Some fashion shows leave viewers green with envy, but people walked out of fall 2015 ready-to-wear shows seeing black and red. This dramatic color combination is making a comeback everywhere from Versace to DSquared2. Red and black is a powerful color combination. From royal medieval courts to Taylor Swift’s black outfit and red lip in her “Shake It Off” music video, the combination is associated with influence and power. You can’t help but feel like a little intimidating when you wear it; a confidence boost any student might want going into their 8:00 a.m. class. It’s also easy to mimic with a college wardrobe, especially now that winter is easing up on northern campuses.
Luckily anyone, like this week’s Fashionista, can layer a popping color over a darker outfit for an instantly exciting look. Her black and white floral dress already stands out among the snow piles on campus, but the bright red Calvin Klein peacoat is the focal point of her outfit. Paired with quilted knee-high boots and a simple scarf, the look is sophisticated and eye-catching.
Most winter coats are bought in neutral colors for obvious reasons. They match everything that way and are mostly bought out of function, not form. The new footage from Fashion Week, however, shows red mingling with other colors in a manner usually reserved for neutrals. Furthermore, a popping winter coat gives even the most hastily assembled outfit a statement. Like Anna Wintour’s iconic haircut, an exciting winter coat can turn what is usually an accessory into the focal point of an outfit.
This Fashionista also knows exactly how to wear a dress in the winter. The pairing of a black and white dress with black boots flirtatiously shows some leg while keeping warm, while the woven belt and quilted boots add shape and texture to the look. It can be mimicked with either a dress of your own or a shirt and skirt paired together. She opted out of wearing jewelry, but a simple black or red headband or statement ring are subtle ways to accessorize this look.
What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “Always try to add a pop of color, especially in these dreary months.”
