One of the world’s most sought-after fashion illustrators, Megan Hess explores how different hues have shaped iconic looks and fashion houses throughout history in her vibrant new book, Fashion in Colour. Here, she celebrates the influence of the colour red – and the leading ladies who stole the show in this shade.
The colour red holds a particular status in the world of fashion. Cartier’s signature red serves as a symbol of opulence and excellence. The red sequinned gown Marilyn Monroe wears in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes signifies passion and desire, while Audrey Hepburn’s red dress in Funny Face captures a joyful elegance. Christian Louboutin’s red-soled shoes and Valentino’s vibrant red gowns have become synonymous with luxury and sophistication. Across the eras, red in fashion has signified power, romance, danger, passion, and a bold expression of individuality.
The fashion house Valentino has used red as its signature colour since its first show in the spring/ summer of 1959. From the ‘Fiesta’ red tulle cocktail dress in its very first show, to its extravagantly red Chinese New Year collection in 2024, Valentino has created in shades of red. Since its inception, the fashion house has used more than 550 hues of red in its designs. Penélope Cruz, Anne Hathaway, Joy Bryant, Scarlett Johansson, and Iman have all worn Rosso Valentino on the red carpet.
Valentino Garavani said, “For the Valentino Maison, red is not just a colour. It is a non-fading mark, a logo, an iconic element of the brand, a value.”
Marilyn Monroe & the power of red sequins
In the opening scene of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Marilyn Monroe appears on stage as a showgirl, with her co-star Jane Russell, in scintillating red sequins to perform their charming, gold-digger origin story – Two Little Girls from Little Rock.
The red dresses were designed by William Travilla, who designed costumes for Marilyn Monroe in eight movies. Each dress included a scattering of beige sequins, which look odd in real life, but on screen add to the wonderful sparkle of the gowns. Marilyn’s gown from this scene was sold at auction for $250,000 US in 2019.
Julia Roberts & the dress that defined a film
In Pretty Woman (1990), Julia Roberts’s character Vivian’s transformative moment happens as she appears in a red dress. From her life as an LA call girl, Vivian’s fairytale turns her into an elegant woman who dons a red evening gown and sparkling ruby necklace, before being flown to the opera.
The off-the-shoulder dress, designed by Marilyn Vance, had a sweetheart neckline, a low back and ruffled detailing around the sleeves. In it, Julia Roberts steals the show and, after the movie’s release, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar sang the dress’s praises. More than three decades on, the dress still makes lists of most iconic dresses of all time.
Audrey Hepburn’s red gown moment in Paris
In Funny Face (1957), Audrey Hepburn’s character Jo is a drab bookseller with a ‘funny face’ and no interest in fashion. She’s convinced by a fashion photographer, Dick Avery (played by Fred Astaire), to come to Paris and model for him. Dick bossily directs Jo in a sequence of photoshoots through famous Parisian locations.
This culminates with Jo taking control of the shoot, in a scene at the Louvre. Here, she chooses her own moment and floats down the stairs in a stunning, floor length, red silk Givenchy gown. She holds up a sheer red scarf which flutters behind her. Dick tells her to stop, and her brilliant smile lights up the screen as she calls, “I don’t want to stop. I like it! Take the picture, take the picture!”
For more colourful inspiration, pick up a copy of Fashion in Colour: A Journey Through Every Hue by Megan Hess, published by Hardie Grant Books. Available in stores nationally. Illustrations by Megan Hess.
This article was originally published under the title Ladies in Red in Issue 39 – A Little Abundance. You can purchase previous issues and enjoy more enchanting content here.
