A pop of red is the styling trick of the season

The catwalks of spring/summer 2027 might as well be the yellow brick road with all the ruby-red shoes we’ve seen walking down them. This season, like many before, designers are using red almost like a punctuation mark. From red-rimmed sunglasses and big floral earrings to belts and bags, the easiest way to get into the trend is to simply add one red thing.

Red has always known how to steal a scene. From Carrie’s blood-soaked prom dress to the girl in the red coat in Schindler’s List, the colour has long been used to signal danger, desire, power and everything in between. This year, designer’s have been taking diligent notes on how to harness that fire power.

Take Keburia, for instance, who accessorised looks with massive geometric earrings, key-shaped charms, and looped fastenings, like bright red smears against neutral colours. Moschino went all in on the accessories with red glasses, belts, bags and an arm cuff, while Jil Sander snuck red into the inner linings of bags, leaving them open on the runway to expose their insides.

Julie Kegels’s red styling started before the show had even begun, with invitations embossed into apples. On the runway, belts and shoes were matched with poppy-red lips and nails, proving that even your beauty look can get in on the action.

Then there were the shoes. At Tod’s, wearing red loafers was apparently not enough, so one model had a pair slung on their bag too. Prada, Moschino, and Bottega Veneta all sent bright-red stompers down the runway. At Saint Laurent, the sea of gold was broken up by red stilettos and flowy red scarves tied around models’ necks and foreheads.

There are plenty of options for those who prefer a peek-a-boo moment as well. Tod’s layered a red turtleneck underneath a black bomber, while Jil Sander and Moschino let red collars strategically poke out from underneath blazers and other layers. Prada, naturally, had a red bra layered with a checkered shirt.

But the beauty of this trend is that you don’t need a runway budget to get involved. In fact, the smaller the dose, the easier it is to make it work with what you already own. Red ballet flats with jeans and a white T-shirt, or a small cherry sling bag will do the job without feeling too over-the-top. A red sock under your trousers, a hairclip or a brooch can have the same effect.

If you’re feeling slightly braver, red belts are great for breaking up an otherwise neutral outfit. The trick is not to overthink it. Red works because it doesn’t necessarily need to match anything else in the outfit. In fact, a little clash is welcome.