Forget black. Forget white. This summer, red is taking its rightful place as the ultimate wardrobe neutral and darling, we could not be more here for it.
Red has always commanded attention. It is the colour that makes itself known the moment it enters a room, worn by those who have absolutely no interest in blending in. And for years, we have treated it as an accent, a pop of colour to liven up an otherwise neutral ensemble. A red pump with classic jeans. A red bag against a monochrome look. The finishing touch rather than the foundation.
But the runways have spoken, and they are telling us to think much bigger.
At Zankov and Lii, two of the freshest emerging labels of the moment, a bright red shirt was layered over baby-blue and butter-yellow long-sleeves for the most joyful colour-blocking moment. At Celine and Christopher John Rogers, red tops were paired with earthier brown trousers for a look that felt surprisingly grounded and deeply sophisticated. The message from every corner of the fashion world is the same: red goes with everything. You simply have to commit to it.
And the celebrities are leading the charge beautifully. Josh O’Connor emerged in New York in a cherry-red jacket with green and yellow striped trousers and looked completely magnificent. Zoey Deutch paired red statement trousers with a purple cardigan in a combination that should not work and absolutely does. And Emma Corrin wore a red knit pullover with easy neutrals, letting the brightest shade in the room take its rightful centre stage.
Is there a colour that red does not work with? These examples would suggest the answer is a resounding no.
Consider red your easiest and most exciting styling hack of the summer. It injects instant personality into every single look, works with virtually everything in your wardrobe, and ensures you are always, inevitably, beautifully noticed.
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