A Case For Wearing Red & Pink, The Color Combo Everyone Loves To Hate

According to antiquated fashion rules none of us should subscribe to, there are some colors combinations that should never be worn together. Navy blue and black, for example, are often regarded as ugly because (gasp!) they look too similar. Or, purple and green, which is often compared to a certain TV fictional dinosaur who insists we’re a happy family. Yet no color combo is more villanized than pink and red.

It’s the signature combo of Valentine’s Day, with millions of cheesy cards, giant plush toys, and chocolate boxes bearing the scarlet-and-blush combo, all exchanged by people wearing some version of this two-tone formula in the name of love, friendship, and a possible Tinder date. 

Despite it being a color combo that everyone loves to hate, it has long captivated the fashion zeitgeist, with designers and celebs giving the Strawberry Shortcake-approved combination some justice. Back in 2017, Emma Roberts wore a red gown with a pink fur stole by Diane von Fürstenberg to the Met Gala. Later, in 2019, celebs, including Mandy Moore in Brandon Maxwell and Taraji P. Henson in Vera Wang, made headlines for wearing pink-and-red outfits at the Emmy Awards, while, in this year, Chloe Fineman wore a bright pink-and-red dress to to premiere of HBO Max's Father Of The Bride, while Olivia Rodrigo sported a pink-and-red houndstooth dress from Versace for a 2022 Met Gala after party. For spring and fall 2022, even more designers seem keen on giving the color combo their definite stamp of approval — shushing the haters once and for all. 

Take, for example, the Giambattista Valli spring 2022 lineup, which included a white feather dress featuring pink and red embellishments, paired with crimson sunglasses. Then, there was Portuguese brand Marques’ Almeida, which showed a brighter version of the color combo, in the form of a poplin, asymmetrical pink dress with an attached crossbody red sleeve, as well as a pink slip dress with a scarlet button-down shirt underneath.

Meanwhile, Blumarine showcased a pre-fall 2022 collection full of red-and-pink looks. A light pink stretchy dress with an asymmetrical hemline was paired with shiny red boots, while the reverse happened in a separate outfit. There were also red sweaters, paired with pink cargo pants (yes, the type that Regina George would approve of for Wednesdays!), as well flower chokers and fluffy bags in the color palette. And there’s nothing gimmick-y or juvenile about this full-fledged berry embrace. Then, there's also the proliferation of Barbiecore, which blossomed thanks to Valentino's fall 2022 collection, in which the brand showcased a lineup of head-to-toe bright pink looks, making pink a must-have color this year.

While the long-standing rule for colorblocking used to be that opposing shades in the color wheel (think: blue and orange or green and purple) were the best way to mix shades, brands and consumers are waking up to the idea of contrasting sister shades. And we're realizing that we’ve been wasting time following unspoken rules for the sake of appearances. 

To get in on this trend (and skip all the rules!), wear one garment that blends the both colors, as opposed to pairing two separate, contrasting pieces for a more minimalist look. Or, better yet, go with a monochrome red look with subtle hints of pink — be it a Y2K-ready flower choker or dainty rose sandals. 

Get ready for the pink-and-red takeover with the styles below.