One style lesson I learned from my mother was to embrace color – whether decorating the home or in creating a wardrobe, she was never one for soft, muted colors, but always leaned toward vibrant, rich tones, including lots of RED. (She actually had a fire-engine red kitchen sink!) While I too have always loved the color red, it wasn’t until I hit 50 that I started wearing it more than just as an accent, and if I’m not mistaken, this is my first red dress, bought just last year…

It’s a casual cotton wrap dress by Derek Lam 10 Crosby in a fabulous orangey shade of red…

So many shoe options would work as long as the shoe is not too dressy; the tan bootie keeps the eye on the dress and creates a soft, casual vibe…next time I may try navy suede slides with a straw heel…black or white booties would also be fun…

Instead of a jacket, a neutral beige scarf by Chan Luu…

As for a handbag, this chocolate brown tote deserves a closer look…

It’s a Henry Cuir bag – love at first sight when I spotted it at Revolve…

The leather is beautifully distressed, and it has unique stitching and strings of colorful beads on the sides…while I certainly love certain designer handbags, there is something very appealing about something that is so well handcrafted without recognizable logos…

As for jewelry, you can’t go wrong with a chunky chain necklace and bold gold hoops…a wrist of colorful bracelets adds an element of fun…

You better be feeling confident and in a good mood to wear a RED dress – or perhaps wearing a RED dress will have an affect on your confidence and good mood! WHICH DO YOU THINK???

Work hard. Play hard. Enjoy every day.