What to wear with a red dress

Whether you’re heading out to a fancy event or just want to look your best for a day out with loved ones, putting together a nice outfit isn’t always as simple as we’d like it to be. Some people are naturally gifted with the ability to easily spot great colour combos at fifty paces - but for the rest of us, it can be helpful to have a few classic guidelines to stick to.

What colours go well with a red dress?

Red is a bold, fun colour that can easily hold its own as the main hue of your outfit whether you’re going for a dress, a co-ords set or a trouser suit. But when it comes to complementing your look with shoes, layers, handbags and accessories, you want to be sure you’re not detracting from the powerful visual feast a red outfit offers. 

So, what colours should you pair with a red dress?

Monochrome

When it comes to colour-matching, a monochrome look is one of the easiest to achieve if you have the right clothes in your wardrobe. Pair a red dress with red sandals or boots to give your look an aura of cohesion - and red jewellery like earrings, pendants, bracelets and even rings can further accentuate the outfit.

As a general rule, it’s best to go for shades that exactly match or shades that have a notable difference when it comes to wearing hues of red. That way, any difference looks intentional rather than a poor match.

However, it’s worth considering the placement of the matching items. If they’re next to each other - such as a red cardigan worn over a red dress - then the colour difference will be more noticeable than it would be if there were a gap between them. For example, choosing footwear that doesn’t quite match the shade of a red midi dress may still look okay because they’re not right next to each other.

Neutrals

One of the central tenets of colour matching for any purpose, whether it’s interior decoration or outfit-building, is that neutrals go with almost everything. Red is no exception to that - and in fact, neutrals can really allow your red dress to pop with colour. Whites, blacks, greys, browns, creams and nudes are all perfect easy matches when it comes to wearing red, and the best part is that any red will look good with these classic colours.

While neutrals are especially good for items like shoes and handbags when you don’t want to drag the spotlight away from your dress, they can also work well for cardigans, coats and even layering underneath clothing for cooler weather. Black and white are reasonably standard shades across the board, but it’s a good idea to do some trial and error when shopping for nude items so you can find one that goes well with your skin tone.

Metallics

Metallics are a classic option for pairing with bold colours like red, especially for jewellery. The most neutral metallic shades, gold and silver, go best with red, helping to provide a stylish contrast. Helpfully, these are the hues most people already have accessories in, so it’s easy to put together an elegant outfit without needing to go out and buy lots of new items.

Gold and silver pairs well with red all year round, but they also can look great as part of a more festive ensemble. It all depends on the kind of red dress you’re wearing. Remember, you can dress gold and silver up or down by choosing different styles of accessories and jewellery, making them highly versatile for a wide range of outfits and occasions.

Contrasting and complementary colours

The options we’ve described above are fairly easy to implement even if you’re not well-practised in the art of creating stylish colour combinations. However, if you wanted to step things up from those basic tips and tricks to put together a more colourful outfit, you can do that, too. Colour combinations tend to be a little subjective, so not every combo you see models wearing in magazines will be to your tastes. Therefore, we recommend doing some trial and error to identify the colours that speak to your own unique preferences.

One place to start is with denim. Almost everyone has a pair of blue denim jeans in their wardrobe, and it may interest you to know that that traditional mid-blue shade tends to pair well with red. A denim jacket can be a great lightweight layer to add to a red dress for cooler summer evenings, keeping you warm while also adding a touch of variety to your outfit. Lighter blues can also work well to provide a paler contrast to your red dress, while darker blues like cobalt or navy can make a bolder statement.

Another option is the colour that sits opposite red on the colour wheel: green. Although red and green ensembles might remind you of festive elf costumes and Christmas trees, red and green can go well together throughout the year if you choose the right shades. Opt for more muted shades of green such as olive or khaki, paired with a vibrant red to make your outfit pop.

Similarly, red can pair well with muted yellows like mustard and amber to create an stylish, colourful outfit. This can work especially well if you have a statement piece like a yellow handbag, jacket or shoes

As we’ve mentioned, style is incredibly personal, so not all of these ideas will sing to you. The best thing to do is to play around with the outfit pieces you already have in your wardrobe to get an idea of what you like, then start shopping for new items to enhance your ensemble. Good luck!