Red is the colour that most grabs our attention. It is used to express power and love in fashion and cinema as well as to signal danger (in road signs and traffic lights for example). This influences the whole way society views, wears and feels in red and how it is used in logos and iconic brand placements. This is why red has been chosen as my second colour for my newsletter series dedicated to colours.

RED: THE COLOUR THAT POPS IN OUR CULTURE

In this newsletter I focus primarily on the use of the colour red from the 1950s onwards. During this period the colour red had an immense impact on Western popular culture.

For instance, a classic scenario of the time would be:

On week-ends, young adults would wear their red varsity jackets, smoke a cigarette from a red Marlboro packet and hop on a double decker red bus, to to go to the cinema and drink a Coca Cola while sitting comfortably in front of a movie in red velvet seats. If they were upper-class they might drive their red convertible to a fancy restaurant and drink red wine, or perhaps to a cocktail bar and have a Negroni or a Campari spritz… The woman might have even left a red lip mark on the glass, or on his cheek!

Red is associated with the most passionate emotions such as fear and anger, warmth and love. Therefore, red is one of the most powerful colours because it expresses the strongest emotions.

Red for a Pretty Woman’s Entry in Glamorous Society

In a legendary scene in “Pretty Woman”, Richard Gere romantically places a ruby and diamond necklace as the finishing touch to Julia Roberts’ evening red gown. The dress marks one of the most pivotal moments in the film as a stepping stone for her entry into the glamorous socialite world. Red personnifies power and gives her the sufficient strength to face the world with a smile on her face, as a changed woman. All eyes and heads are turning towards her as the couple walks through the hotel lobby together, on their way to his private jet, flying to a gala.

A TONE OF SEDUCTION

Femme Fatale’s colour of predilection 💋 

Red is the ultimate colour for a Femme Fatale because it paradoxically personifies both a fiery dose of danger and tantalising seduction. The femme fatale is like a burning fire… mysterious, languorous, flaming passionately, and insolent in her beauty.

She personifies red as the colour of love and the heart when wearing it.

With predilection and purpose she wears red lipstick and red nail polish, drawing you to her lips and hands… and yet she may not even give you the chance to be kissed, keeping herself constantly powerful and in control. She is mesmerising in her sensual and eye-catching red dress and enigmatic in her daring confidence.

Although you may get pricked by a few thorns on the way to her heart, a Femme Fatale is renowned to have the softness and gentleness of rose petals. There’s a reason why red roses are the roses of love, beautifully symbolising relationships and women.

Emmanuelle Seigner in her role in the late 80s movie “Frantic” is a perfect representation of these aforementioned aspects of a Femme Fatale. In the nightclub scene she becomes very desirable and unpredictable by her actions in a “Je t’aime, moi non plus” manner (translating to “I love you, I love you not”). At first she draws him closer to her on a lounge sofa in the nightclub. But when in response, he begins to put his arm behind her she reacts by announcing to him “I can’t stand this music” and walking off. This leaves Harrison Ford feeling bewildered. After a few minutes she returns and invites him to dance with her. He of course, follows her. But due to her game of attraction/rejection he is confused which is reflected in his awkwardness…

During their dance together she clearly takes the lead, doing a unique languorous snake-like dance to the mesmerising rhythm of the song “Strange” by Grace Jones. He simply stands there, consumed and utterly subjugated, as she circles him with her sensual moves… Her sexy mini red dress with long sleeves and a criss cross back makes her look incredibly attractive and mysterious. Its vibrant tone makes her stand out from the crowd, while bringing the desired warmth to her character.

Red is used multiple times in this movie as a colour code for the public, symbol of feminine power.

Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe are sumptuous in the opening scene of the movie “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”. Here they perform in a dancing and singing show that is an ode to the French cabaret “Moulin Rouge”.

They are wearing matching long sparkly red dresses with a slit all the way to their thighs and another from their necklines down to their waists. This shows just what is needed for a seductive and glamorous look, the sparkles making them shine in the darkness of the night. This is enhanced by diamond brooches and feathered headwear for a truly spectacular effect. What a sensational opening for a musical comedy!

THE FASHION COLOUR OF GLAMOUR

One of the most memorable scenes in the history of fashion and cinema takes place in the Louvre where Audrey Hepburn models a splendid head to toe red outfit designed by Hubert de Givenchy for the film “Funny Face”. Hepburn descends so gracefully that she gives the impression of floating. The breeze blowing her shawl only accentuates this effect. The overall impression created is reminiscent of a modern day angel.

The angel theme is further personified by the antique angel statue in the background, seemingly her reflection. Audrey, as the contemporary version of the angel, contrasts with the greyness of the statue and surroundings in her red garment. The colour red gives her a vibrant, confident energy as if she is brimming with life!

LE ROUGE ET LE NOIR

Red and black were paired together on the high fashion runways, in editorials and in fashionable movies during the 80s and 90s. They remain to this day one of the strongest and most glamorous colour combos, pairing red’s vigour and passion, symbolising the sun, fire and fame, with black’s dark grounding force and connection to the water element, symbolising creativity, is an inherently powerful aesthetic combination..

Think of the iconic Louboutin high heels for example, the red sole makes them instantly recognisable without even needing to see the logo. The red sole paired with the black of the shoe creates one of the most powerful brand identities in the industry.

The contrasting impact of black and red allows a wonderful creative input with shapes, fabrics and accessories, as well as a blending of the tones (with checkered prints for example).

In my collage above, I feature some of the most iconic fashion designs from the 80s/90s that combine red and black.

The title “Le rouge et le noir” refers to a classic novel of French literature written by Stendhal in 1830. In the book those colours represent the protagonist’s indecision between his passion for Napoleon and the army (with RED as the colour of their uniform) and his duty towards the clergy (dressed in BLACK) which allowed him a social upward mobility through his studies.

Here we have an iconic and emblematic Guy Laroche blazer which appeared on the cover of “American Vogue” magazine in August 1989 (cf. left photo). The model is glamorous and proud with her head held high and looking aside. This movement gives her a powerful and unreachable business fashionista look. The sultry and minimalist red wool ensemble is paired with contrasting black details such as the collar and buttons, purposely matching her black gloves and sunglasses for a Power Dressing style.

It’s this exact jacket from Guy Laroche that is available for you to purchase on my website (cf. right photo). Vintage and in impeccable condition, it’s a true collector’s piece!

Here’s a funky video in which I’m wearing the authentic Guy Laroche red jacket. The video is an original creation in collaboration. My father filmed and edited, as well as composed and played the music while I did the styling and modelling. I think you’ll love it!

At The Wilsons Vintage we love wearing timeless red items! A jacket for a statement city look, a blouse and accessory to add a touch of colour to your neutral outfits, or a spring dress for a sunny afternoon in the park or the countryside… We’ve got you covered! Take a look at our selection of the highest quality designer or handmade French vintage items.

Choose your favourite. 💋 

Red is such an iconic colour in fashion that I could write an entire book about it with cultural, popular, fashion and cinematic references! To keep this email accessible, I focused on a few of the most iconic moments or ways red is featured in our society.

How would you enjoy wearing red and what do you personally associate it with? Finally, which colour should I write about next?

I’d love to hear your feedback and answer to my questions, which you can do by replying to this email or messaging me on Instagram.

Best wishes,

Jamila Wilson