The Shopping Bag: Confidence and the bold red vintage jacket

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: PRSPECTIV
Hai Ha models her own vintage jacket with fiery-red confidence.

Everywhere you go confidence is key; and red, the color of confidence, is timeless. If you ever find yourself stuck on deciding a colour or outfit to wear that will bring out your inner confidence, red is the go-to colour.

Some of you may feel like red is not your colour, but everyone can pull off red; you just need to find the right hue and a great piece that will reflect your personal style. There really are no rules to which colour red you can or should wear, you just wear what you want and make it your own, after all the people who have thrown fashion rules out the window are usually the trailblazers of the industry…But if you really want a guideline, here are a couple of pointers to help you out when shopping.

Choosing brighter reds, with a bit of an orange tinge, it will brighten up the outfit and will work great for day wear, especially if it is paired with a conservative silhouette like boxy, high neck or a full-length dress or pant. A brighter red is also great for nighttime if the hemline is at the knee or higher and tight fitting silhouettes like the bodycon style. Darker reds with more blue are moodier and mature than the upbeat red.

These darker reds are great to wear when you want the outfit to look more subdued or if you don't like the intensity of red, it's almost more calming. These reds are great with more scandalous cuts like deep V-necks and long slits on skirts because the colour creates harmony in both silhouette and colour so the outfit does not look over the top. Red is a fiery colour, passionate and romantic but also has a very masculine feel to it that you can bring out in an outfit.

A great way to bring out the bold and confidence of red in an outfit without bringing out too much of its sensual energy is by picking a boxy silhouette. This type of look creates interest in your outfit, but doesn't look like you're about to go to a club. A tight-fitting white lace dress with some nude Mary Janes are the perfect base because they won't compete with the red and will complement it nicely. It works as an outfit on its own, and is very feminine. The boxy bright vintage jacket adds some edge, confidence and boldness to the pretty outfit. A stone coloured clutch with a gold clasp complements the thick gold cuff, helping the whole outfit look polished, sophisticated and modern. The boxiness of the jacket adds the masculine edge while still exuding the feminine energy of the red and the rest of the outfit.

- Red vintage jacket: This beautiful red piece can be found on etsy.com/ca/shop/RAGEMARKET for $30

Whether you wear red to a job interview, out for a girl's night or simply because you feel like it, red is identified with passion, boldness and confidence. You can't be in a shy mood and be wearing red, the attention is on you and your confidence will reflect that!

Hai Ha Nguyen loves to discover the new trends in street fashion, accessories and styling. Follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/misshaihanguyen for the trendiest pieces this season! If you have a suggestion or feedback for her column, send her an email at hhnguyen.77@gmail.com.