Today we’re celebrating the colour red. From the brightest tomato and fire engine, to a romantic cherry, claret, scarlet, cranberry, raspberry, watermelon, burgundy and the richest Bordeaux, red deserves a shout-out.
Of all the colours in the world, I think of red as the colour or non-neutral because it’s very familiar and classic. It’s the colour of good fortune and luck in Chinese culture. It’s a holiday and romantic colour. It’s the colour objects are painted when they are important, dangerous and need us to take notice of them.
Colours are thought to have meaning. Apart from the usual associations of passion, love, desire and danger, red is also thought of as powerful, determined and courageous. It is not a soft and soothing colour. It’s very visible, alarming, and can even raise blood pressure.
What I like most about the colour red is its intensity. My senses are exhilarated when I see the colour red. Personally, I find it soothing, happy, energizing and exciting, although that’s not the norm. From a wardrobe point of view, I find red extremely versatile. I’ll go as far as saying that it’s like a neutral because it works well with every colour. I can add my favourite shades of reds to colours and patterns that don’t usually tickle my fancy, and instantly like the combination.
A bright and very orange tomato red has always been one of my favourite colours. I’ve always had bright reds and watermelons in my wardrobe, and recently branched out to deeper cherries and burgundies. I will wear it head to toe, as a statement piece, as an outfit accent, and as lippie for formal occasions. The front and back doors of our house are “ladybug red,” and there are pops of bright red around our home. I wore red on the most important day of my life — the day I met Greg — and would wear a tomato red gown if I went to the Academy Awards.
I’d happily add more red, but these are the red and red-rich items in my wardrobe at the moment.
My mood is lifted and I feel alive when I wear red. Who else has an affection for red?
