Outfit Details:

Paraphrase blouse (similar here and here), USG breeches (horseback riding pants from Germany. Here’s something close), Sam Edelman heels, Vintage hat (I like this black and red fedora)

The fall weather in New England has been pretty mild so I have been able to experiment with some lighter weight pieces before jacket season arrives in earnest. Even though I love combining different patterns and colors in a single outfit, I also love using one color for a monochrome moment. While I added little bits of black (like these stilettos) to give the outfit some depth, I kept everything else red. The pants are actually horseback riding breeches from Germany, but here’s something similar. I bought this cherry-red blouse to match my red bolero, a happy vintage find.

For those of you who follow my blog or instagram, you have probably noticed that I love a good monochrome look (Yellow! Pink! Blue!). Monochrome outfits photograph well and are very flattering since the single tone elongates your frame. They are also generally easier to put together. You will look polished without trying too hard. For graphic impact with a monochrome outfit, use similar hues across all your pieces. Or you can opt for a variety of shades in a single color (like differed reds – from hot tamale red to burgundy) for a layered look with some depth.

Fashion month last spring was full of head-to-toe red outfits, including the all red collection from Givenchy and multiple red pieces at Tod’s, Fendi, and others. Red continued to be prevalent at the Spring/Summer 2018 collections at Valentino, Calvin Klein, and many others. I guess all these designers must have heard a collective whisper about this most fiery of hues: “Red instantly attracts attention, makes people excited, energetic, and increases the heart rate” (The Psychology of Color).