Ready to return to school, college or work with a bang this September? You better be, because there’s a new power colour this season, and it’s not for the faint to heart. Yes, power red is the hue of A/W 2017 and it’s all over the catwalks.
At New York Fashion Week it was spotted in the collections of Victoria Beckham, Proenza Schouler and Monse, while it also dominated the shows in Milan Fashion Week. Max Mara layered different hues and fabrics in his head-to-toe red looks, which featured crimson wool tops, ruby velvet skirts and blood-red fur coats.
Altuzarra was also all about the velvet, featuring luxurious suits with a boyish, Jacobian silhouette, while coats were cinched in with the statement accessory of the season, the corset belt. Oscar de la Renta went for characteristic sophistication, featuring vermilion silk blouses and high-waisted trousers for the most glamorous of power suits.
Carolina Herrera worked her deep red coats with black tights and flat black shows in a modern reimagining of French schoolgirl chic. Meanwhile, Fendi and Tod’s went for sensual fabrics, with Fendi rocking some red sheer dresses for a lingerie-inspired look, while Tod’s all-leather ensembles were given a classic modern update, with red and neutral tones instead of predictable dark hues.
 The key to this look is simply confidence – there’s no being a wallflower in this eye-catching, attention-commanding hue. Bold red is the perfect colour for coats, as it will never go out of style and can transform a dark or neutral-toned outfit. Jumpsuits are also a perfect way to wear red, as they provide a complete ensemble that needs nothing else but killer shoes. However, if you prefer to layer up a few different red pieces, feel free!
An easy way to keep your look from seeming too matchy-matchy – or for disguising slightly different tones of red – is to pair different textiles together. Look for cherry silk blouses with wine velvet trousers, or grab a scarlet sheer skirt with a rusty wool jumper. This mix-and-match approach will lend an eclectic edge to your ensemble, which differentiates this iteration of red from the cardinal uniform power-suits of the ’80s.
If a head-to-toe flush isn’t your thing, fear not – it’s easy to inject popping highlights of red to your existing wardrobe for a more subtle take. Red shoes and bags add a touch of sex-kitten sensuality to an outfit without overpowering it, and if all else fails, just get out that tried-and-tested favourite: red lipstick. Red lips, full hearts, can’t lose.