Women's Style 411

The world of women’s fashion can be a tricky place to navigate. There’s an entire laundry list of rules, but they are all simply “understood.” There’s no rule book that explains all the ins and outs of fashion, and there never will be. Why? Because the rules are constantly changing.

The color red has proved particularly tricky for people to figure out in the past. When worn around Valentine’s Day or Christmas, the color can seem gimmicky. Still, it’s a wonderfully deep and rich color that can add a lot to your autumn and winter wardrobe. So how do you wear red without looking like you’re in a holiday-themed costume?

The key is to make it understated and luxurious. A red sweater-especially anything with designs like autumn leaves or Santa’s reindeer-can seem tacky. But if you wear a cowl neck sweater in red cashmere with pinstripe black slacks, that’s an entirely different feel.