The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Fashion & LifestyleShopping & Trends

Love Valentine’s? Say it with red

Love Valentine’s? Say it with red
14 February 2012
Siobhan Copland
Avatar
Siobhan Copland
14 February 2012

What you wear is important on any date, and Valentine’s Day is particularly memorable. Whether you love or hate this time of year, say it with passionate red this Valentine’s.

There’s a common myth that red doesn’t suit everybody, but rest assured there is a shade of red for everyone, whether you’re a brunette, blonde or redhead.

Lets start with the lips. Many people shy away from red lipstick, but a dab of rouge on the lips can do wonders for every woman. Red lipstick, especially, can make lips appear fuller, and teeth whiter. And considering your smile is one of the first things people notice, you want your lips looking kissable. So, before you even apply the lipstick, make sure you prep your lips, as with the cold weather they can get chapped, and split easily.

Firstly, apply some exfoliator and rinse with water. Then, using an old toothbrush, lightly brush in a circular motion, rinse, apply a dab of moisturiser, blot, and apply lip liner. This is especially important for red, as the colour bleeds and you could end up looking like The Joker, which you may not find so amusing.

Apply the lip liner within the lines; if you have thin lips you can go slightly over, but only a little. Next, apply your shade, testing it on your hand first to see how it fits with your complexion. If you had a red lipstick in the summer, you should change in the winter months, as we all get paler.

MAC has very long-lasting shades, such as Striking Red, which suits most, at around £13.50. However, for an even cheaper version, and a nice, deep, pinkish red, Boots Natural Collection does a great moisturising shade for only £1.99, also quite long-lasting.

A red coat always stands out, and has its place outside of Butlins. It can certainly make a big impression, especially since it’s the first thing that’s noticed about you. I always get compliments from both men and women when I’m out in mine. A red coat is best worn with all black as the contrast of the two colours works really well together, and since red is such a bold colour it shouldn’t be mixed too much.

You can pick up red coats from the high street, on a last-minute dash. M&S have a really nice round-neck, mid-length belted coat for £79.00. Oasis has a lovely vintage-inspired red mac, £48.00, that will easily take you through spring. If you don’t mind stretching your budget, Karen Millen has a stunning, signature, perfectly tailored moleskin coat for £210. If you are going to go for the red coat, you could wear the lipstick too – just make sure it’s matching, and blot it out a fair bit.

Red jeans are also huge at the moment, with celebs like SJP being seen out and about in them. If you’re going on a more casual date you could get away with wearing these. If you favour skinny jeans, Topshop has a really cool pair: MOTO Supersoft Dirty Raspberry Leigh Jean, £38.00, and MOTO Supersoft Skinny Watermelon Leigh Jean look pretty tasty too. Pair with a black blazer, white tee and black boots for a smart casual look, or kitten heels and a black biker-style leather jacket.

You could also dress in all black, and add a bit of spice with some red-hot heels. Kurt Geiger has some gorgeous platform shoe boots just in, Emily, for £85.

But remember the top/bottom rule: if your top is red, keep the bottom plain and simple, and vice versa.

So, whether you’re spending the night with a date or with friends, you’re sure to look Ravishing in Red (wink, wink).

Siobhan Copland

Related Items

More in Fashion & Lifestyle

At-home beauty essentials to try in 2021

Rebekah Absalom
Read More

The top beauty looks to try this festive season

Alexandra Davis
Read More

Christmas day dresses worth a celebration of their own

Sophie Cook
Read More

Christmas gift guide 2020: For him

Rebekah Absalom
Read More

Christmas gift guide 2020: For her

Rebekah Absalom
Read More

Festive pyjama sets you need for Christmas Eve

Sophie Cook
Read More

The rise and rise of Weekend Doll: An interview with founder and creative director Yuriko Usui

The editorial unit
Read More

Beauty gift guide for her

Alexandra Davis
Read More

10 jumpers you need in your wardrobe this winter

Sophie Cook
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Live Lab at The Yard Theatre: An interview with associate director Cheryl Gallagher
    Theatre
  • Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • The Capote Tapes
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • The Dig
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Crobar: Music When the Lights Go Out
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Green stars, two female chefs at the top and a controversially quick award: This is 2021 UK Michelin Guide during the pandemic
    Food & Drinks
  • Assassins: Exclusive new clip
    Cinema
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Uncategorised
  • Schemers
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • Green stars, two female chefs at the top and a controversially quick award: This is 2021 UK Michelin Guide during the pandemic
    Food & Drinks
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Uncategorised
  • Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Identifying Features
    ★★★★★
    Cinema
  • We Still Fax at ANTS Theatre Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

The reinvention of Maria Luisa
Lowie: Memories stitched with love