Scarlet woman: head-to-toe in red for the summer

Summer dressing gets dangerous with red worn head-to-toe, says Emma Akbareian

There's something about wearing red that sticks in our memories. After all, who could forget the off-the-shoulder red number worn by Julia Roberts in the street-walker-to-style-icon makeover that was the film Pretty Woman? Or that wonderful moment in Schindler's List with the little girl's red coat? Couturier Valentino has long made red his signature colour, but this season the bold shade was given a new lease of life with designers including Ralph Lauren, Marios Schwab and Jonathan Saunders all showing scarlet from head-to-toe.

Wear red with reckless abandon: sure, a red dress will look great on its own, but really becomes a head-turner with the addition of ruby accessories. Don't stop at just footwear – sunglasses and jewellery look equally stylish in poppy hues. Shades of red, rich though they may be, aren't just for the evening, either – red can work for the daytime, too, as tailored separates such as this Milly skirt. Finally, just to make sure you're comprehensively covered, add a slick of blood red lipstick and a vampy vermillion polish to the nails.

Main picture: Sheer panel playsuit £40 and padlock bag £70, both topshop.com; blazer £110, frenchconnection.com; slingback heels £95, Nine West, kurtgeiger.com

Click here to launch our red gallery

Photographer Helen McArdle

Stylist Emma Akbareian

Model Sophie S at Next Model Management

Make-up Aly Hazlewood using Lancôme

Hair Jason Crozier at DW Management for No.74 Hair and Beauty London using Bumble and bumble

With thanks to The Marylebone Hotel, one of eight luxury boutique hotels in The Doyle Collection.

The hotel is offering readers an exclusive 'Pompeii & Herculaneum' package: £245 for two, including tickets to the exhibition at the British Museum and breakfast. The Marylebone Hotel, London W1,

0207 486 6600

doylecollection.com