The Red Carpet Treatment
Wearing red is not for the faint of heart. It's a color that signifies power and sex appeal from the wearer. Needless to say—it can get you noticed. For those of you who are ready to really rock the red dress, here are a few tips to knock it out of the park.
First things first, before picking out a dress, you have to have the perfect attitude in order to pull it off. Confidence is key to wearing such a bold tone. Knowing that all eyes are going to be on you has to make you rise to the occasion, not run from it. When you see an actress like Olivia Munn at the 2013 Oscars, you get the impression that she is really wearing that dress and not the other way around.
Throwing Shade
There are plenty of different shades of red that you can find to complement your skin tone. Porcelain skin revels in dark reds, while orange or fuchsia reds can benefit darker skin tones. Bright reds help to highlight smaller frames just as darker maroons or Bordeaux tones can be slimming on larger body shapes.
You can see how Emma Stone's 2012 Oscars drop-dead red dress warmed and worked with her pale skin tone.
A Cut Above
Unless you want to stop everyone's pulse within a five-mile radius, keep your dress cut on the more modest side of things. The color and the confidence alone are attention grabbing enough without adding necklines or hemlines that leave little to the imagination. Form-fitting and clean lines can guarantee you a spot on your friend's best dressed lists.
The 2011 Oscars saw Sandra Bullock's red Vera Wang gown cut with a double bustier and large origami bow, which are perfect additions for adding shape.
Seeing Red
When wearing head-to-toe red, you're already making a pretty big statement. There's no need to go overboard with the jewelry. Too many large or intense colored pieces can make one look garish. Try simple gold, silver, pearl or diamond pieces with or without a touch of red jewels for a soft pairing. Michelle William's red dress was accented with a demure lack of earrings and Forever Mark jewels around her neck for the look. A Fred Leighton 19th century diamond bow pin added a dainty touch to the My Week with Marilyn actress' gown.
Code Red
Pairing the perfect colored clutch with your show-stopping gown can be a fun way to bring in some subtle contrast. Going red on red is advised only if you opt for a different shade. You want to avoid looking too monochromatic so that your ensemble has some depth.
Bette Midler's Rauwolf Gemstone red-faceted plexiglass clutch at the 2014 Oscars was the perfect contrast to her dress.
Makeup Test
As we've mentioned, a red dress is already a loaded gun on the red carpet. Getting too cray with the makeup can quickly turn a bold look into a "but WHY?" disaster. Choose between playing up the eyes or the lips, but not both. Either a smokey eye or a bold lip can complement a powerful dress. Making sure that your eyebrows are on point is important because that dress will be bringing a lot of attention to the face.
Kerry Washington's 2013 Oscars look was soft, simple and luxurious. She went for a light smokey eye and a nude lip to go with her artful arches.
Eyes on the Prize
If you choose an enhanced eye over a pronounced pout, here are some things to consider. A soft charcoal smokey eye can definitely be a power player along with your look. Neutral shades like brown, silver and gold are also great choices when amping up the eyes. You might want to avoid other bright bold colors like green or purple to help keep the focus on the dress. Add false eyelashes and layers of mascara at will!
Jennifer Lawrence's 2013 Oscars look was emphasized with a thick black eyeliner and neutral crease definition.
Give Some Lip
Choosing to play up the lip doesn't have to mean going with a bare eye. You can always hook it up a la Anne Hathaway at the 2011 Oscars with a fantastic winged cat-eyeliner look. As for your pout, try to match the dress color or go for a contrasting red to add some fun depth.
Tress to Impress
Jennifer Aniston at the 2013 Oscars is the perfect example of how to wear hair with red because she kept it simple. Too many curls or an out of control bouffant can compete with the look, not complement it. Opt instead for an effortless looking updo, soft waves or a structured cut to harmonize hair with the entire ensemble.