The power of red

RED LIPS: The ultimate accessory

Let's consider the cherry red pout. It's sexy, sophisticated, bold and a trademark for Coco Chanel, Marilyn Monroe, Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera.

Red lipstick never goes out of style, but, alas, it does have a reputation for being somewhat demanding. Unlike gloss, you can't just swipe it on and rush out the door.

"Red lips are beautiful, but sometimes tricky," said Devin Whiting, cosmetics buyer for Balliet's. "Always use a lip primer before putting on red lipstick. Trish McEvoy's Flawless Lip works beautifully. It keeps lipstick from bleeding. Also, always use a lip liner. It can be applied either before or after the lipstick. There's nothing worse than a beautiful red lip with an unpolished edge."

Lilly Stone of Sooo Lilly Cosmetics suggests painting on a bold and dramatic pout with a lip brush, starting around the lip line and then blend into the middle and press lips together.

"Be careful not to smear the color," she said. "Then line lips with a red brown lip pencil such as Cherry Bark or Braisin. To make the lip color more red, line with Temptress."

Remember, red lips bring more attention to your face and its imperfections, if you have any, Stone said. Keep lips moisturized and smooth. Make sure under eye dark circles and blemishes are covered with concealer and enlarged pores are minimized with a mineral powder.

While some women think they can't wear red lipstick, beauty professionals say it's just a matter of finding the right shade. If you have cool skin tone, look for reds with pink, purple or blue undertones. Warm skin tones look better in reds with yellow or orange undertones.

Red lips are a beautiful accessory on their own, so keep the rest of your makeup and clothes understated. If you're wearing a red dress, opt for more neutral lips or a sheer red lip gloss. And nails? Thoughts differ on what looks best. If you like a matched look, go for red nails with your red lipstick, especially for special occasions. Otherwise, keep nails light and let your glorious red lips speak for themselves.

Elevate with red

Pope Benedict XVI sports handmade red loafers.

Christian Louboutin's trademark red-soled shoes are instantly recognizable.

Dorothy wore ruby red slippers down the yellow brick road in "The Wizard of Oz."

Red shoes have been red hot for ages. What better time to go red than during the holidays? A 4-inch stiletto in lipstick red satin can add zing to a little black dress. Elevate a workday charcoal pinstripe suit to cocktail status by slipping into a pair of red patent peep toe pumps and accenting with a little sparkle at the ears and lace under the jacket.

Yes, red shoes are that sexy and that powerful.

In the 17th century, Louis XIV wore red heels on his shoes to represent his godly right to rule. Not only was he king, he was a trendsetter. Soon nobles started painting their heels red. The dye was expensive, though, and it wasn’t until the late 1880s that red shoes became affordable for the masses.

Style experts say the best way to stand out in a sea of holiday black is to wear red. Why not jump in feet first?

Wake up decor with red

Fast forward three weeks and it'll be time to put away the pumpkins and get the red out. There's no better time to add a few red accents than the holidays.

Even if your color scheme doesn't include the traditional red and green, the tiniest amount of red can liven up a quite room and take the drama up a notch in others, according to Southern Accents magazine. While it's important to find the right shade of red, getting the contrasting colors in the room to complement it is just as critical. Dark chocolates, charcoal grays and rich caramels can easily balance strong, vibrant reds, the magazine said.. Rich neutrals such as olive greens and deep blues also set them off well.

Whether red is used in small doses or big sweeps, the warm hue helps bring about a festive feeling that's perfect this time of year.

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