chambray dress (woefully in need of some ironing) that I found at a clothes swap and a pair of beaten up ankle boots, also from Primark.

Do you own any red clothes or accessories, or do you prefer to save it for your lips instead?

Primark tights and H&M blazerRed opaque tights and Primark ankle bootsNavy blazer and chambray dress

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17 Comments

  1. March 26, 2013 / 7:12 am

    I don’t really wear red for fear of it clashing with my hair! Red tights may just have to be done though, you look fab! xx

  2. March 26, 2013 / 7:19 am

    This looks great on you! I fear red a bit (except lipstick!!!)

  3. March 26, 2013 / 7:44 am

    Love the dress that you got from the clothes swap. I have lots of red in my wardrobe. It is my favourite colour!

  4. March 26, 2013 / 1:18 pm

    I love these tights on you! I wear red quite often, I like the contrast with my hair :)

    Maria xxx

  5. March 27, 2013 / 9:40 pm

    Wow, such statement tights! I do like red, but don’t wear much of it at all – probably not brave enough! I love how you’ve left the rest of the outfit simple and casual, to make the most of the tights :) And you have such lovely hair, love the colour! xx

    • April 17, 2013 / 5:55 am

      Thank you Sophie! I think simple is the way to go when wearing such a bright colour on the bottom half, but you should give it a try – the beauty of tights is that they’re not too expensive :)

  6. March 28, 2013 / 12:40 pm

    You look ace in the red tights! I don’t think I have the courage to wear such a bright colour on my legs (not my best asset :)) but I love wearing bright red lippy x

  7. March 31, 2013 / 11:01 pm

    I love the tights with those boots. :)

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