Scarlet Feminity
Bravery, sacrifice, and passion, or rage, danger, and war? The color red has been linked with the sunniest feelings and the worst. As the color elicits the most powerful reactions, it is no shock that its age-old symbolism can lie on an expansive spectrum. Among its myriad associations, red holds a notably influential tie to women and femininity, serving as a powerful visual and cultural symbol throughout history. This relationship, deeply infused in societal norms, styles, art, and psychology, continues to shape modern perceptions and manifestations of femininity. Red-y or not, let's step into the scarlet light and untangle the red thread connecting women to this captivating color.
Valentino, fall 1991 ready-to-wear. Courtesy of Bertrand Rindoff Petroff / Getty Images
Did you know that after black and white, red is the first color we perceive? Babies and those suffering temporary color blindness first see red before any other shade on the color wheel, too. Red is the color of the blood coursing through our veins and hearts. For eons, it has been the symbol of love, fidelity, power, and so much more across the world. A significant association is with femininity. Living in a man's world can get exhausting and stifling. In an attempt to demand attention, women wielded the then-masculine color. Hue-story connects it symbolically to femininity, but specific (wo)man-made events made it ours.
40,000 years ago, in the Stone Age, hunters and gatherers used red clay to make body paint. In contrast, red powders were buried with their dead in the Paleolithic period to protect them from evil spirits, as some of the traditional religions suggested red was associated with danger and the use of dark magic. Or maybe for a more practical reason, like to counteract odors. The color's ties to love, power, and wealth can be traced back to Greek mythological interpretations of the goddess of love, Aphrodite, who is illustrated as a woman wearing a red robe. In other ancient cultures, red was often associated with life, fertility, and passion. For example, in ancient Egypt, women used red ochre to color their lips and cheeks. This practice highlighted their beauty and vitality. Cleopatra, the infamous Queen of Egypt, created her own shades by mashing ants and beetles to get carmine pigments. Other ingredients for her DIY rouges included flowers and fish scales, which apparently gave it a radiant finish. In Egypt and Elizabethan England, red lipsticks were signatures of wealth. Just before Queen Elizabeth rocked red lips in the 16th century, all kinds of makeup were considered to be the go-to look for Satanists by the Church. Her pale skin, paired with her bright red lips, popularized the look in that era.
The time between the Renaissance and the late 19th century saw a surge in the use of cosmetics, mainly among actors and prostitutes; during her reign, Queen Victoria regarded red lips and makeup as impolite, and thus, the use of cosmetics dramatically declined. But red clothes were a marker of status and power. During that time, only women of noble birth were allowed to wear red garments, as the dyes were expensive and difficult to produce. This exclusivity imbued the color with prestige and sophistication, further linking it to feminine allure and influence. But fret not, the iconic shade of lipstick that fell out of style eventually became fashionable once more, mainly owing to its contribution to history and role in feminism.
The Women Wearing Red Lipstick While Demanding Equality, Vintage Hairstyling
Today, red remains a potent symbol for women, intersecting with various movements and expressions of identity. In the realm of activism, red has been adopted by campaigns advocating for women's rights and gender equality. The "Day Without a Woman" strike in 2017, where participants wore red to show solidarity, exemplifies how the color can unify and amplify voices for social change. This wasn't a new visual show of power. During the suffragette movement, women wore red as a uniform to call attention to their cause. In a time where the definition of femininity, of being a woman, was being a submissive wife and a nurturing mother concerned only about their domestic affairs, red accessories were audacious and bold. Red dresses became a symbol of rebellion to challenge oppressive limitations and binary gender roles and to demand equal rights. French women preferred red dresses to express their political views in the same period. Red, particularly dark red, and female sexuality saw a merge in the 20s with the rise of silent movies and the flapper movement. This was obviously frowned upon, with a study showing teenage girls fighting to wear it against their parents' wishes as they thought it was provocative. Red became a staple color, and by the mid-60s, it solidified itself as a symbol of femininity and has maintained that stature till now.
Red is All the Accessory We Need, By MARIKA
In everyday life, women continue to embrace red as a color of choice for its boldness and ability to make a statement. Whether through fashion, makeup, or activism, red is a versatile and enduring emblem of feminine strength and identity. From a psychological standpoint, red is a color that stimulates and excites. Studies have shown that red can increase heart rates and elicit strong emotional responses. This physiological effect is often associated with attraction and desire, explaining why some even consider sporting red accessories to get ahead in the romance department. Studies say that wearing red can make you look brighter, more vibrant, and more attractive as you age. The older we get, the paler our features become, and red compliments our overall complexion. For women, wearing red can enhance feelings of self-assurance and desirability, influencing how they are perceived by others. The classic red dress, for instance, is a staple in women's wardrobes, symbolizing confidence, sensuality, and empowerment. As a Harvard study proves, wearing red makes you feel more competent and confident in your workplace. So, it's not just a vain thing; red is also empowering. The duality of red—inviting and warning—parallels the complex nature of femininity itself, which encompasses a range of attributes from nurturing to assertive, from gentle to formidable.
The Sabyasachi Red, Instagram, By @sabyasachiofficial
Red symbolizes prosperity and happiness, with brides traditionally wearing red to ensure good luck and joy in marriage. Hence, red is a prominent color found at weddings, from Roman brides wearing red shawls to hope for love and fidelity to modern-day China, which still brings good fortune at marriages. Chinese brides wear red wedding dresses, carry them to their weddings on red litters, walk on a red carpet down the aisle, and kiss under a red veil. These historical uses of red underscore its role in celebrating and enhancing feminine attributes. These historical influences manifested in contemporary fashion and utilized red to make bold statements about femininity. Designers like Valentino, Sabyasachi, and Christian Dior have famously embraced red in their collections, reinforcing its status as a timeless and powerful color. Another iconic element of women's fashion is the crimson lips. Red lipstick epitomizes the blend of boldness and femininity. From Hollywood starlets of the 1940s like Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn to contemporary icons like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Taylor Swift, scarlet lips have remained a symbol of glamour and assertiveness. Applying red lipstick can be seen as a ritual of self-expression and empowerment, enabling women to project strength and allure.
Hue’s That Girl in the Iconic Red Dress?, Via IMDB
Art and media have perpetuated and expanded the symbolism of red about femininity. In paintings, literature, and film, red often signifies a woman's passion, power, or vulnerability. Think of Scarlett O'Hara's red dress in "Gone with the Wind," symbolizing her fiery spirit and resilience, or the red shoes in fairy tales, representing enchantment and peril. The portrait of Princess Elizabeth I before her accession as Queen exhibits a young woman preparing to carry her position as a strong monarch. Her richly decorated red dress and red coif convey the youthful future Queen's political and virtuous force. In contemporary media, red remains a focal point in narratives about women. An obvious portrayal was Cheryl Blossom's wardrobe in Riverdale (2017) to emphasize her characteristics, which include determination, desire, and power. FYI, even her hair is red (Not subtle, I know). No matter how it is executed, the greatness in the association of this color is that female characters wearing red often embody strength, seduction, or defiance, reinforcing red's association with dynamic and multifaceted femininity. This also adds depth to the enactment of stories, plots, and characters.
The connection between shades of red and femininity is a rich tapestry woven through history, culture, psychology, and art. Red's ability to evoke passion, power, and complexity mirrors the diverse nature of femininity itself. This all goes to say that most women maintained close relations with this color, whether it was a matter of her body, clothing, finery, or the passions of her heart. As society evolves, so does the symbolism of red, continually reinforcing its role as a vibrant and compelling expression of what it means to be a woman. As someone who was told red does not look good with my complexion, I hope we all have the confidence to wield our crimson weapons because that's the only thing we need—confidence.
