Ask Belle: Red Dresses for Work?
Feb 9, 2015
Hi Belle,
This may be overly brave, but I’m looking for a red dress for work. Do you think red is appropriate? I just think red is such a power color. I’m not afraid to stand out.
Can you help me find an office appropriate dress for less than $150?
Sincerely, Meera
I appreciate bold. Many years ago, I had a lipstick red business suit. I loved it. I’ve spent too many hours searching for another one.
Red can be a tough color to wear in certain environments. In a very conservative office, it might not be appropriate. If you work in a realm where you staff your boss in big meetings, it’s probably not appropriate for that. The reason being that you don’t want to take attention from a superior. But if you think it’s right for your office, try it on a more casual day and see how people respond.
Ava & Aiden Scallop Dress ($109)
Felicity & Coco Midi Dress ($118)
Ava & Aiden Ruched Side Sheath ($99)
Maggy London Side-Ruched Dress ($118)
*Do not wear a red dress with red shoes. Ever.
Plus-size? This flouncy red dress is a fun option. I also like this Calvin Klein a-line dress with a pleated skirt. Petite? This Felicity & Coco dress is a sleek choice. Tall? The BR Sloan Sheath comes in a longer length.
I used to have a beautiful red fine corduroy shirtdress by Liz Claiborne. It fit wonderfully. I loved that dress. But every time I wore it to work, someone would say ” I like your dress, but I would never have the nerve to wear it!” It surprised me every time. People must really notice red. I wore it a lot less than I wanted because of the reaction it got.
I got the same reaction to my red suit. But I loved it, and it’s nice to be bold sometimes.
I absolutely agree on the red shoes. And for work, I would also think twice–*very seriously*–before wearing any animal print. With a bright red dress, it’s too likely to push the ensemble from “bold” to “of questionable taste and judgment.”
I agree. As much as I love my leopard pumps, with a black suit they’re an accent, with a red dress, they’re a 1992 throwback.
Word of caution with the Ava & Aiden dress… I got the same dress last year and it is very pretty and fits nicely, but it was a rusty, muted red. Not even remotely he red in the picture.
Thanks for the tip.
I think what can really help is tempering the red with a black suit jacket and conservative heels.
I’m not the biggest fan of black and red together. If you like it, by all means, but for me, I like a softer look. So I’d also suggest ivory or navy.
I can definitely agree that it can sometimes look jarring, but it depends on the red; I always go for a slightly softer or orange-undertone red. I don’t like a really bright or blue-toned reds. I think ivory would look really pretty, but I think navy and red can look too patriotic, yacht-like, and/or flight attendant-y.
What color shoes? I feel like black, to your last comment response, is too harsh. Nude? What about in winter in DC cold?
A nude-to-you works. I also think grey or snakeskin could work. I don’t think there’s a great solution for tights. I would probably go to old school nylons.
Just a word of encouragement for the potential red dress wearer — I’ve worked in the banking/financial services industry for over 10 years now. It’s definitely one of the more conservative industries and I have always had a red dress or two in rotation and always received very positive acknowledgements. I think that accessories, length, cut and confidence are all key to making sure it is professional enough but I think if you get those things right, the dress can be a workhorse in your wardrobe. I think it also helps if you are known as someone who dresses well/professionally on a regular basis. If you are someone who regularly makes questionable choices, this might be seen as another questionable choice.
I agree with Amanda above- if going for red, tone down accessories and make sure the cut of the dress is very appropriate. I had a conservative red shift dress that I wore with a blazer at work. I tested it on around the holidays- an excuse that I had a holiday party after. worked just fine.
Thank you for covering red dresses! I love mine!
I wanted to add my yes and amen to Amanda’s comment about confidence. I remember seeing a girl wearing a beautiful red dress. It was well cut, and looked great on her, but her posture and countenance said “please don’t look at me. I want to blend in.” and it destroyed what could have been a great look. If you are going to wear a red dress, wear it with confidence. I attended a young professionals Lincoln a few months ago, and planned to wear a black and white Tory Burch dress. But the morning of the event I stood in front of my closet and thought “what do I feel most confident in?” and reached for my favorite red sheath. The event was great and I felt like a million bucks!
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