Everyone is Seeing Red
In a fashion season that championed the style of grown-up women, red was a key color trend for Fall 2024. Creative directors were drawn to this powerful hue as it is universally recognized for its symbolic link to a range of complex emotions. Red represents love, sexuality and anger in Western cultures, while in Asia it symbolizes good fortune and in India it signals purity. Across cultures, it represents power, courage, danger and aggression.
Designers explored shades like true red in daywear staples, from a sharp-shoulder, double-breasted jacket at Marie Adam-Leenaerd to Adeam’s tailored dress with scarf neckline and buckle details and even statement knitwear like CFCL’s peplum top and matching skirt ensemble. Evening saw standouts from Alexis Mabille, with his dramatically draped evening gown, and Erdem’s bold taffeta midi cocktail dress with oversized bow. Accessories got the red treatment too, from Stella McCartney’s loop fabric bag to The Row’s pompom fringed scarf.
But there were plenty of other reds as well. Hermes designer Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski leaned into the house’s signature orange-red hue with an elegantly monochromatic pant suit, while Balestra cut a double-breasted maxi coat in a similar hue. Maroon made an appearance at Uma Wang, in a sophisticated shaggy scarf and matching silk dress and at Saint Laurent, in a daring sheer nylon turtleneck dress. Russet red looked particularly chic in Bottega Veneta’s deconstructed leather coat, while Jason Wu picked a merlot hue for a side-swept evening gown that looked both elegant, yet fashion forward. And Gucci’s Ancora red-burgundy was the color of choice for shiny leather thigh-high boots and matching handbags.
But red isn’t just a runway trend; designers and creative directors are continuing to tap into this potent hue with their Fall / Winter 2024 ad campaigns, from product (Prada, DKNY, Gucci, Tory Burch, Proenza Schouler, Versace, Casablanca, Bottega Veneta) to background and props (Marc Jacobs, Casablanca, Jil Sander, Miu Miu) and even typography (Marni, Jimmy Choo).
And get ready to see even more red as this color trend crosses over into home décor next year. Behr paints has already officially released its color of the year for 2025 - Rumours – an earthy brown-red hue that will add “warmth and allure” to any space.
