In addition to the little black dress, every woman should have a red dress in their closet. And invoking the style made famous by Dianne Von Furstenberg, make it a red wrap dress. The wrap style is a fitted and feminine look that makes every woman look and feel special, and in red, even more so.
Red is the color of Valentine’s Day
Why red? I’ve mentioned that red is a “power” color in previous posts. At Christmastime, I wrote a post–read it here–about red as the signature color for that holiday. Red is also known as the color of romance and has long been associated with Valentine’s. Many say the tradition started with the practice of sending red roses, designating red as the color of love. There are actual studies by psychologists regarding the power of red. Here are some of the findings:
- Women wearing red or who stand against a red background in photos are seen as more attractive and sexually desirable by men than women not wearing red or near those red backgrounds.
- Men wearing red or standing in front of a red background influence how women respond to photos of them. When men are in red or against red, women find them more attractive as well as more sexually desirable.
- Men in red or near red are perceived by women as having a higher status than men who aren’t wearing or near red.
- Wearing red does not influence how men perceive other men.
So what’s the downside? Psychologists who studied the color also linked seeing the color red, even very briefly, with impaired analytical performance on knowledge work type tasks. So, I guess the lesson is this: wear red for romance, but not for work!! Lol! Which is interesting, since we also perceive red as a “power” color. Something to think about the next time you select red for work, right?
It makes me think I’d better start wearing red more often for my photos!! haha! How about you?
And now, for the red dress…
Red Wrap Dress
Since red is the color of love, it’s a no-brainer to style a red dress for Valentine’s Day. And since the wrap dress is the ultimate feminine style, a combination of the two is the perfect dress for this romantic holiday! While mine is definitely a dark red, it may not quite give me the greater status of a true red. But it still works for this lover’s holiday!
Mine is a long sleeve midi from The Gap, and stock is pretty limited as this is a “final sale” item, but you can see what’s available here. If you like the darker red shade, click here for another wrap dress. The following are some other very stylish options in true red:
The Accessories
Since the color of the dress is the statement piece, it’s best to keep it simple. Black heels are always right with a red dress. The red dress can also be styled with a scarf that doubles as a wrap, like this geometric scarf. I like the combination of colors in the scarf, including the soft pink. A patterned scarf adds some interest to most any monochromatic dress or outfit. So, too, do the pink drop earrings (similar cute hoop earrings here) that coordinate with the colors in the scarf.
The best thing about this inexpensive, yet beautiful scarf, is that it’s a smaller square scarf. If you are shorter like me, some of those BIG scarves are just too overwhelming. Not to mention that it would be a wonderful complement to so many colors in your wardrobe.
Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day? It seems impossible that Valentine’s Day is here. Weren’t we just talking about holiday gifts and styles? In any case, it’s here in two days! However you spend Valentine’s Day and whomever you spend it with, I hope it’s a lovely day to honor your loved ones. And yourself. Be sure to wear red!
❤With love,
What a fabulous dress! And such a beautiful scarf. Those colors do compliment you! Have a loving Valentines Day!
Thanks so much, Nancy. The scarf was such a great find. It’s nice when that happens, isn’t it? Happy Valentine’s Day to you!
xx Darlene
Beautiful outfit; the dress looks great on you!
Thanks, Lorie! I would love to see what you are styling for Valentine’s Day, my friend!
xx Darlene