A red and turquoise outfit starts with one piece of each, like a red leather Gucci Jackie Slim bag next to a turquoise Roxanne Assoulin necklace. I built four outfits from red knits, a red coat and a red dress with turquoise pieces.
Red and Turquoise Outfits to Try This Fall
Red coral and turquoise have been set side by side in Navajo and Zuni silver since the late nineteenth century, when both peoples took up silversmithing, and the pairing is still one of the most recognizable looks in Southwestern jewelry. Warm red against cool blue-green is about as much contrast as two colors can give you.
That contrast is the reason to try it, and the reason to be careful. I like red and turquoise best when one of them is big and the other is small, like a red coat over a turquoise dress, or a red sweater with a turquoise necklace.
A quick test: put on your reddest lipstick and one turquoise earring. If you like what you see in the mirror, the clothes will work too.
Start With One Piece of Each
Gucci's Jackie Slim bag is textured red leather, and Khaite's Milly pumps are red suede with whipstitching at the edges. On the turquoise side, Roxanne Assoulin's The Bar necklace mixes turquoise with lapis and carnelian, so it already carries a little red, and Sydney Evan's Eye bracelet sets turquoise in 14-karat gold. If you only buy one, make it the necklace, since it carries a little of both colors.
A Turquoise Cardigan, Red Trousers
Studio Nicholson's Callen cardigan is a bright turquoise knit, and it looks best buttoned all the way up and worn as a top. Alaïa's mid-rise wide-leg jeans in red denim are the bold half. Valentino's Révélé 105 pumps are turquoise suede with an open toe, and Altuzarra's red velvet envelope clutch turns it into a night out.
How to wear it: keep everything else plain. No print, no logo, just the two colors.
Red Knit, Turquoise Trousers
Isabel Marant's Enza sweater is a gathered red knit, a little romantic for a weekday. Valentino's bootcut trousers are turquoise cotton broderie anglaise, the eyelet you usually see on summer blouses, and it is a good surprise in fall. Maison Margiela's heel-less red mules are the strange, brilliant part, and Lizzie Fortunato's Kai necklace hangs turquoise on a cord.
The Red Dress, Turquoise Jewelry
La Ligne's ruched jersey midi dress is a simple red that pulls on like a T-shirt. All the turquoise here is jewelry: Sydney Evan's single gold earring and Mateo's Dot bracelet, both turquoise with small diamonds. Kallmeyer's Cottage tote in red canvas and leather keeps it casual.
What I would skip: a turquoise shoe as well. Two small turquoise pieces at the ear and the wrist are plenty with a dress this bright.
A Red Coat Over a Turquoise Dress
This is the big one. Róhe's red cotton-gabardine coat goes over Tove's Ara maxi dress, draped turquoise jersey that shows at the hem and the neckline. Valentino's Enigme 105 pumps are teal satin, and Carolina Herrera's red resin earrings finish it. Worn open, the coat frames the dress. Closed, you only see a flash of turquoise as you walk, which I like even more.
One Big, One Small
Red and turquoise is a lot of color, so I keep one rule: one of them is big and the other is small. A coat and a necklace, a sweater and an earring, a dress and a bracelet. If you already love red, add one turquoise stone and see how often you end up wearing the two together. For most people, that is the whole pairing. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Rust and Turquoise Outfits to Try This Fall and Red and Burgundy Outfits to Try This Fall.
