February is here and red is its flagship color!
And it’s no wonder why. Red has long symbolized passion, love, power and more.
Take Scarlett O’ Hara, the heroine in the classic movie “Gond with the Wind.” Her first name is a brilliant shade of red—a color chosen to communicate her fiery spirit. On Valentine’s Day, we give gifts the color of pink and red, such as roses and wine, to express love and affection.
In medieval times, the color red could only be worn by individuals in power, such as kings, cardinals, and judges.1 Today, the usage of red has been democratized—anyone can wear it or use it.
One thing is for sure, whether it’s the color of an elegant gown worn by an Oscar-winning actress, or an attention-getting “Buy it Now” button on a website, red is best used for its power to steal the spotlight, persuade others to take action and to evoke a strong emotion.
The Shades of Red and Their Meanings
Bold red – signifies power! This includes the shades crimson, vermillion, cardinal and scarlet.
Light red – represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love.
Pink – signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness.
Dark red – communicates vigor, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, and wrath.
Reddish-brown – creates associations with harvest and fall.
How to Wear Red on Valentine’s Day
Red is the ultimate color of persuasion. For women who want to attract the opposite sex, the little red dress can’t be beat! For men who want to look attractive, wearing red as an accent—such as in ties, shirts, (and even in sexy briefs) can do the trick!
RED HOT TIP #1: Both sexes look attractive in red(s) that complement their skin color. Your Ideal Red or Romantic Color is the color reflected by your flushed skin, which reveals your passion, your sexual energy, and your romantic self. Wear your version of red on a hot date, a romantic evening, or any time you want to show your passion.
How to Wear Red at Work
RED HOT TIP #2: Wear red when want to show confidence and assertiveness—or to generate excitement and drama. In business, wearing red can help you get recognized, be seen and be noticed. Wear an accent of red when you want to show authority without being threatening.
How to Wear Red to Stay on Trend
If you have aspirations of being a color or design influencer who is always “in the know,” you can wear a shade of red that’s considered “in season” by Pantone, a company that releases its list of top colors for each fashion season. These colors are then picked up by manufacturers and designers who produce the multitude of consumer products we see in the stores and online.
RED HOT TIP #3: To stay on trend in 2022, wear this year’s shade of red, “ Poinciana.” 2
Pantone description: “A commanding heated red, Poinciana makes a dramatic statement.”
You can refer to it by its swatch number PANTONE 18-1564
A Summary of Tips on How and When to Wear Red
Here are some valuable tips on how and when to wear red to your advantage.
The Daring “Do’s”
To create a positive psychological impression, you can wear red:
• To show authority without being threatening – Wear an accent of red or use it in moderation; for example, a tie or blouse with a tan, taupe, or gray suit.
• To give you a physical and psychological boost of energy – It’s useful when you are tired.
• When you want to be seen, noticed, or recognized – Red can easily be seen from a long way off.
• When you want to attract the opposite sex – However, use it judiciously because it can backfire by being overwhelming.
The Definitive “Don’ts”
To avoid sending out the wrong impressions, DO NOT wear red:
• When you are presenting for an extended period of time – Red gets you noticed, but istiring to the eyes for longer periods of time; as the day wears on your audience will stop looking at you.
• When you aren’t prepared to be called on to defend your position – Red would signal that you would be ready to defend your position.
• When you are overtired or over stressed – It actually increases your physical tension.
• When meeting potential in-laws – Since red stirs emotions, red may scare them.
• When being interviewed for a job – Red can give the impression that you are only concerned about yourself and not a team player.
• When you want meeting participants to create or produce the ideas – Whenever you wear red, others tend not to make suggestions for fear of disagreeing with you.
Red Helps Define Our Culture
When you look at the big picture, red holds an important place in our culture. It commands attention, demands respect, and as I said earlier, it compels people to act.
Think about the many ways red is used around us today:
The Red Carpet – communicates high importance, celebrity, and special occasions.
A Red-Letter Day signifies a monumental event or happening for an individual, group or event
Restaurants Use Red – Whether it’s in the dining room or the company logo, red whets the appetite.
Red Envelopes — Given during the Lunar New Year, the red envelope signifies good luck and prosperity in many Asian cultures.
Red Valentine’s Cards & Gifts – Last but not least, red stands for love and passion, which is why you’ll find everything from red, heart-shaped candy boxes, to teddy bears and other tokens of affection sporting the vibrant color of red!
Red Hot Opportunity! Want to Hone Your Color skills?
Take a ColorInsight Color Workshop.
Taught by one of the nation’s leading color consultants, Mary Lou Manlove, the ColorInsight Color Workshops are designed for individuals who love working with color: image consultants, personal shoppers, interior and graphic designers, artists, art directors, and color enthusiasts.
Check out our two popular color workshops:
• ColorKINETICS™ – This one-of-a-kind, hands-on workshop is perfect for all levels from beginners to professionals. You’ll learn how to discern more colors, get access to color tools, learn the best color combinations for yourself, your clients and more. Learn more about the ColorKINETICS Workshop and class schedule.
• ColorQUICK™– Designed as the follow-up workshop to ColorKINETICS, the ColorQUICK color workshop teaches color professionals and color enthusiasts how to better assess colors, color combinations and how these colors can be applied to individuals as well as design projects To take this course, you must have previously taken the ColorKINETICS worksop. For the class schedule, please call Mary Lou. Learn more about ColorQUICK Workshop.
Have questions? Contact Mary Lou Manlove today.
Feel free to contact Mary Lou by calling (650) 400-2230 or emailing her at marylou@colorinsight.biz
1http://www.webexhibits.org/pigments/intro/reds4.html#:~:text=Pure%20colors%20were%20reserved%20exclusively%20for%20the%20rich%20nobility.&text=Wearing%20red%20coats%20was%20the,power%20over%20life%20and%20death.
2https://www.pantone.com/articles/fashion-color-trend-report/new-york-fashion-week-spring-summer-2022