Ask Angie: why is red considered a neutral? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: why is red considered a neutral?

Aziraphale

Veteran

I was reading one of your older posts, and you include red with other neutrals like black, gray, navy etc. I was wondering why. Is it because you feel that red goes with everything? And when you say red, do you mean fire-engine red, or any of the various shades, from deep wine red to bright orange-red?

Just curious.

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from Fruitful

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You answered your own question

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

elisabeth, thanks for asking, I was so pleased to read that same post too

DressLover

Veteran

Red is the answer to everything. I don't know what makes red so wonderful, but anytime an outfit is "missing something" red usually makes the magic happen.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Notice that the two first responders (other than Angie) have red in their profile pics!!!

When my daughter was little I used to read her a storybook called Red is Best.

That just about says it all, doesn't it?

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

My first post on YLF was a dark blue patterned dress. Someone suggested red accessories (was it you MaryK?) and I thought they were off their rocker. Now I totally get it! I am wearing my tomato red bag as a neutral every day!

MsMary

Veteran

If it wasn't me, it could have been! Today I've got my tan skirt, navy top, and RED bag!

Louise

Veteran

Red seems to cut across all seasons too (for me anyway) I'm happy sporting red throughout the year whereas usually I pick darker colours autumn and winter and paler colours spring and summer x

Anonymous

Red it neutral because it is soo pretty?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Ladies, I love red too. I use it as a pop of colour, though, which is why it doesn't seem "neutral" in the same way that other neutrals are neutral....uh, if that makes sense.

It does go with an awful lot of other colours, though, so I sort of get it.

Anonymous

A red red never seems out of season or style and can be paired with anything, even pinks, orange, and magenta. I even love red and green together, although usually keep it more to red and olive or citron. Red shoes are a fantastic neutral.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

elisabeth, perhaps a better question is "WHEN" is red a neutral (vs. a pop of color). If you are wearing other saturated or vivid colors (i.e. non-neutrals) AND red, then red acts as a balanced neutral. It (presumably) does not stand out more than the cobalt you're wearing, or the citron or the purple, etc. However, if you are wearing (generally accepted) neutrals like camel, black, gray, then the red stands out like a "pop" of color. The eye will be drawn to the red item in your ensemble.

Hm, does that make sense to anyone?

Fruitful

Veteran

Elisabeth, this is one of the things I love about Angie :). Nowhere else have I seen red called a neutral, yet a few years ago I decided it was my neutral! I could wear it with anything. I think Angie is playing around with paradigms here and thankfully her reframing has been picked up by others on this forum too!

yellowgirl

I have other colors that I consider to be a neutral, too, that others would not. For me, mustard yellow (one of my favorite colors) acts as a neutral in my wardrobe.

One of my best friends is adamant that light pink is a neutral and she wears it as such and continually looks fab.

taylor

Veteran

Red bags and shoes are really a must for a neutral wardrobe....I have plenty of both:)

Steph

Veteran

Red is my absolute favorite color. But I don't consider it a neutral.

Lisa

Veteran

I consider red a neutral when it is the same saturation as the other colors of the outfit. Red is easiest when paired with black, white or gray.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Fruitful

Nice analogy, MPJ

The right red goes with everything. Truly. It does. It always saves the day. It's the most perfect colour in the world - in my VERY biased opinion!

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Angie,just checking, is that that right red for any particular person? Tomato red, for example for you...

Or is there a right red for a particular outfit?

I think I know the answer to my question...

Deborah

Veteran

Red as a neutral is a new concept for me. Thanks for sharing. I have two great red bags which I am so loving at the moment. I see now that I need red shoes!!

Aziraphale

Veteran

MPJ, thanks for your explanation. That makes sense. If that's the case, then I am not using red as a neutral at all, since I prefer wearing it with black, gray or very dark blue. But then, most of my clothes seem to be black, gray or very dark blue....

Thunalata, I'm echoing your question about the 'right red'. Angie?

Anonymous

I am really, really struggling with the red as neutral concept. I would never, ever wear red from head to toe like I would with a true neutral color. I frequently wear outfits that are monochomatic in grays or blues....I would never do that with red. I WOULD however wear red as a pop of color. And I would color-block it. And I agree it goes with lots of other colors. But it still ranks as an esteemed and admired COLOR in my mind.

April

Veteran

Not to sound like a contrarian, but I think there's a difference between being highly versatile and being a neutral.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I've always thought of it as a pseudo-neutral, in that it pretty much goes with everything (which is what we use the term neutral to mean in fashion I believe), but it really isn't by strict definition a true neutral.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Enginemom, in the same way - I would never wear beige, olive, brown, grey or taupe from head to toe :).

April, red (and there are a billion shades of red), is more "versatile" than brown, beige and grey in my opinion. The only reason I'm not including blue is because of denim blue. Denim also always saves the day. Yup. Red is a neutral in my book. But you know all the neutrals are colours (accept black and white). So really, it's all academic.

Polly, the right shade of red for the person AND the colours you are matching them too.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Oh, denim, absolutely! And red with denim (especially dark denim)? Killer.

On the odd occasion when I want to look sexy instead of cute, I'll wear a flattering sleeveless black top, dark denim skinny jeans, and bright red high heels. It's a cannot-fail combination!

Fruitful

Veteran

Angie said: " in the same way - I would never wear beige, olive, brown, grey or taupe from head to toe :)."

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