Red revealed as our top workwear weapon

Over a third of women feel more confident when wearing red in the workplace

Forget power suits and killer heels – new research has found women feel more confident by simply wearing red in the office.

A poll from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has revealed that red is fast becoming the new black, with over a third (37%) of women saying the colour makes them feel at their most confident.

Of the women surveyed, over one in four (29%) confessed they secretly wish they had the courage to wear red and make a bolder fashion statement more often.

Red has been revealed to be a key confidence booster; with over one in ten women (13%) admitting they would reach for their best red item in order to impress in the office. And it seems that the infamous LBD (Little Black Dress) may have a rival as, when quizzed about their most desirable item of clothing, nearly half of women (48%) deemed the Little Red Dress to be their number one choice.

Injecting a touch of colour was not confined to items of clothing, as a quarter (26%) also admitted that arming themselves with a touch of red lipstick can boost their confidence.

The survey also opened the wardrobe door on the UK’s most despised items of office attire – with over two thirds of women (67%) calling for revealing items of clothing to be ditched from the office. Hot pants, sheer blouses, low cut tops, miniskirts, and Croc footwear round up the top five items British women would like to see a lot less of in the workplace.

As part of National Heart Month this February the BHF is urging everyone to dress up in red on Friday February 1st for Rock Up In Red - joining the fight against heart disease, the UK’s single biggest killer. Killing one in six men and one in nine women, heart disease is responsible for almost 80,000 deaths in the UK each year.

Dr. Gayle Brewer, Senior Lecturer at the UCLan School of Psychology, said: "The clothes and colours we wear have a real impact on the way we feel and the image we project. The colour red is associated with confidence and power.

“It appears women are donning their best red dresses and suits in order to make their mark at work."

Polly Shute, Fundraising Project Director at the BHF, added: “It seems that the fail-safe weapon at work for 2013 is the colour red. “Whether it’s simply a dash of red lipstick, wearing that desirable Little Red Dress, or donning a red tie, organising a Rock Up In Red event is a great excuse to dress to impress with your colleagues on February 1st. Not only will you have the perfect opportunity to wear a colour seldom seen in the workplace, you will also help the BHF beat the UK’s single biggest killer.”

For more information on Rock Up In Red visit bhf.org.uk/red or call 0300 330 0645.