History Proves These 8 Things Always Work With a Red Dress

Over this past year, you've no doubt gathered a collection of flattering red dresses—they've not only been in fashion throughout 2017, but we've also discovered that a particular shade of primary red suits all skin tones and psychologically lift's one mood and appearance of power. There's nothing to not to love about the LRD. Only, with the advent of the festive party period, a sudden drop in temperatures and a calendar chock-full of dates to remember, there's suddenly a need to a) revisit this range of red dress and b) find something new to wear with them.

Here is where we step in to solve all your styling needs. Because the fashion crowds and the celebrities have been wearing these scarlet frocks on repeat, there's plenty of inspiration material to sift through, and the good news is that your LRDs—no matter their shade, silhouette, shape or print—go with a lot of accessories, coats and other colours out there. We could go so far as to say red is the new black or that it should be considered a neutral, but we won't, due to the fact that it's, erm, bright red. So keep reading to see how Olivia Palermo, Kate Bosworth, Kendall Jenner and a host of street style stars recommend you wear your red dress now.

Red Dress + Anything Black

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: From ankle boots to roll-necks and from tights to sunglasses, there's nothing that won't work when you pair black with a red dress. We'll most likely be taking OP's tack and wearing our red dresses with black ankle boots.

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Red Dress + Jeans

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Style Notes: Whether layered over true-blues or washed-out black rinses, there's something new and modern about wearing your favourite red dress over jeans. Because this is a more adventurous idea, it also opens up some wilder accessorising options. Go forth, and conquer.

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Red Dress + Gold Jewellery

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(Image credit: Style Snooper Dan)

Style Notes: Festive but also entirely summer-appropriate, gold jewellery (bangles, trinket necklaces, hoops, statement earrings, chokers—you name it) always looks good set against bright red.

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Related: Party Dressing Is Back, and I Just Found This Year's Coolest Styles

Red Dress + Nude Sandals

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Style Notes: Show me a celebrity who doesn't rely on the old red dress + nude sandals formula, and I'll eat my hat. From Karlie Kloss to Kristen Stewart, this is a versatile, flattering combination that suits all personal styles.

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Red Dress + Camel Coat

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Style Notes: When it's cold out and you still want to wear your LRD, then the camel coat is your new best friend. Everyone from Kate Bosworth to Amal Clooney agrees that this grown-up coat looks striking against a bold red.

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All Red From Top to Toe

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Style Notes: The fashion editor's way to wear a red dress in 2017, no FROWgoer has been exempt from trying the runway's dedicated head-to-toe idea. You can be matchy-matchy with one colour, or mix up your red tones for a more autumnal effect.

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Red Dress + Neutral Snake Print

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: Meanwhile, over in Hollywood, the new combination to be seen in now is neutral snake-print shoes worn with little red dresses. Both Kendall Jenner and Shay Mitchell are in on it. We say save it for the hotter months in the UK.

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Related: Trust Me, I Know Good Shoes, and These Party-Ready Pairs Are Everything

Red Dress + White Footwear

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Style Notes: Whether patent ankle boots, neat pointed-toe courts or classic sneakers, we've seen countless outfits this year that revolve around red dresses and white shoes. Ideal for the girl who wants to be slightly offbeat this party season.

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Hannah Almassi
Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi is the editor in chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits.

Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.