Think Red Is Too Flashy For Work? Here’s How We Wear Red To Make 9 To 5 Fashionably Fly

I work at an office where the dress code is casual, 70 per cent employees are women, and the overall vibe is chill. Put them all together and every day becomes #FashionFriday at POPxo. In every corner of the office lurks style inspiration in the form of latest trends, comfy athleisure, street-styling and sometimes even Rachel Green-approved workwear. But in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we decided to give some extra footage to the colour of love, red.

Wearing red to work is a rare sight at workplaces. When I asked around what was the reason for this discrimination, some of the words I got back were ‘flashy’, ‘bold’ and ‘I don’t have anything red’. Whoa! So, I and some of my colleagues decided to solve the problem and help everyone paint the town red in style. If you work at an organisation like mine, here’s how Team POPxo wears red to work without looking OTT.

How To Wear Red To Work

Your search for work-appropriate ways to wear red ends now. Here’s how you can dress down the bright colour without compromising on style and your 9 to 5 dress code. PS. it’s always a good idea to check with your HR what’s okay to wear and what’s not okay. On that note, let’s begin.

A Red Turtleneck

Valentines Day is all about love and work is all about being presentable. I, therefore, opted to pair a red turtleneck sweater with a black pencil skirt in a midi length. And since it’s still winter(y) in Delhi, I decided to pair the look with chic black boots. As for the makeup, I kept it lovey-dovey but professional with a nude base, red lip colour and a slick hairdo.

– Naina Sharma, Senior Writer

A Red Checked Skirt

My way to put a check against red at work is *surprise surprise* a checked skirt! I have tonnes of red in my closet but I like to dress it down to work. So, instead of going for a solid red mini that’s my party-killer or a dress, I go for reds with a print or pattern on it. It makes me look dressy enough and work-appropriate at the same time. And if you’ve been following my articles or activities on POPxo’s Instagram, you know that I’m a sucker for stockings! Minis and stockings are a match made in fashion heaven.

Colourblock It!

Colour blocking is the most classic way to wear ‘pop’ colours to work, and what better way to style it with the classic LBD! Bonus – you get to wear your fave LBD to work! I paired my black, white and red bomber jacket with a dress and high boots for an effortless and classy look. The subtle basics perfectly balance the hippy jacket, making it a cute attire for work.

– Nidhi Dass, Social Media Coordinator

A Red Textured Outerwear

I styled my red coat to work wearing a full-sleeved black top tucked in black jeans. I know what you are thinking–red is an OTT colour and leaves people looking your way. But it works when you undertone it with jeans and blacks just like I did. I also accessorised my outfit with a watch and a necklace to give it a Valentine-y look.

– Kadambini Arora, Social Media Coordinator

So, clearly, black is the way to dress-down red to work. Ready to try it out?