Seeing Red

Went into the city today for "Hot Housewares for the Holidays" preview at the New York Hilton--a peek at the merchandise, from slightly wacky to hip and PC--that marketers hope will be big this fall and holiday shopping season. [Will blog about it soon.] Along the way, saw another color trend popping: Red.

Maybe it was subliminal, since for two hours, I was absorbing lots of holiday housewares in cheery, cherry reds, from vegetable choppers to vacuum cleaners.

Ivy League Hair
Noticed two pretty, preppy young blondes--one walking on 57th Street, one waiting on the Columbus Avenue subway platform for the A train--both with red hairbands. Return to The Official Preppy Handbook from 1980? [Never read it, not sure what it said about hair accessories. Must catch up.]

These young women looked so fresh-scrubbed and lovely. Of course, you need smooth hair for that look, so I could try it after a blowout. I've plopped a chic hairband on my curly hair and ended up looking like Bozo on a bad day, with tufts of hair sticking out. And it helps if your hair is blonde, too. The red wouldn't look quite as Martha's Vineyard on dark hair.

Ruby-Red Slippers
Also saw trim crimson cardigans, and little red skimmers on the feet--cute, feminine slip-ons that looked like something my friend Ronnie's Skipper doll might have had. [I longed for a Skipper of my own but only got a Malibu Barbie. That's okay, I loved her--and my tiny little Dawn doll.]

And don't forget the cherry patterns on some fashions at Bergdorf Goodman, and the Red Velvet cupcakes [from Cupcakes by Carousel] that the esteemed store sells for $4 each at its fifth-floor Bar 5F, the one with the gorgeous signature lavender chairs.

Anyway, stop on red--it really stood out today as a chic choice in a city that could easily be dulled by khakis and blacks. I think I want some red for summer.