There is one time in a year when going all out in RED is not overkill. That time of the year is Chinese New Year when anything red is auspicious – yay! 😀 Its also Valentine’s Day this year so red will be in abundance too. I do handle red outfits well if I might say so myself but I also realize that not everyone wants to go full in-your-face red. I sometimes don’t either.
So, what I do when I dress a cool black or in neutral sombre colours, is to use red accessories to prevent my relatives shooting dagger looks at me. Red handbags, clutches or wallets are always useful. They add a pop of colour to an otherwise dark outfit, and it is unexpected yet makes a statement.
In the alternative, a red belt would jazz up a black dress perfectly. You’d look pulled together and chic. Or how about red shoes? If you pair a red belt and shoes with a dark dress, you can pull it off without looking too much like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz 😉 I have a gorgeous pair of red flats that I wear with jeans on days when I dress down but want something unexpected to draw attention to them, or when I feel like I need a touch of red. I haven’t found a pair of red pumps that do it for me though. I’m still on the look out 🙂
My eye has recently been caught by a bunch of very expensive items which come in a gorgeous gorgeous shade of red called “pomme d’amour” – the apple of love = tomato? 😛
These come under the Vernis collection of Louis Vuitton. I used to be a bit meh about Vernis leather in bags – too shiny and bling bling – but now that I know I can get it in smaller accessories, suddenly, it doesn’t look all that meh anymore. That pop of colour and shine in a small accessory looks promising.
I happen to love how the Brea PM (the bag) looks in person. I wore black the day I tried it on and it looked so amazing! BUT I found it too small and a tad dressy for my daily needs. Sigh….
I’m still thinking of getting something in Vernis though I’m worried about how it holds up with wear. Does anyone own anything in Vernis so you can share your experience with me? Does it scratch easily and do I need to take extra care when using it? Would a wallet in Vernis be just stupid? Help me! 😛
What’s your favourite red accessory? For now, its my red leather bag pictured above that I pull out on days when I feel a little down. Cheers me up aplenty!
Paris B
I love red!! But the mother thinks that red shoes are a little unorthodox in the matchy-matchy department so she forbids me to buy them… Haih… As for the LV Vernis collection, they’re really pretty!! But LV tends to get over-copied by those designer pirates in the mainland, don’t you think? However, I rarely go into designer outlets…. Scared of them, actually….
Aww… red shoes are such a pretty little treat! Tell mom its ok not to be matchy matchy all the way 🙂 Everything LV is copied to death but there’s a lovely feeling about owning the real thing 😀
Sigh…the LV vernis collection is awesome!
I absolutely love love love red. Surprisingly though I have hardly any red accessories. I guess my only red “accessory” would be lipstick and underwear!
Oh and nail polish!!
Ooh you’re going to have remedy not owning any red accessories! A new bag? 😀 Or a wallet – they say red wallets bring in money 😉
try their vernis alma BB ~~ Its super cute
Ooh yeah its so adorable but way too impractical for me 🙁 I already have the big alma so I’d look at something else 🙂
I seldom go red all the way, but I would wear a simple black outfit then red shoes and bag that’s it 🙂 I don’t own the LV Vernis, so sorry, can’t really help 🙂
That’s a chic look Nikki! Black and red is an amazing combination.
I love LV’s Vernis range but I find their reds a bit too loud. They are still beautiful though 🙂 I have a Vernis Koala wallet in the aubergine shade and at first, was worried to death it will end up scratchy and tattered. But the Vernis range is a lot hardier than they look and my wallet is still scratch free and as good as new after 2 years of use. This being something I chuck into my handbag on a daily basis too. My friends and relatives who own items from Vernis have not faced any problems.
If you find something you really like from LV’s Vernis, I’d say go for it!
Thank you Lyn! The reds are loud hence my thoughts about the wallet 😉 Now you got me really tempted to get it. I’m a little hard on my wallets so the fact that you have used it for 2 years and its still scratch free is going to be a clincher. Pomme d’amour come to mama!! 😀
I’m thinking the Vernis is hardier than it looks. My sister treats her bellevue like shit ie putting down on the ground in park, on the train seat (eww), etc. It still looks brand new despite her treatment. She got that in the Amarante. I think I might get one in Bleu Nuit… 😛
Thou shalt not tempt! 😛 I actually saw the wallet in Amarante and it looked good. More sedate, more adult than the pomme d’amour. I’m going to have to check out Bellevue. Ouch… 😛
Paris darling, LV is absolutely gorgeous, no matter which one you own because like you said, it’s that ‘special’ feeling you have when it is yours 😀
i absolutely love the vernis collection but it can be a little too pricey for a WAHM like me. but but but… i am absolutely saving up for the wallet. at least it is not too obvious carrying it everywhere but you know it’s there. kind of like wearing the sexiest lacy underwear that’s pricey and no one actually knows. the feeling’s pretty good, no? haha…
Juan, the Vernis is pricey whether you are a WAHM or not! I shudder at the thought really. I love your analogy! You’re absolutely right about having something so decadent so close to you and no one knows 😀
i love the shoe you got! such a lovely pair!
my parents don’t allow me to wear only a small touch of red, my clothes MUST be either pink/ red/ yellow/ orange those very chinese-y colours. no neutral or dark at all. sigh, so un-flexible.
Haha Usually I go all red on the 1st day of CNY – I like it too so its not quite torture 🙂
I dyed my hair red. Hahahhaa….I love my shiny PVC red shoes too. Its awesome to jazz up simple outfits. Currently love my red belt as well.
I think red stuff are not difficult to match if I don’t match them by exact colours. Like if I wear the PVC red shoes, I’ll go with a bold dark blue jeans. I wear the red belt which is like quiet red leather matte finish with a pastel top which is kinda quiet in a way. Don’t know if you get what I mean….like match red items with a “loud” finish with “loud” items and “quiet” red with “quiet” items. 😀
Haha! Dyeing your hair red is a great way to kick off the year 😉 I get what you mean perfectly. Matching like tones with like makes for a pulled together outfit. Sometimes, matching contrasts can work too! Thanks for sharing
how much is the LV?
Which item?
You’ve got lovely red accessories, Paris 🙂 And yup, I saw the red LV Vernis leather coin purse in China (knock-offs!) sometime in June 2009 and wanted to get it for myself.
It’s REALLY cute esp as they come in other gorgeous shades i.e. white, purple, blue, brown, fuschia…
Thank you Kitty! I love me lots of red 😀 The vernis coin pouch sure is cute. Red caught my eye the most although the purple one isn’t too shabby 😉
red! maybe I should look out for that color this CNY although my feng sui color is yellow and sky blue… ok so maybe I just stick with those -_- it’s always more auspicious to wear feng sui color on CNY *sighs*
Wear your feng shui colour! Do not under estimate the power of feng shui *cue mysterious music*
A touch of red in terms of accessories is nice…
For me, Red is never overkill, as long as your skin looks good in it…. if not, forget it. Seriously, I think it’s very sexy but not everyone can pull it off