The Red Bag Rule Is the Only Styling Trick I Care About This Winter

If you know me personally, have come across my social media, or followed my many fashion stories at various publications over the years, you know I’m not one for a lot of color. My palette is generally confined to black and ivory, and I dip into gray and camel when the mood strikes. However, there’s a part of me that’s drawn—like a moth to a flame, a magpie to anything shiny, influencers to the West Village—to the color red.

Maybe it’s my fiery Aries moon that makes me gravitate towards red. It could also be the holiday season. A photo of Jackie Kennedy in the White House on Christmas in a crimson sleeveless top and trousers set holds a special place in my mental style folder—even though I’ve never personally approached a similar look.

My fascination could also stem from the fact that red is no wilting flower. According to the wizards at Pantone, red is “forever associated with passion, vitality, and even action from protest.” It also indicates love and anger, luck in the East, and danger in the West. These are some serious themes—love and danger? Not subtle. Nor should it be, when a lady wears red, she means it.

Valentino took control of the color for decades. Italian Renaissance painter Titian loved red so much that he made his own shade. Former Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland insouciantly tied a red scarf around black trousers, topped with a black crewneck and pearls, and the image resonated so powerfully that its inspiration showed up on Matthieu Blazy’s first runway show for Chanel in the year of our Lord, 2025.

So, how, as a verifiable subtle color person, am I to integrate the powerful shade into my own looks? Generally, I assuage my affinity for this bold hue with a great matte red lip. But lately, I’ve fallen for the idea of a red bag. It almost feels as though it should be capitalized—A Red Bag. That’s how impactful the colorful accessory is.

Below is how I'll be styling my red bags—two clutches and a crossbody— this winter. Spoiler alert: I do actually own one red coat. Perhaps I’m suppressing something. I’ll journal about it later. In the meantime, onto the looks and a breakdown of the red bag rule.

Channeling Vreeland

Diana Vreeland, by all accounts, considered herself a maximalist, and while I do not, I do share her affinity for a great accessory. I opted for a more toned-down, moody red in contrast to the erstwhile editor-in-chief’s vermilion scarf. But the black and pearls remain. And, of course, I added a red bag.

Remain Neutral

I am very into red mixed against brown, gray, and oatmeal because it’s a bit unexpected, yet completely lovely. It doesn’t have the stark contrast of, say, black, white, and red. It’s a little less effusive, but still really hits the mark.

What’s Black, White, and Red All Over?

This is my most holiday-forward look of all. It has everything—ivory separates, a sweeping velvet jacket, pearl earrings, dressed-up Chanel boots, and an exceedingly elegant red clutch.

Seeing Red

I don’t do it often, but it is fun to go full monochrome. There’s just something so unabashedly bold about pairing red with red, and I love the visual clarity of all one color.

Winter Whites

I don’t think there’s anything more elegant than white on white when there’s snow on the ground, the fireplace is on, and the skiing is aprés. I layered ivory with white and ecru, and added a red bag for a true aesthetic moment.