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4th February 2017

Red carpet ready

Deputy Fashion and Beauty Editor Talia Lee-Skudder reveals the colour that has survived through the ages from the screen sirens of the 50s right up to the stars of our latest award shows
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TLDR

Bold and seductive, the colour red oozes confidence and has long been a firm favourite at award ceremonies. Our favourite celebrities are experts at incorporating the colour into their red carpet looks, whether it is with a slick of red lipstick, a full-blown gown or a flash of their trusty Christian Louboutins.

The colour red symbolises passion and is an emotionally intense colour proving to have the capabilities of increasing your respiration rate and raising your blood pressure making it a sure winner if you want to set hearts racing with your look.

Although a red dress on the red carpet may seem like over kill, celebs have proved that there is nothing more alluring than a floor length red dress. Who can forget Bella Hadid turning up to the premiere of Unkown Girl at Cannes film festival in the sensational thigh high split Alexander Vauthier gown? This show-stopping look certainly made Bella stand out from the crowd. The look was incredibly daring with the dress being backless and complete with a plunging neckline and thigh high split, yet Bella carried herself with confidence and exuded glamour.

Whilst Bella kept her make up natural and let her dress do the talking, stars such as Rihanna and Kim Kardashian have fully embraced the colour by matching their lipstick to their dresses. Kim rocked her red waist- cinching Celia Kritharioti at Elton John’s Oscar party back in 2014, whilst in 2013 Rihanna chose a red sheer chiffon Azzedine Alaia gown for the Grammys. Both embraced the red-hot look by adding a matte red lipstick, proving that the colour is a sure way to get you noticed.

For some, however, a bit of red lippie is all that is necessary to spruce up their red carpet look. Take Sienna Miller, this girl knows how to work the perfect red lipstick and looks incredible in the process.

From Marilyn Monroe to Gigi Hadid, red lipstick has long been synonymous with old Hollywood glamour and is the most classic of looks. This style has been popular since the early 1900s when Maurice Levy invented the first metal lipstick tube; from then major beauty companies including Chanel started selling this product and it became an essential for women.

The screen sirens from the 40s and 50s embraced the red lip including Ava Gardner, Rita Hayworth and of course Elizabeth Taylor who is famously quoted as saying ‘pour yourself a drink, put on your lipstick and pull yourself together’. If a bit of lipstick and pouring a drink is the answer to all of our problems, then it seems that the advice still applies in 2017.

From full-length gowns to the classic red lip, celebrities and Hollywood legends have embraced the colour. Since its launch in 1991, many lucky ladies have had the pleasure of wearing the famous shoes designed by Christian Louboutin which are renowned for their bright red sole. Victoria Beckham and Blake Lively, who has even had a Louboutin named after her, are fans of the luxury brand. A Louboutin shoe is the perfect pop of red for any fabulous occasion and the perfect way to incorporate the colour into an outfit.

With so many legendary icons and modern muses proving to be fans, the colour red has proved to be a timeless addition to any look and is pivotal in creating the perfect and alluring red carpet ensemble.


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