I’m combining shades of red and pink on this romantic day of love. A little juvenile and jarring for some, but bright and happy to others. I’ve stuck to pairing blush and shocking pink with tomato red because those shades are personal favourites, but by all means choose deeper colours like burgundy and fuchsia. I threw in some coral for those who prefer it to pink in combination with red. White also plays an important role in the ensemble, keeping it fresh. 

There are many ways to combine red, pink and white in an outfit. The most bold combinations will use the bright colours in the clothing items. More subtle ensembles will introduce one of the brights in the shoes, a bag or accessories. I’ve kept things on the subtle side by choosing tops that are white or light in colour.

The rendition on the left is dressy while the one on the right is more casual. Here are the components.

Bottoms: Choose white, red or pink bottoms, or blue denim. Neutrals like white and blue denim are easy options, but you might have an orphaned red or pink pair of trousers or skirt that needs dusting off. Combining it with white and the other colour is one way to go. 

Tops and Toppers: How you combine red, pink and white depends whether you want to make a bold or a subtle statement. I’ve shown a high contrast red skirt with a white top and blush or bright pink topper in the middle. That’s the bold combination. There’s a softer version on the left with white bottoms, a blush top and bright pink topper, throwing in a little red with the scarf. The most subtle interpretation is the one on the right, pairing blue jeans with a white top and pink or red topper, throwing in the other colour with a bag or footwear.

Play around with red, pink and white wardrobe items in your closet to determine which combinations tickle your fancy. Furthermore, feel free to leave off the topper, thereby sporting pink and red on top and bottom with neutral footwear and accessories. 

Footwear: White, silver, gold and red footwear are an easy match. Taupe or tan is pretty good, and pink is another option. I’ve left black shoes out of the ensemble but they look great when bookended with black hair. Think any style of shoe, from dressy booties and pumps, to flats, oxfords and fashionable sneakers. 

Accessories: This is where you can bring in the pink or red if you haven’t already done so with a top, bottom or topper. Throw in a red or pink bag, belt or scarf. Or combine red, pink and white in a scarf. Keep the accessories white or metallic if there’s lots going on in the outfit already. Finish off the looks with jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired.

One of my brightest outfits last year was a neon pink pullover with tomato red skirt and white bag and pumps. Not an outfit I wanted to wear often, but I enjoyed it in small doses. I love wearing white in a clothing item, so this year I’ll be pairing that same tomato red skirt with a white shirt, a blush moto, and white shoes and bag. Happy Valentine’s Day.