Red is a big fashion colour this season. It’s a colour that we often see in the shops in the run up to Christmas. Red can be a really fun colour to wear and will brighten up the dreariest of wardrobes. However, many people are quite wary of red. They wonder if it really suits them and whether it sends out the right messages. The good news is that everyone can wear red, they just need to consider the depth, tone and brightness to make sure it brings out the best in them. Red is a colour of confidence, energy and ambition. It is a great colour to wear if you are presenting, as it will make you look more confident and keep the audience’s attention! Red is an especially good colour to wear at the end of the week when your energy levels may be flagging.

How to wear red for your style personality

To feel comfortable in red you need to consider your style personality.

Dramatics

The dramatics love red - the brighter the better. They like to enter a room and turn heads so red is usually a favourite. They will wear it alone, teamed with black or other strong colours, in luxury fabrics or bold prints.

Naturals

The naturals fight shy of bright colours preferring earthy neutral colours that are practical and don't stand out in a crowd. If they want to try wearing red for a change they'll need to keep it to tiny amounts, maybe a camisole peeping out of a neutral sweater. Muted shades of red work best for the naturals.

Classics and City Chics

These ladies will wear elegant amounts of red, often as part of a pattern in a scarf or top. They will team their reds with navy, white and black. The city chics may just use red as an accent colour in her bag and shoes.

Romantics

The romantics' look is pretty and they may worry that too much red will look tarty! They are more likely to use muted shades of red, red in floral patterns and soft luxury fabrics such as velvet. Pinks are a good alternative if they feel too conspicuous in red.

Creatives

The creatives, as their name suggests, do their own thing! They don't follow fashion but use colours and textures in unique ways. So if they're wearing red at all this season it maybe something vintage, handmade or customised. They will certainly mix it with unusual combinations to create a different look.

In addition to thinking about your style personality, to wear red well you need to get it right for your colouring. People tend to think of red as a warm colour but in fact there are warm (orangey) reds and cool (bluey) reds. Reds range from light and bright to deep, muted burgundy tones. Follow the tips below to make sure your red brings out the best in you!

Lights (the natural blondes)

Light reds that aren't too intense will work for all lights. If you have bright eyes you can keep it light and bright but avoid deep, intense reds and rusts.

Deeps (dark hair and eyes)

The deeps look fantastic in bold shades of scarlet, ruby and burgundy. Your colouring is very strong so red works well on its own or teamed with deep neutrals.

Warms (the redheads)

The warms look great in red but must be careful to use the right tone. True red, orange-red, tomato and rust will bring out their vivid hair and show it off. They look fabulous in warm reds but must steer clear of blue-reds such as raspberry as these will clash with their own colouring.

Cools (silvery grey or ash-toned hair)

Opposite to the warms, this colouring type needs to stick to the blue-reds and raspberry shades to balance their silver/steel hair and cool skin-tone. Orange-reds will make them look jaundiced!

Clears (dark hair, fair skin, bright eyes)

Bright true red, scarlet and ruby will bring out the clears' striking colouring. They must avoid muted claret shades as these will make them look drained.

Softs (light to mid-brown hair, little contrast between hair, skin and eyes)

Unlike the clears this group have little contrast in their own colouring and look best in muted shades so soft clarets or light geranium (which isn't too intense) work well. The dramatic softs can go brighter but need to find out if their undertone is warm or cool to find the right shade.