Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, there will always be abundance of red and green over the festive period. But from where does this originate? And why do we wear red at Christmas?
Red and green were first linked to a different holiday: the winter solstice. (The history of the Christmas tree has its, ahem, roots in the winter solstice too.) Centuries ago, the Celts believed that the vibrant red berries and evergreen leaves of the holly bush brought good fortune and vitality throughout winter. They would deck their homes in the hope of a prosperous new year.
Over the years, this evolved into hanging red and green decorations and the idea of decking the halls was handed down through the generations to become a worldwide winter tradition.
This tradition evolved further into our sartorial choices and red is now the obvious choice for a Christmas or winter holiday outfit. I adore wearing red. I find it incredibly uplifting; but it must be the right shade of red. Cooler reds with blue undertones do nothing for my warm skin tone and strawberry blonde hair. Burgundy is no friend of mine. But warm reds with orange and coral undertones make up a significant part of my wardrobe. I cannot get enough. The same applies to lip colour.
As a rule of thumb, warm skin and hair tones suit gold jewellery and orange-reds. Cool skin and hair tones suit silver jewellery and blue reds. Everybody can wear red.
How I Wear Red At Christmas
I love to wear red at Christmas . I am never knowingly under-accessorised and I happily match both eyewear AND lipstick to my outfit. (However, for fear of looking like a Christmas elf, I rarely team red with green). If you’d rather just dip a toe into wearing red at Christmas, STEPPER has an array of eyewear in a multitude of different reds to add festive cheer to any outfit. Here, I’ve chosen two styles to compliment two of my favourite festive red outfits.
Red Velvet Trouser Suit with STEPPER STS-30056
This beautiful piece of STEPPER eyewear makes an understated statement piece. How’s that for an oxymoron? By that, I mean it catches the eye and adds a touch of drama, but it doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the outfit. This classic shape is universally flattering and will work just as well as a sunglass. I love this lightweight red spectacle frame so much that I’m going to get my prescription lenses put in.
Red Velvet Dress with STEPPER SI-50244
This rounded red titanium spectacle frame is beautifully delicate and lightweight. It is genteel and feminine- perfect with my red velvet puff-sleeve dress. This eyewear would be the perfect accent for a casual outfit such as jeans and a white tee. It’s youthful, lightweight and is rapidly becoming one of my all-time favourite styles.
And remember, red is not just for Christmas…
I am a brand ambassador for STEPPER Eyewear and this article is part of an ongoing professional collaboration. Do take a look at the STEPPER website to see the extensive collection of beautiful, lightweight, comfortable eyewear.
