Red Hot: The Color Trend That's Taking Over

After the summer of everything pink for the Greta Gerwig Barbie film, some fashionistas have turned in their pink Valentino stiletto pumps and mini skirts in exchange for a pair of fabulous red Louboutins and red sweaters. In contrast to our bright pink summer, fall and winter are everything red. The trend is likely to continue in the coming months, as red is a bold and eye-catching color that is perfect for making a statement. It is also a versatile color that can be dressed up or down, making it ideal for various occasions.

Red is emerging as a primary color obsession for 2023, with designers incorporating hue flashes into their collections at Copenhagen Fashion Week last month. Red was the standout color at the Christopher Kane runway show, with models strutting down the catwalk in glossy latex dresses. Ganni featured sinuous sequin dresses in red, while Saks Potts offered suede-tailored separates in the same shade. Baum und Pferdgarten also incorporated red into their collection with coordinating lounge separates. The Bora Aksu dresses could have looked girlish in pink or pastel, but the red palette gave them a sense of purpose and power. 

It’s not just high fashion brands embracing the red wagon; celebrities are always the next round of people to latch onto the trend. Jennifer Lawrence was spotted in New York City in staple jeans, black ballet flats, and a beautifully bright red sweater. The sweater was oversized, fluffy, and so bright it could be a red light at an intersection.

While we are yet to see the full scale of the trend, it won’t take long before fashion lovers and influencers alike begin embracing outfits of the past in new recontextualized ways. Iconic images that come to mind include Julia Roberts’ famous red dress in Pretty Woman, which is a likely outfit to make a reappearance given the current obsession with all things 90s. Think Meghan Markle wearing a caped Safiyaa gown in her last week before exiting the royal family. And, of course, it’s hard to forget Lady Gaga’s tantalizing and almost edible bright red meat dress at the 2010 Grammys made by Franc Fernandez.