If you’ve spent any amount of time on fashion’s corner of the internet, you’ll be familiar with this piece of advice: If an outfit isn’t interesting through texture or shape, make it interesting through colour. The latter is seemingly what every style insider has collectively decided to do over the past few weeks, with the red top trend a fiery new way of dressing that’s swiftly becoming hard to ignore.
Indeed, not since the red Versace dress Cindy Crawford wore to the 1991 Academy Awards has this colour garnered so much interest. But when smothering the top half of your body with a bold hue that commands traffic, you’re bound to steal attention.
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Monikh Dale wears a red top with black joggers, red sandals and a beige jacket while in London.
What Is the Red Top Trend?
The red top trend first piqued my interest when I saw Zoë Kravitz wear a one with teeny tiny athletic shorts and round-toe mules à la Carrie Bradshaw while grabbing an iced latte in New York City. The thought of enhancing a very simple ensemble with a dominant shade in this way wasn’t one that had really crossed my mind before. I was interested, especially as an owner of a red cashmere Prada top that I have often struggled to style in the past. (I’ve probably worn it twice since buying it, and both times over a polka dot skirt.) One sighting does not make a movement, of course. But once I saw this outing, I began to notice elegant red tops cropping up everywhere.
Just last month, Victoria Beckham took to the streets of Paris in a polo-style red top, complementing the strong shade with flared jeans and an Hermès Kelly bag. Earlier in the year, while in Los Angeles, Kendall Jenner paired a scarlet half-zip long-sleeve style from The Row with wide-leg trousers and black loafers. Elsewhere, in New York, both Jennifer Lawrence and Dakota Johnson put two very different spins on the red top trend, with Lawrence wearing hers under a blazer and with woollen trousers and Vans trainers, while Johnson styled a crimson button-down with Agolde jeans and Saint Laurent shoes.
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Kendall Jenner wears a red half-zip long-sleeve polo top from The Row with trousers and loafers.
How to Style the Red Top Trend
Of course, there are so many different iterations of the red top trend, as the crux of this silhouette really comes down to contrasting the daring tone with a neutral base in order to make yourself appear more striking.
This is something the ‘pop of red’ trend and ‘unexpected red’ theory, both of which went viral in the early days of 2024, taught us. But here, the red top trend acts as a very breezy way of helping an outfit look more considered, as all you need is a well-structured shirt, blouse or tank to make you appear thoughtful and put-together.
This trend’s appeal also lies in its versatility, as it does so much to elevate basics like trousers or jeans. It’s no surprise to see this hack appear time and time again in the collections of The Row, Khaite, Bottega Veneta and Tibi, so this fuss-free formula is key to achieving the same level of polish and chicness that these brands possess.
And to borrow the teachings of colour theory for a moment, red is tied up with a number of psychological and biological associations, making this trend really one to get the blood pumping…
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Dakota Johnson wears a red button-down shirt with blue Agolde jeans and Saint Laurent loafers while out in New York.
Ahead, I’ve curated a comprehensive edit of the best styles to shop so you can test and replicate the red top trend. From expensive-looking high street staples to more designer options worth investing in, take your pick and layer it back with your existing wardrobe items to try your hand at the most effortless celebrity-approved colour trend of the year.
Shop the Red Top Trend
Massimo Dutti
Short Sleeve Cotton Blend T-Shirt
I’m going to be wearing my red t-shirts with white jeans like Danielle Haim in the music video for Summer Girl. Feels very apt for this time of year…
Faithfull
Suis One-Shoulder Linen Top
So many London cool girls like Lucy Williams owns this top.
Proenza Schouler
Leona Knitted Halterneck Top
This button-up knit halter neck proves that considered design elements can transform red tops from basic to anything but.
Free People
Most Wanted Cardi
Wear with bloomers to lean into the relaxed feeling of this cropped cardigan.
ST. AGNI
Asymmetric Draped Satin Top
A one shoulder top, but make it sophisticated.
LOULOU DE SAISON
Polly Cropped Knitted T-Shirt
The boat neckline and cropped finish means this style would pair great with both low-slung trousers and high-waisted skirts.
INTERIOR
The Regatta Oversized Cotton-Poplin Shirt
A top you’ll want to wear non stop.
MANGO
Perkins-Neck Knitted Top
You could fool so many people into thinking this top was designed by the Olsen Twins.
COS
Gathered Cotton Tank Top
The gathering around the collar and underarms adds a nice point of difference to the other classic tank styles on this list.
ST. AGNI
Backless Tencel™ Lyocell-Blend Jersey Top
This top featured a scoop open back and is made from environmentally-friendly materials.
Reformation
Monica Silk Top
A little slinky number, since red is the colour of romance, after all./
Red Top Trend Outfit Ideas
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Jennifer Lawrence tries the red top trend with black trousers, trainers and a blazer while out in NYC.
Musier Paris founder and artistic director Anne-Laure Mais does the red top trend with athletic shorts and ballet pumps while in Paris.
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Victoria Beckham wears a red polo top with bootcut jeans and an Hermés Kelly while in Paris.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.
We regularly try pieces ourselves, everything from bestselling jeans to designer shoes, speak to external experts and fashion insiders and stay closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise and has to pass our exceptional taste levels—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.
