My Favorite Cherry Red Accessories for Winter 2023

You know you’ve been properly influenced when something you’ve never liked becomes instantly and magnetically appealing. You begin to see it everywhere, and you absolutely have to have it. That’s me this season with the color red. But it’s not just any red. More specifically, it’s cherry red. It’s fire engine red. It also happens to be the Central High School home-of-the Bulldogs’ red.

Now, I’ve been putting on clothes for long enough to know that this color will always remind me of popping on a polo and khakis for a high school choir concert. It’s a bold color, and louder than I typically like to dress. Others can rock this red; personally, I’ll always feel like I’m swallowed by it. I’m sure this color doesn’t play well with my skin tone or it’s not part of my ‘color season’, that’s probably part of it. It’s also just, bluntly, never really been my jam.

I’ve avoided this color my whole life, but suddenly I can’t get enough of it. Or, rather, I can’t get enough of other people wearing it on the internet. That’s the thing with an “it” trend — exposure to the trend causes it to grow on you. It’s how skinny jeans started out as a walking meme and then had a good 10-year run in the fashion cycle.

Is cherry red going to be the color for 10 years? Certainly not. But sources point to it as the color right now, so I’m into it right now. It doesn’t hurt that this trend is rising during the holiday season, either, so I’m associating it with all the warm, nostalgic Christmas iconography. I’m not going to go nuts and buy a red luggage set or anything because this color has never been — and likely will never be — core to my personal style. But, while it’s here, I have my eye on some subtle ways to show my appreciation for the season’s hottest hue.

I love integrating a trend in more subtle ways, which is why this edit consists of beauty products in addition to accessories. A cherry red lip? Love it (and love that my favorite lipstick is 50% off right now). A red nail? Couldn’t be more classic. Check out my top picks for this color before some FAQ’s at the end of the post.

 

Image links: lipstick, shoulder bag, hair bows, sweater jacket, socks (I'm obsessed with the heat tech line from Uniqlo), hat/scarf set, "not red-y for bed" nail polish

Why is red trending?

Tbh, I’m not sure I’m the best person to answer this question, but I’ll take a stab at it. Personally, I see it as a natural evolution from the Barbie pink we went mad over this summer. There’s also plenty of evidence that fashion trends mimic our economy. This color is affordable to source and create — it’s readily (see what I did there) available in thrift stores, and it’s easily found in most brands of dye or paint.

How long is cherry red going to trend for?

Nobody can predict the future, but it’s possible cherry red sticks around as the ‘it’ color until fall of 2024. Since this trend is simply a color nonspecific to an item, it can command some staying power, unlike the viral dresses of microtrends passed. Another thing going in cherry red’s favor is that most people are styling it as a ‘pop of color’ rather than a full-on ensemble, which gives it more leeway to evolve in new and interesting ways. And seeing as we’re all Chiefs fans now, I think it could be here to stay for a bit.

Thanks for reading! xx, Ana