Red Haute

We tend to draw inspiration from the outdoors, so when the leaves started changing with the arrival of fall, it was only a matter of time before we began drifting toward the warmer end of the color spectrum, eventually landing at the richest of reds. In fashion, the color isn’t just pretty, it’s powerful. Every bit as versatile as basic black, the bordeaux Lanvin embellished dress, available from Marissa Colections in Naples, is also wonderfully bold. For those who prefer smaller doses of crimson, a vintage Georgian heart pendant, also from Marissa Collections, is more than enough to quicken the pulse, while a CARVEN burgundy pony skin handbag, available from Cece shoes in New Orleans, is a standout accessory that also happens to go with everything.

Whether used in statement pieces, such as a hand-painted leather screen with nailhead detailing available from from Digs in Nashville, or found in unexpected places, like the edges of vintage books available from Boxwood Interiors in Houston, red can convey timeless luxury and reverence. One need look no further than the set of eight gothic revival oak chairs, comprising two armchairs and six side chairs, available from Leslie Hindman’s October 14 Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction, to see why the color, like a fine wine, only gets better with age when used in the proper context.

“DESIGNERS WANT ME TO DRESS LIKE SPRING, IN BILLOWING THINGS. I DON’T FEEL LIKE SPRING. I FEEL LIKE A WARM RED AUTUMN.”
—MARILYN MONROE

The rich hues in Jacques Barraband’s Oiseau de paradis rouge, an original watercolor study for Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des rolliers signed by the artist, available from Leslie Hindman’s Fine Natural History and Historical Prints Auction, make our hearts take flight.

For men, now is the perfect time to swap out the standard blue blazer for Ledbury’s Red Bennett Sport Coat. Paired with dark jeans or trousers and a white shirt, the beautifully tailored silk and linen blend jacket instantly creates a sharp and sophisticated fall look. Ladies looking to brighten up their black-and-white uniforms should invest in a red carryall a la Kelly Wynne’s jewel-toned duffle.

Gentlemen will look cool—yet cozy—in crimson in a button-up Maurizio Baldassari sweater, available from Dallas’s Pockets Menswear; guys in the Atlanta area can find similarly stylish attire at Miller Brothers, which is not afraid to mix handsome clothes with classic cars, as proven by the presence of a cherry red Jaguar at a recent Miller Brothers event. 

Whatever the palette, red accents can warm up any room. Austin-based full-service custom home builder Chupik’s project (top) incorporates red books and crimson-inflected art to enliven and draw the eye up in an otherwise neutral-hued space; Stedman House in Charlottesville demonstrates how red lamps and a pillow with red details can add a burst of energy and excitement to a black, white, and grey corner; Atlanta’s Bungalow Classic offers an embellished pillow perfect for spicing up any armchair.

Open to so many interpretations, Robin Cheers’s “These Clouds Won’t Last Forever,” which measures 24″ x 30″ and is available from Gardner Colby Gallery in Naples, radiates warmth while inviting the observer to imagine what the subject is thinking.

Impeccably curated yet undeniably inviting, Jan Roden’s bookshelf is a visual feast set against a red backdrop.