Lunar New Year style inspo: Eight times Jennie delivered standout ruby red looks

Red is a given during Chinese New Year – a colour steeped in ideas of luck, joy and renewal. What evolves, however, is how it is worn. As festive dressing becomes less about tradition for tradition’s sake and more about personal comfort and modern sensibility, the question shifts from whether to wear red to how to make it feel current.

That’s where K-pop idol and fashion maven Jennie Kim comes in. While red holds deep cultural resonance, Jennie wears it as part of her everyday visual language. From her long-standing Instagram handle @jennierubyjane to a wardrobe that consistently returns to jewel-toned reds, the colour feels less like a seasonal requirement and more like a natural extension of her personal style.

For those looking for modern style inspiration this Chinese New Year, Jennie shows how ruby red can feel current rather than ceremonial. Across these eight looks, festive dressing becomes flexible – confident, wearable, and grounded in good taste.

Fuss-free festive red

The the fiery red bouclé Chanel knit does most of the talking, while fluid black trousers, trainers and a classic flap bag keep everything easy and grounded. It’s more about proportion and movement than styling tricks – volume on top, looseness below, nothing stiff or overthought. It looks effortless, almost thrown on, and that’s exactly the appeal.

As Chinese New Year inspiration, this is red for people who prioritise comfort without skipping the symbolism. The knit brings in festive colour without the formality of silk or brocade, and wide-leg trousers leave room to sit, walk and eat without thinking twice. Swap the sneakers for ballet flats or loafers if you want, keep the rest simple, and let the red do its thing, well past the second round of snacks.

Fun and flirty in red

This is ruby red at its most wearable. The cropped tweed top and matching mini skirt is giving flirty and flatteing. There’s a softness to the proportions that keeps things playful, while classic details – from the pearls to the strappy black heels to the a small red bag – pull it back into something polished.

It’s also practical for festive days in warm weather. The shorter hem and cropped cut keep things light and breathable, while the mini bag comfortably carries the basics – blotting paper, wet tissues, a lipstick for quick touch-ups between visits. Add an oversized jacket for sudden rain or overzealous air-conditioning, and the look holds up from afternoon visits to evening plans.

Scarlet elegance

The strapless column gown is clean and close-fitting, with a corset-style bodice that shapes the waist without looking overworked. The sweetheart neckline shows just enough skin to keep things interesting, while the subtle metallic detailing along the seams adds polish rather than sparkle-for-sparkle’s sake. The silhouette is long, streamlined, and quietly confident, finished off with sleek hair, a matching red lip and black platform heels that ground the look.

It’s also exactly an outfit that makes sense for Chinese New Year’s Eve. Dressy yet appropriate for a family dinner. Think: Less “making an entrance,” more “arriving well.” Elegant and composed, this is festive in a way that feels grown-up – red that knows how to hold itself together.

Turn up the heat

This lacquered red look is dialled all the way up here. The high-shine bralette top and ultra-mini skirt come together as a deliberately bold matching set – cropped and body-hugging. The glossy finish catches the light easily, while the abbreviated proportions keep things playful rather than heavy. Finished with statement boots and a defined waist, it’s red that feels confident, energetic and unapologetic.

What makes the look especially appealing is how adaptable it is. Worn as a full set, it delivers impact. Styled separately, it softens easily. A similar red top with wide-leg trousers brings balance and ease, while the mini skirt works just as well with an oversized crisp shirt and flat or strappy sandals for daytime.

Tropical temptation

This is red in a softer register. On Jennie Kim, it leans playful rather than punchy – a cropped knit that shows just a hint of midriff, paired with a matching ankle-length skirt that keeps the look feeling composed. It’s an easy balance: a little skin with a lot of polish. The proportions do most of the work, letting the print feel fresh and summery instead of loud or overdone.

What makes this especially appealing is how comfortable it looks. There’s an effortless, island-girl ease to the outfit that suits warm, humid weather and long days out. It’s relaxed, OOTD-ready, and made for moving around – visiting, walking, sitting, eating. For fuller days of feasting, the cropped top can easily be swapped for an oversized shirt or a lightweight sweater without losing the overall mood.

Scarlet seduction

The asymmetrical mini, with its ruffled shoulder and trailing panel, is very much doing something. It’s dramatic and powerful without being chaotic or tipping into try-hard territory. More controlled than loud. Matched with thigh-high boots, it lands in that sweet spot between sexy and composed – bold, but still put together.

This is the red you reach for when Chinese New Year plans involve drinks, laughter, and group photos. Festive, flirty, a little fearless – the girls that get it, get it.

Luscious and lovely

Velvet minis can feel risky, especially during Chinese New Year, when the line between festive and appropriate matters. The red is deep and plush, the cut is clean, and the fringe at the hem adds movement without turning the dress into something that wears the wearer instead.

With a jacket or shawl, this looks fits right in at family dinners; worn on its own, it moves easily into drinks with friends. Reunion dinner first, clinking glasses later. Red that knows when to behave and when not to.

A heated touch

This look is anchored in black, which is exactly why the red scarf works so well on Jennie here. Worn loosely around the neck, it doesn’t feel styled to death – more like a spontaneous finishing touch that changes the mood of the entire outfit. Against the dark base, the red reads sharp and intentional, drawing the eye upward without overwhelming the rest of the look.

For anyone who doesn’t naturally gravitate towards red, this is the easiest way in. A bold crimson scarf is low-commitment and high-impact – you get the festive nod without having to rethink your entire wardrobe.