Bloody Red

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Redaw09 Like a dodgy theatre trick where red silk gushes out of fake wounds, I have a bit of a beast on my hands here.  Thanks to my luverly sister who works at .Cent Magazine and seems to be a bit more ballsy with freebies, she has an Aquascutum dress that is a never-got-to-production sample from the A/W 09-10 collection. Michael Herz, Aquascutum's head of design is going to be guest editor of .Cent's forthcoming issue hence why dear Lou got the dress.  Still, we're both sort of scratching our heads at it really.  The ruche of the fabric in itself poses a problem and is interesting at the same time but for me, it's the mean reds that I'm struggling me.

Yes, yes, red is all over the joint, bleeding over a lot of collections next season and attempting to pump its way into my wardrobe.  I'm trying to pump it elsewhere to be honest given that wearing this so-called er lucky colour has always made me feel uneasy.  With this particular dress, I'm feeling specifically like a giant red blood cell ready to flow out of a stigmata point.  Ok, I exaggerate.  The dress is actually more beauty than beast which is why I attempted to grapple with the colour using this precise piece.  And maybe, just maybe it's in fact a good thing feeling like a red blood cell… 
It will take a few more attempts of course but hey if the red is gonna try and gush in, I have a feeling that any dam I try to put up might not be worth the hassle… now to get over my fear of pairing red and black…

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55 comments

  2. I love thiiis, with the nude-ish tones, I much prefer it to red and black.
    Red and black gives me weird Tammy Goth flashbacks, like emily the strange and ruby gloom and euuurgh.
    I wrote a note to myself and stuck it on a cupboard about a year ago- it says ‘camel and red’, I still haven’t got round to finding a good outfit involving said colours.
    Also, that dress is magnificent! I should stop writing because none of these sentences are connected.

  4. Gorgeous! Very jealous of your sister’s score. Have the same hesitation about red and black. Usually just incorporate it into other primaries or earth tones. I’m a curvy brunette, so when I wear those two together I feel like I should go around with a rose in my teeth shouting “Ay!” and tossing my hair about. Not a fan of “spicy”. But the neutrals are a good foil. Hadn’t thought of that combination.

  5. Very nice! I can’t wear blood red as it makes me dead pale :/ I still love it on you though. Don’t pair with black, no use trying to restrain or tone down the red, better to give in and celebrate its glory.

  6. honestly, it looks terrific!! love the all red style, although i don’t usual like total look. I think you do it more subtly !

  7. I am very jealous of your sisters blagging! The height of my freebie looting escapades was the press room at clothesshowlive, very disapointing.
    I think the red is in need of some navy blue/dark brown leather harnessed around it.

  8. I love LOVE love this outfit , I would just change the red tights . Maybe the Chanel two tone tights !
    I love those .
    LOVE .
    Which might make me

  9. gorgeous. very unusual, it’s like the dress embodiment of an Angela Carter short story!
    hope she enjoyed Cent, my friend worked there last year
    enchantedhunters.blogspot.com

  10. you actually look really good in red with your skintone and dark hair. i’m a bit fearful of it myself as it casts this weird glow on me and washes me out (being blonde with olive/fair skin).

  11. Oh..”Ma-bu-shii”(It’s Japanese word..that I say when sth is bright..)..Love your red dress..:-)

  12. That dress is a bit challenging, but red is my most favorite color and THAT shade is just glorious. Powerful, present, and primal.

  13. wow u look stunning! the dress is great! ur outift is too perfection, especially with the hints of nude! keep up the good work! xoxo
    Ty Ty

  14. Ha, I know what you mean about being uneasy with red. You wear it much better than I do though.
    You reminded me of a play I saw a few months ago, with people coughing red ribbon “blood”, fascinating.

  15. wow – how lucky to get your hands on that lovely dress..it looks stunning with the nudes I agree with all the above..Red can be such a loud colour but here it’s just FUN 🙂

  16. It’s funny that you should have a similar attitude to red as I do – I’ve never met anyone else who feels the same. If I were to put on that ensemble, I think I’d have a panic attack. I really feel dreadful if I wear red, I’ve worn bits and pieces before (well about a decade ago) and have even ducked into a shop to buy something to change into when I couldn’t take it anymore. Bit over-the-top but I kid you not!
    Still I can appreciate it on others and that is a very striking look indeed. Do you think our personal aversion might be in rebellion to the typical association of red with east Asia? (being also of east Asian origin)

  20. Compliments for the styling! Love that neckpiece with demure shoes. Still, the dress itself is trying too hard, it’s too mumsy in its efforts. You are not built for Predictable Vamp (didn’t hear that word for a long time!it’s great!), thank god!

  21. yesssssss i’m ready… i have my red monochrome outfit(s) i keep wearing, but rocky says it’s too much. actually i like it when none of the reds match.

  22. It makes you uneasy? Why Susie you look amazing in red! And yes those nude tones certainly help – try gold too, I personally love red and gold (or red and purple 🙂

  23. Sopchan: I would say that is partially the reason why I have an aversion to red….it’s linked to the cheongsam/qi pao thing too….
    Eche: Actually, it’s my attempt to wear a dress that I actually quite like in itself… it just so happens that it’s red… and had to give the ol’ trend thing a wee mention as a passing comment…
    I have been meaning to figure out what is it about red that turns me off… as usual another experiment FAILED
    Dust: Ah well I tried…

  25. It is such a cool dress, though I agree that the color is a bit tricky. I like red in moderation, and I have only ever seen one red and black outfit I liked in my entire life. I’m sure though that if you decided to try out red and black, it’d be awesome!

  30. Hm. I must be odd, as I love red and black…well, at least mostly black with a red accent. Red shoes with an all black outfit=heaven.
    Anyway. Susie, that dress is crying out for a belt. I’d do black (again, I’m the odd one out), but surely you’ve got a wide nude one around somewhere…gold or purple, as other people said, would work too. But it needs something there!

  32. FIERCE!! WOW!! Amazing!!! I think conveyed how I feel about your outfit! 🙂

  33. Never fear color!!
    I’ve never been one to wear an one entire shade from head to toe but I think you balance it out nicely enough with the more subtle cream color.
    You should definitely imbark on the journey to wearing red and black together. Once you start you won’t be able to stop.

  36. Red and nude look beautiful together here. I always end up pairing red and black and not loving the results. I’ve always stayed away from nude but I really must experiment with it a bit!!

  39. I’ve never liked red, frankly, except sometimes as nail varnish – and even then, it feels loud & garish (on me). I have nothing against it for anyone else, it’s just not me. And if you feel that way, it’s not you, either. Kudos for trying to help promote anyone who gave your sister a freebie, but compared to your peaches&cream ensemble, or that gorgeous hot pink/orange/purple sunset combo.. what can I say, I’m Simply not a Red girl. Never was, and probably never will be.

  40. RRRRED! I actually love red, but I don’t have enough red pieces. I like the idea of pairing red with nude- usually I pair mine with navy though I am typing this while wearing my red Ralph Lauren sweater with a black shirt and pants…maybe you are more suited to cooler colours?

  41. JC: Actually it was me who asked to borrow the sis’ dress for experimenting not the other way round for promoting Aquascutum, who er… frankly don’t need the promotion…

  42. Fair enough, I stand corrected : ) Guess I got so worked up, seeing red, I didn’t read it correctly. I love the way you give everything a try, and are constantly pushing your own boundaries. But I know what you mean: whenever I wear red, I just feel.. big & loud, and I’m not a big girl. Well as my dad would say, that’s what makes horse racing!
    jCx

  44. I’m scared to wear red, because my fung shui master said that red would bring me bad luck..
    Pooo!
    Should I follow my own instincts or to be defeated by superstition? 🙁

  46. Absolutely love the runched material. Looks amazing but would maybe change the red tights. Perhaps some floral patterned tights which have red flowers throughout.

  47. People without necks freak me out a little…a challenging dress indeed! At least it’s short which balances out the disappearence of your top half..
    I must say, I like it though! The colour is so vibrant and the ruche-ness makes me want to touch it..
    I have a male friend who loves to wear all red at the moment..red top, trousers, shoes.. People in the pub come up with ‘ingenius’ things to compare him to 🙂
    A belt, perhaps.

  49. HAHA I totally cracked up at the sight of your second photo. Are you trying to be scary? No, you’re too cute!

  51. Very Dynasty, scarlet woman. I could see you gatecrashing a wedding in this esemble. I dont mind red, I think it can make you feel uber ballsy and bitchy but very glam too. That said the only red item I have is a snow white style, childs looking coat with black velvet bows – not quite scarley bitch, more kinder whores are us!

  52. I’ve never liked wearing red, not even on my toenails, but just the other day I wore a print with red in it and was a bit uncomfortable…I think it’s great you’re wearing it from head to toe and you look amazing in red!

  53. I’d wear with sheer tights with a red seam up the back….just would.
    Oooh and also it would probably be more versatile if the neck line were more maleable and could be placed/pulled/pinned into different positions.

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