Why Red Is the Colour of Christmas — and How to Wear It

Felicia Schamuhn
Dec 12, 2025
3 min read

Why Red Is the Colour of Christmas — and How to Wear It

by: Felicia Schamuhn

Nothing says Christmas quite like one particular colour. It’s the shade that appears in shop windows, on wrapping paper, in shiny ornaments and cozy winter knits…Red! But why has it become such an essential part of the holiday season? For as long as we can remember, red has shaped the visual language of Christmas. We decorate our homes with it, we see it in the festive treats we bake and we include it in our daily wardrobe. The customs’ roots go back far beyond modern traditions. Ancient Celts admired the red and green holly plant because it helped them survive the winter. They believed it preserved the beauty of the earth during the dark winter months and therefore decorated their homes with it at the winter solstice to bring protection and good fortune to their families.

In the Christian tradition, red became important because Saint Nicholas, Greek bishop of the ancient city of Myra, was often shown wearing a red bishop's stole or a red cloak in religious illustrations. During the Middle Ages, Christmas plays also helped strengthen this connection, because Saint Nicholas usually wore red clothing.

In modern pop culture, red became even more common because Santa Claus, like we know him, was often portrayed in his familiar red suit. Coca-Cola advertising campaigns from 1931 onwards popularized this depiction worldwide as well.

So how can we work red into our outfits today? Here are five different ways to incorporate it into your festive looks this season inspired by current social and runway trends:

Lips

A simple way to add red to your look, that truly never goes out of style, is a classic red lip. It elevates your makeup and adds the right touch to any outfit. If you’re aiming for something refined and elegant, choose a deeper, richer red. Also feel free to embrace a bright, staple Christmas tone like “Rouge Is Not My Name” from Sephora.

Tights

Colourful tights have been making a huge comeback, and the festive season is certainly not the time to hold back. A pair of red tights makes any outfit more interesting and adds a new layer of dimension. You can keep it simple with a plain red pair or play around with patterns like plaid, floral, or polka dots. Calzedonia, for example, offers a wide range of prints to choose from.

Faux-fur

Temperatures are dropping faster and faster. What better way to stay warm and cozy in the cold than with a faux-fur coat? This jacket from ASOS feels like a big hug while keeping you stylish at the same time.

Long skirts

Although we all love a good mini skirt, FW runways have been showing a growing trend toward longer hems. Christmas is the perfect opportunity to experiment with something new. With the freezing weather outside, a long skirt is definitely the warmest choice. Pair this COS skirt with a chunky sweater and finish the look with boots or heels.

Bags

This Desigual bag might just echo the ancient Celtic love of holly plants with its floral accents. Who knows, maybe it will even protect you during the dark winter months if you pair it with a festive outfit!