In between Doja Cat’s hit single “Paint the Town Red,” and the rise of reddish color palettes on the catwalks, red is officially the new black. During the summer, warm-toned and bright shades of red thrived among fashion aficionados — partly fueled by TikTok microtrends such as Tomato Girl Summer. But fall is upon us, so the autumnal counterpart is cherry red. 

Paint the runways red

Pops of red have been spotted on the major fashion capitals’ runways in all shapes and styles. Hermès, Ferragamo, and Valentino introduced segments of plain red looks in their latest collections, while brands such as Balmain opted for large ruby-colored patterns and prints. Meanwhile, the Italian brand Gucci embraced cherry red with a selection of leather jackets, embellished skirts, mini dresses, and even platform shoes. 

Celebrities don’t seem to get enough of it

Red is perhaps one of the most versatile and timeless colors. It evokes a variety of feelings and emotions, from passion and excitement to power and danger. The shade has never really gone out of style, but we’ve recently seen celebrity sightings that suggest red will be a staple in our wardrobes well into 2024. 

Case in point: Shakira’s head-to-toe scarlet look in the music video of her hit single “El Jefe.” The Colombian legend even found inspiration in the color to launch her new fragrance, ROJO. Another celeb making a case for the season’s color is Selena Gomez, who took a red cutout Oscar de la Renta dress to the 2023 MTV VMAs. 

But red is also permeating into beauty spaces. Earlier this year, we saw La Bichota Karol G sporting striking red hair in the music video of “TQG.” Similarly, the RBD star Dulce María reprised her iconic red hairstyle for the band’s reunion tour. Her hair color leans into a slightly maroon hue, but it is just as fall-appropriate as cherry red. 

Paint your wardrobe cherry red

If you’re wondering how to incorporate cherry red into your wardrobe, the options are endless. With monochrome fashion still going strong, one of the evident ways is to embrace total looks. Think of a long red dress with accessories in matching colors or matching sets balanced by black or white accents. 

For those who prefer to keep things subtle, a red leather jacket, a blazer, or a long coat are the safest and most practical ways to wear the color during the fall and winter seasons. You can also opt for accessories such as bags and shoes. Popular styles in 2023 include baguette bags, mules, slingback shoes, and even sneakers such as the Adidas Samba or the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66. 

If none of these options are for you, take a page from JLo’s stylebook and go for the classic cherry red manicure or any adjacent spins on red nails. This fall, one of the popular takes on cherry manicures is Vampire Nails, which involves the aura nail technique, graphics, or even appliqués. 

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Not ready to commit to red nails? No beauty staple is as classy, timeless, and easy to adopt as red lips. Cherry red lips are pretty straightforward, and you can bring them to life with any product of your choice, from matte lipstick to lip tint or gloss. Don’t know which one you prefer? In the words of the Gossip Girl icon, Serena van der Woodsen, “Lipstick lasts longer, but gloss is more fun.” Choose accordingly!