Welcome to the Style Suite with Kéla Walker, your source for fashion and style trends for power plays in the workplace. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she’ll share tips and suggestions to help maximize your style on a budget. Whether you’re the style devil in Prada or the apprentice with limited apparel, you’ll find something in the Style Suite to suit your needs.
Forget about the LBD. This season its all about the LRD —the little red dress. It’s the must-have wardrobe essential for every girls closet. It’s the perfect compliment to the bold colors and patterns that spring and summer previously introduced. Often, people shy away from crimson and apply old-fashion theories and myths to the bold hue. Today, red represents confidence and is no longer just reserved for after hours and play but can also be worn in the professional setting.
Here are a few tips to successfully go red in the workplace.
As with any dress in the Style Suite,    make sure your’s office appropriate. It shouldn’t be too short, too revealing, or have a too much curve appeal.  We don’t want people applying those old labels associated with red to you.
Pair your red dress with mahogany brown or nude accessories. Shades of brown and nude are a soft compliment to red. They are less stark and won’t contrast as much as standard black.
Let your red dress be your canvas or foundation to build upon. If you feel a little reluctant to wear a full-on red dress to the office, add layers. A blazer, scarf and cover ups will play down the boldness of the red and make it more subtle.
Pair your red dress with animal print. This is the complete opposite of playing down your red dress but the ultimate way to rock it confidently. Plus leopard looks really good with red.
Combine your red dress with other bold bright colors. The shock and taboo of red diminishes when you pair it with other bold colors like purple or orange. Suddenly, the red is less alarming and is much more playful.
And now you are officially ready to go with your LRD.
Find more fashion and style tips at KelasKloset.com and follow me on Twitter (@kelawalker).
Kéla Walker is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated producer and TV host, who has contributed lifestyle and entertainment content for outlets including NBC’s LXTV, Getty Images, YRB Magazine, Madame Noire, and RTL Germany. She also has a passion for fashion and offers the latest in fab fashion trends and consumer deals with KelasKloset.com. Her chic style and trendsetting blog has been lauded by sites including Essence.com and Huffington Post Black Voices.