Trend Report: Red, Red Everywhere

If Samuel Coleridge had attended Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this past season perhaps he would have changed the refrain in his classic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner from “water, water everywhere” to “red, red everywhere.” From New York to Milan to Paris, there was a lot of red on the catwalk. And not just your basic standard red, but emperor silk red, rich shades of amber red,  dark chocolate red, and accusatory scarlet-letter red; in other words, red, red, and more red.

Fashion designers have had a long-standing love affair with red, but for fall/winter 2012 this love affair became in all out obsession. Of course, there is always lots of red during award season, but for the upcoming fall/winter 2012 season, ladies you better get out your red dress or consider purchasing a couple of new red frocks.

From Valentino to Monique L’huillier to Tadashi Shoji to Donna Karan, red in a variety of shades was definitively le couleur premier de crayon of the season. “Red is one of the most universally accepted bright colors for the winter season.  It is rich and classic in nature and every woman should have a classic red dress in her wardrobe,” concedes fashion designer Loris Diran. “One of the most important red tones for winter is a blue red, more commonly known as fire-engine red. This tone of red almost always brightens the skin and works on most skin tones.”

What stood out most with the proliferation of red this season was the ingenious mix of different shades of red with a plethora of fabrications, textures and trends.  Valentino expressed his affection for red in a supershort, long-sleeved, red lace dress with poufy micro skirt. Tadashi Shoji expertly mixed shades of red lace, layered with tulle, organza and silk chiffon; while Monique Lhuillier combined shades of volcanic and lava red with leather and sequins. And Zang Toi seamlessly employed color blocking in tones of emperor silk red and orange-rustic amber.

Whether gliding down a runway, posing for paparazzi or looking deliciously stylish, red will be the color of your true love for fall/winter 2012.

—William Gooch