It’s kiss and tell as we expose the fashion industry’s passionate attraction to the luscious and striking shades of red.

Evoking energy and movement, seduction and pleasure, danger and heat; the world of fashion simply can’t get enough of this sizzling shade. Designers to stylists to Hollywood’s glistening glitterati have all fallen under the intoxicating spell of fiery red. But what is it about the colour of love that is so intriguing?

Christian Louboutin’s trademark red soles have become one of the fashion industry’s most luxurious possessions; and with the promise of a red-soled glimpse to passers-by revealing its wearer’s pricey taste, who wouldn’t want to strut their stuff in a pair of “loubis”. His lovely lacquered soles were born when one of his assistants painted her nails in a red Chanel varnish while sitting next to him. Inspiration struck and Louboutin grabbed the nail polish and painted the sole of one of his stilettos red – et voila, an icon was born. Like Louboutin, Italian designer Valentino’s sweeping rouge gowns, pictured on glamorous celebrities like Anne Hathaway and Scarlett Johansson capturing a sense of old-time Hollywood, has become such a signature for the retired designer that when someone says “Valentino red” you know exactly what shade they are talking about.

There’s Pamela Anderson’s iconic red Baywatch swimsuit, Bono’s charitable red campaign and Gwyneth Paltrow’s famous ode to red lipstick, “Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick”. When red is your colour of choice you should wholeheartedly surrender to its allure and go all out – be it in a movie star red lipstick, a statement cherry bag or a pair of sexy rouge heels – because our shade of the month always expects the ultimate in red carpet treatment.