The Perfect Red Dress
Everyone in stylish circles has heard of the LBD, or the Little Black Dress, and I believe that a fashionable woman should actually have a few of those in her closet–for a quick date-night solution, an elegant gala or opening, an impromptu funeral…But with Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, have you heard of the PRD? It’s the Perfect Red Dress, and I have deemed it a wardrobe necessity! It’s ideal for Christmas, Valentine’s and any given occasion when you want to look like an absolute siren!
No matter the trends or the color-of-the-moment, red is eternal. It was American fashion designer Bill Blass who famously declared, “When in doubt, wear red.” Red draws focus and can steal the scene. And nothing, I mean *nothing* looks more sensational for Valentine’s Day than a beautiful woman, wearing a pretty red dress, expertly-styled.
Invest in the dress. You can always go cheap, minimal or very economically-creative on accessories. But the dress has to have a few elements in place to make that unforgettable statement that you desire. It must have a) great fit and quality construction; b) a high-end textile in a flattering hue of red; and c) it must be beautifully designed.
Your accessories do not have to be as high-end or expensive; in fact, sometimes less is more. Sometimes more is more however, so with that said, let’s get down on it and take a look at some excellent PRD’s at a variety of price points and I’ll tell you how to style them!
But first, I want to introduce you to my friend Angela, above, a woman of style and manager at Dillard’s Tucson, who rocks red relentlessly in this Antonio Melani dress, above. I mean, what can I say? This is perfection. The fit, the color, the design and last of all, the styling. Let’s address each one. This dress fits Angie like a glove, and she definitely has the bod for it. In fact, I think this dress looks better on her than it does on the model on the Dillard’s site. What I’m saying here is, online shopping can be tricky because the models do not reflect the typical female consumer. Look for a snug fit but avoid an overly-drawn appearance. If your dress shows buckling or back fat, you’re headed in the wrong direction!
This dress is *the* perfect color of red, in my opinion, for Angie’s skin tone and hair color. It’s pretty intense, and I must say that when you wear a PRD of this caliber, all eyes will be upon you. Lastly, the design is striking, with dramatically-ruched Sleeves of Interest, which make my dear friend look like a giant Valentine present, waiting to be unwrapped! The only thing that is missing is the bow, which could have just as easily found its way into an upsweep had Angela felt inclined. She could have also worn some of the accessories we’ve spoken of in our previous articles. But I always love the way Angela styles herself and her accessories of choice often include, as seen in this photo, some sentimental jewelry, girlish charm bracelets, and a simple strand of elegant pearls. The versatility of this dress lends itself to all of the above!
The Alex Perry draped long-sleeved crepe minidress, above, is part of my Lust List. It’s a gorgeous dress with impeccable fit, one can just tell by the structure and the fabrication, a ruby satin crepe. This dress is super elegant and refined as well as extremely versatile. Pile on the pearls or garnish with gobs and gobs of gold for high drama. You can also don a playful cocktail hat and wear it with black seemed stockings and black heels. Appropriate for day or night, dressed up or styled down, this dress is femme fatale at its finest, but we all know that every femme fatale comes at a hefty cost…and this one, my darlings, is precisely two racks. Yes, that’s $2,000, hard and cold, Baby!
Therefore, I present to you this short and sweet, red cut-out cutie, available at Nordstorm. Adorable hearts dot the hem of this stretchy long-sleeve dress that’s perfect for dinners with friends and date nights alike. It’s only $298. But tbh, the real bargain is that gorgeous Dillard’s dress worn by Angela, top. It’s marked down from its original $200 price point to a cool 69 bucks and change! Such an irresistible deal that I snagged one at the sale price for myself. Although, unlike Angie, I do *not* wear a perfect size 4!
