Welcome to the latest installment of Metro.Style’s shopping edit: Metro Luxe & Less, a weekly series that pairs luxury fashion with its more accessible counterparts, showing you how to achieve the same look and feel across varying price points.
For the holidays, Metro’s Luxe & Less takes on a gift-guide sensibility, spotlighting pieces that feel celebratory yet enduring. At the center of it all: the perfect red dress, an item that captures the season’s glamour while remaining endlessly adaptable.
Red with Intention
There is something unmistakably festive about red during the holidays. This season, we’re gravitating toward red jersey dresses defined by expert ruching and intentional draping—details that flatter without excess. Jersey offers ease and sensuality in equal measure, making it ideal for long evenings and spontaneous celebrations. Styled with chunky statement jewels, a red clutch or metallic minaudière, and a confident pair of peep-toe heels, the red dress becomes less about novelty and more about presence—an outfit that commands attention through form rather than shine or embellishment.
A Holiday Silhouette
Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber have both embraced the power of monochrome, proving that head-to-toe red is a foolproof fashion moment. Hailey elevated her look with a Ferragamo bag and matching red Jimmy Choo heels, leaning into a polished, directional finish. Kylie, on the other hand, offset her dress with chunky gold jewelry and statement sunglasses, bringing a sense of attitude and contrast.
Closer to home, Pia Wurtzbach was recently spotted in the black iteration of Jacquemus’ ruched dress line—underscoring just how sculptural silhouettes transcend color and occasion.
The benchmark for this season’s red dress is undeniably Jacquemus’ The Mistral Dress, first seen on the runway and later immortalized by Kylie Jenner. Cut in a fluid viscose jersey, the mini dress balances sensuality with restraint. A boat neckline and fitted sleeves frame the upper body, while round embroidery at the front introduces subtle texture. The back reveals a carefully placed cut-out and a swooping draped panel that moves with elegance rather than drama. With its fitted shape, mini length, and thoughtful detailing—crafted from 83% viscose and 17% polyamide and made in Portugal—The Mistral exemplifies Jacquemus’ ability to make simplicity feel modern.
The Smart Finds
For those seeking the same effect without the runway price tag, three smart alternatives deliver on silhouette and impact. H&M’s Shoulder-Pad Interlock Dress offers a fitted mini cut in thick jersey, with prominent shoulder pads and side gathers that sculpt the waist.
Mango’s Asymmetrical Midi-Dress takes a more elegant approach, featuring an A-line shape, gathered shoulder detail, and an asymmetrical neckline designed for formal holiday events. Zara’s Short Mesh Dress leans into texture, using soft mesh and strategic draping along the sides to create movement and dimension in a sleeveless, high-neck silhouette. Each echoes the ruched sexy appeal of the original while standing confidently on its own.
This holiday season, the red dress proves that glamour doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be well considered.
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