Red's popularity does not mean anything goes. One must still evaluate the appropriateness of wearing a color with such strong connotations. If you are meeting your future in-laws for the first time, or the new boss' wife, avoid true red, and instead go with a softer shade, such as rose or coral, which will give you a more friendly or compassionate look.

Also, you can overdo red by wearing too much of it. Wearing a red outfit, red shoes, handbag and stockings is a bit too much for all but the most exceptional women. The red outfit already makes a very strong statement, so keep your accessories simple, like simple gold earrings and shoes and handbags a neutral color. Hosiery in a nude or dark color that matches your shoes would be better than red.

The Right Shade Of Red

If you are not wearing true red, try and find the the shade of red that best compliments your skin and hair coloring. The right shade of red will make your skin glow and hide it flaws. The wrong shade will bring out the imperfections and dark areas of your skin, and it will make you appear sick or tired.

Reds come in warm or cool tones; warm reds, like orange red or tomato red, have a yellow undertone, and cool reds, like rose or magents, have a blue undertone. One way to find the red that is best for you is to try on different shades of red lipstick. If it does not look right as your lipstick color, it will not work for your wardrobe, either. Usually, your instinctive reaction to a color is right. If you want to take a test red off quickly, it's probably not right for you. Once you find the right shade of lipstick to wear, match your wardrobe to it. Here are some additional tips on finding your best red:

• You look best in blue base reds if your skintone is fair or light to medium olive with dark brown to black hair. Your reds are magenta, true red fuchsia or berry red.
• You look best in warm base reds if your skintone is yellow, yellow beige or golden with brown to black hair. Your reds are orange red, tomato red, flame red or brick red.

It is important to echo your lipstick in the same shade of red as your outfit. This is the season to paint your nails and your lips in a strong red to look current and glamorous for day or evening.

If you were to receive a beautiful red sweater as a gift but it is in the wrong shade, here's how to make it work for you:

• Wear it at night under artificial light so we cannot see the true undertone of your skin.
• Adjust your makeup colors, foundation, blush, eyeshadow to coordinate with the red and match your lipstick color as close as possible to the red.
• Use bold metallic accessories or a scarf whenever possible to redirect the attention away from the sweater.

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