There are two vastly different considerations when combining red with another color: one, what the colors themselves do together, in terms of color harmony and all that; and two, the associations certain color combinations bring to mind. Some, especially people whose personal idiom is both independent and innovative, may choose to disregard the second and challenge the first. What I think the magazines and department stores sometimes forget is figuring the personal self into the equation.
In terms of considering just what looks good on a person, my best suggestion for working red into the wardrobe is to combine it with a color which emphasizes your own dominant color characteristic(s). For me, that equals ivory satin or silver metallic.
Honestly, associations are alot of the reason I don’t prefer red. When I was 10, I literally believed that wearing red & black together meant a woman of “ill repute”. Somehow I’ve never quite gotten past that, although for Christmas back in the ’80s I did wear a red sequin blouse with black velvet trousers.
So what do you like to wear with red?
I have worn red and black together a lot, but I don’t like it. It doesn’t look good on me and it just seems like a really harsh color combination. Plus, as you’ve mentioned before, it’s hard to find the “right” shade of red. Sometimes I wear red with blue (usually jeans). Occasionally khaki. But I have to say that I’m rarely completely satisfied with the way I wear red. I’m definitely more of a pink kind of girl.
Olive!
I love to wear red as an accent with black and white, although I tend to favor pink-y reds like raspberry and wine. On my first date with my sweetie I wore a raspberry blazer, white sweetheart neck t-shirt, and long black wool skirt. I wish I still had that outfit (and could fit into it!)
I do love to wear red with black! I’m asian, so for some reason red goes really well with my skin tone. I think that my black hair helps complement the red and black as well. I’m also Chinese, so in our culture, red is the color of good luck, so while I recognize the association between red and evil (or seduction for that matter), I also didn’t really grow up seeing red as a bad color to wear to things like weddings (where you’re practically required to in traditional Chinese families).
P.S. I usually don’t wear red jackets or dresses, or anything where a huge part of the outfit is going to be red. It’s far too bright. I like wearing red shirts, though, or black clothes with red. 🙂
I love red with black and it’s a frequent combination for me. I have a red ruched top that I’ve worn with a flowing, knee-length black skirt with a subtle black rose pattern. It was a definite hit, perhaps because it had a fairy-tale look. Then I have an Anne Taylor red top that I’ve worn with a more structured black skirt. Then I have yet another red top with sort of a gathered neck that I’ve work with my black skirt with small white dots.
Recently, though, I did try the last red shirt with a brown skirt. I loved it. My husband prefers the black. Ehh.
I also add red accessories to my black and white outfits a lot. I’ve been meaning to mix red and purple some, as well as red and white, but I just haven’t found the right pieces to mix yet.
So I’m thinking Charity Grace should try a floral with both red and pink on black (perhaps with olive leaves in the print). 🙂
Welcome Jennifer! My husband’s co-worker is from China and she also looks fabulous in red. BTW, there is another Jennifer, also asian, who comments here and she also loves to wear red.
Thanks. 🙂 Haha, I should go by jlowe, then, which is the name I have to use when I’m commenting from blogspot. 🙂
I sat with an Asian friend in church Sunday and she was wearing a sparkly red and black top. It was stunning on her! I could never have pulled it off.
The color combinations I prefer are red+gray, red+light blue (jeans usually), red+white.
I also tried wearing an orange cardigan over a red blouse plus blue jeans and liked that.
And I do wear my red Spanish-esque ankle-long skirt with a black top – that makes a good combination, but sometimes it seems too harsh and I soften it with a bit of white, silver or blue.
I do red with charcoal gray, occasionally with black, but mostly wind up doing it with blues – either red top with jeans, or using it in accessories when I wear navy. I also discovered my red purse looks cool (and not Christmas-y) with some greens.
OK, I just read comment #3 and thought I wrote it. But I’m glad to know I’m not really losing my mind.
Red… currently I wear it w/orange, esp. a lighter tangerine, and apple green. I have a shirt with a small floral in those colors. I really really like red w/light blue too, and aqua. Say, a red cardi w/light blue t underneath.
I’m not much for red & black except at Christmas.
Asian Jennifer #1 🙂