Red. It’s bold, it’s fiery and it’s confident. As the most sensual colour on the spectrum, it’s time to turn up the heat this Valentine’s Day with the help of Her Campus’ 5 red-hot fashion and beauty buys guaranteed to secure you a flame.
1) Get Lippy
Nothing says ‘I’m a sultry, sophisticated, sexy woman’ quite like red lipstick. In the words of Terry Barber, director of make-up artistry at MAC, it is the “stiletto heel of make-up”, the difference between the Nissan and the Ferrari on the fashion highway, and more importantly, Gwyneth Paltrow’s secret to feeling confident: “Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” With this in mind, there is no better occasion to crack out the rouge than on Valentine’s Day. For a magnetic look and long-lasting finish, Her Campus recommends the striking Kate Moss shade 01 lipstick (£4.49, Boots) from Kate’s first ever Rimmel lipstick collection.
2) Leg It
One of the most popular fashion trends of the year has to be red denim and its endless versatility. Red jeans can be worn casually during the day paired with dark-coloured flats or boots, or they can also jazz up an otherwise lifeless outfit for an evening of dining and cocktails. In addition, unlike most going out attire that either cripples our feet or prevents respiration as a result of being zipped up too tight, red jeans are comfortable and therefore are our friends. For a superb fit and good quality denim, Her Campus recommends Mango’s cropped skinny jeans (£34.99) in the style of Nicky Hilton.
3) Get High
Heels are something that the average man just can’t (and never will) understand. The only way the female obsession for stilettos can be explained is, in the words of shoe-guru and designer/genius, Manolo Blahnik: “you put on high heels and you change.” Not only do they elongate our legs and add otherwise-absent definition to our derrieres, but heels somehow automatically infuse a sense of self-confidence into the minds of women who all experience the same Cinderella-like excitement when they find the perfect stiletto to wear to the ‘ball’ – or, in our case, Mosaic. Thus imagine the potential for empowerment in combining stilettos with a seductive shade of red. The result is this stunning tufted platform shoe at £39.99 from Zara, guaranteed to make an impact.
4) Cup It
“But it’s Valentine’s day…” is always a perfectly good excuse to buy new lingerie. Whether you’re in a relationship or single-and-ready-to-mingle, lingerie can be fun for everyone.
The thought of red lingerie can sometimes seem tacky and ‘common’, but this is where Valentine’s Day comes in and makes it acceptable for red underwear to be considered classy and chic. The important thing is to feel good in what you’re wearing, and with red being the colour of love, passion and celebration, what could possibly go wrong? Elle Macpherson believes that “if you’re wearing lingerie that makes you feel glamorous, you’re half way there to turning heads.” Her Campus loves and recommends the Elle Macpherson Intimates Spree Contour Bra (£36, ASOS) and the Olympic push up bra in red (£7.99) by Women’s Secret.
5) Nail it
Lastly, for a classic and sophisticated look opt for red nails. It was Nefertiti and Cleopatra of Ancient Egypt, regarded as two of the most beautiful women of their time, who were some of the first to popularise red nails. At the time the stronger the shade of red on a woman’s nails, the more power they possessed. Things have not changed. Red nail varnish still represents power, as well as confidence, sensuality and, ultimately, an excellent eye for style.
Furthermore, they can add the perfect ‘edge’ to your Valentine’s outfit this month, transforming you into the sexy-yet-sophisticated damsel we all wish to be. For ultimate elegance and exquisite shine, we turn to Chanel for guidance. Her Campus recommends Chanel’s ‘08 Pirate’ shade (£17.50, Boots) for an eye-catching touch to a simple-yet-stylish dress in the style of Emma Roberts.
So there you have it. Let this lustrous shade entice the lads and let your confidence do the rest…