How stars like Maura and Meghan made ruby red the hot ‘cool girl’ color
MOVE over LBD – it’s time to add a new dress color to your winter wardrobe.
Spicy, vibrant and very appropriate for this time of year, you really can’t go wrong with wearing red.
While many people may gravitate towards black and often use it as a security blanket, a red dress is just like its cute sister.
It suits all skin tones and is not a color to shy away from. Depending on your preferred taste, you can choose shades from ruby red to scarlet red.
Celebrities certainly got the memo.
They look red hot in their dresses, showing that red, regardless of length or style, really suits everyone.
Here, deputy fashion editor Abby McHale looks at these ladies in red and what they’ve been wearing, and where to get the best red dresses on the high street.
Maura Higgins
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The Love Island star, who will be a latecomer to I’m a Celebrity, was as far away from the jungle as you can get when she stepped out in London last week in a red mini dress.
The 33-year-old, who is reportedly dating Strictly star Pete Wicks, will soon swap her glamorous red mini for a pair of practical red shorts.
The dress featured a strapless bodice before ending in an A-line skirt and is a style perfect for the party season.
Myleene Klas
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Myleene, 46, looked like a real Klass act in this satin red dress as she attended the Christmas lights switch in London’s Covent Garden last week.
Red is such a festive color and the Smooth Radio presenter certainly pulled out all the stops to make herself look good.
Although the Myleene strappy number looked fantastic, you can always layer a blazer over this look for extra warmth this time of year.
Mariah Carey
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The Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey, clearly loves a red dress this time of year.
The 55-year-old loves her red dresses so much that a Barbie doll was made of her in red last year and she was recently seen wearing a red number on a new wax figure at Madame Tussaud’s in New York.
This dress in particular is a super cute red mini that the All I Want For Christmas singer wore as she kicked off her Christmas tour in LA.
Katherine Ryan
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Fashion is no joke for comedian Katherine as she stepped out for the Gladiator II premiere in London last week.
The 41-year-old wore a red velvet square neck mini dress with embellishments by Nadine Merabi, which retails for £375.
A darker shade of red like this is great for those who don’t want to wear anything too bright and the velvet fabric gives it a really festive feel.
Meghan Markle
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The Duchess of Sussex often wears red during her appearances.
She recently wore a red Carolina Herrera dress, in which she was first spotted in 2021, but this time she removed the train.
Red is said to symbolize strength and courage. Royal watchers speculate that this is why the 43-year-old is often seen in the hot shade.
Nicole Scherzinger
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The former Pussycat Dolls singer can currently be seen in Sunset Boulevard on Broadway.
Seen before the show in a figure-hugging red strappy dress, the 46-year-old looked sensational.
The Dolce & Gabbana dress isn’t currently available to buy, but there are plenty of similar options available on the high street.
Clara Amfo
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Clara, 40, attended a screening of Elton John’s new documentary Never Too Late wearing a red blazer dress.
This dress style is great for those who want to wear long sleeves, with the center button closure adding extra shape to your look.
These types of dresses are readily available on the high street and you can buy them from H&M, Asos and New Look, among others.
Selena Gomez
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Who doesn’t love sequins at Christmas?
Selena, 32, stunned in this ruby red bardot-style dress at a Disney premiere last month.
The Rodarte dress is super flattering, with a neckline that wraps around her chest and then hugs the waist thanks to the corset-style top half, before trailing down the rest of her body.
The singer could give Jessica Rabbit a run for her money with this look.
Shop some of Abby’s best red dress picks on the high street now…
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This cap sleeve and ruffle midi dress from Next is super flattering, especially for those who want more support around their waist.
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This red dress from our own Fabulous Clothing Fuller Bust collection is made of durable satin and has a tie strap at the back that is thick enough for a bra.
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Sequins scream Christmas, so add this festive mini to your cart for a fun new party dress update.
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The perfect blazer dress to make you look smart and shape your body, with this ruffle detail in the center.
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Bows are a big trend this season and this dress from Quiz is a super fun take on the style with this showstopper bow detail on the back.
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Tu at Sainsbury’s has gone all out with this satin red midi dress, just £30, perfect for the upcoming festive season.
What does the color red symbolize?
By Abby McHale
The color red is often associated with love, romance and lust and is seen as a very powerful color.
Because the hue is so strongly associated with these things, it is often seen as a very attractive color.
Some say it has to do with social conditioning as to why we view red as a lustful shade, with women wearing red lipstick as early as 10,000 BC.
Red was often associated with fertility, which in turn could be related to feelings of love and lust.
It is also a color of strength and excitement and can be used to make a statement, which can also be done through clothing.
There’s even a whole theory called ‘The Red Dress Effect’, where studies have shown that the color evokes sexual desire and increases physical attractiveness compared to other colors.
