A Pop of Red, The Roaring 20s, and Riveting Ways to Decorate

Why Red isn’t just this year’s trend, plus a dose of Downton Abbey. Cherry on top? Thanksgiving and holiday tablescapes to ooh and ahh over.

Nov 21, 2023

Why Red isn’t just this year’s trend

Red becomes the predominant color twice a year: Christmas and Valentines. Plus once more if you count Independence Day.

But this year, red is in the foreground of fall’s most vibrant colors and style combinations. You can find every influencer sporting a new red sweater.

I’m not sure about you but this is where I start to roll my eyes at trends. I’ve always loved red, but now everyone is obsessed with red. However, in the cheer of the holiday season, I’ll just embrace the fact that finally the street style world’s eyes have been opened to the beauty of the color red.

So, if you love red and want to know ways to wear it (other than the most basic—tried and true—way of wearing red: red sweater, blue jeans, trainers), I experimented with some outfits to show you.

1. Red compliments dark brown—shall we say chocolate— incredibly well. in fact, they go together like sugar and spice. What a perfect combination for fall and winter.

2. It layers well underneath. The little bit of red showing through brightens any winter bundled-up look.

3. It layers well on top, adding a bold exclamation point on an outfit. Here it is over a dress, tucked and untucked.

4. Red shoes are always a good idea.

Let’s be real, holiday parties are top of mind. So, when you’re thinking about what to wear, think about how you can make an old dress new, whether you belt it, layer it, or alter it, and where you can add a pop of red.

A Dose of the Roaring 20s: Downton Abbey

Loving fashion takes you on rabbit trails. Lots of them. Like binge re-watching Downton Abbey this weekend while I was confined to the couch with a virus. I found myself obsessing over the fashion as the series progresses—for those of you who don’t know it begins in April of 1912, but covers multiple decades—and then realizing how much of those trends we see echoed today.

You could say I’m reading into it because if I’m constantly immersed in fashion I would watch Downton and see what I’ve been working on. But also, I think the longer you look at fashion and study it, the more cyclical you realize the trends really are.

Like the fact that I did a google search starting to look for an authentic 1920s dress. In that search I came across these different dresses: