BIG REDS; FROM MUTED TO MEGAWATT, COLOR OF POWER MARCHES TOWARD THE MILLENNIUM.

Byline: Barbara De Witt Fashion Editor

It's the year of the scarlet woman.

Once scorned, she's now leading the fashion parade into the next millennium. But we're talking clothes, not professions, and whether it's rose, ruby or rouge, tomato or vermillion, red is red-hot.

``Throughout history, red has signaled excitement, dynamism, danger and sex. Red is intense, passionate, dramatic, energetic, aggressive and daring. It is the second most powerful color, following black,'' says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of ``Colors for Your Every Mood'' (Capitol Books; $29.95).

Eiseman, a former San Fernando Valley resident who now works for the New Jersey-based Pantone company, studies the psychological and physiological aspects of color and predicts color trends for 100 countries around the world. She says she knows why we're seeing red this fall and winter.

``It's the last holiday season of the century and there's a spirit of excitement. And red says it better than any other color,'' Eiseman said. ``It's energetic, but also smacks of nostalgia, taking us back to a time when we always wore red for the winter holidays.''

Then there's the historical significance of red. In ancient times, red dye came from the Far East and was therefore expensive. It was the color of kings and religious royalty and thought to be the color of life and energy in the Chinese culture.

Studies have even shown, says Eiseman, that brain function, as measured by electrical responses, is more affected by red than any other color of equal intensity.

Justina Vail, star of TV sci-fi adventure ``Seven Days,'' (8 p.m. Wednesdays on UPN), hasn't done any scientific studies on the color, but she knows red turns heads.

The auburn-haired actress who lives in Los Angeles and Vancouver, says her favorite color used to be olive green until she wore a red gown to an awards show.

``I couldn't believe it. I got so much attention,'' she said with a sly smile.

But she says it took a lot of nerve to wear it. ``It's very sexy, and you have to have confidence to wear it ... even to wear red lipstick,'' she adds.

East Coast designer Calvin Klein says fire red is his signature color this year, worn layered over other brights or played against neutrals; while Bill Blass claims women want colors such as bittersweet orange to spike up their colorless wardrobes.

Meanwhile, West Coast designers such as Max Azria for BCBG have cooled down their reds with a blue base and described sweaters, skirts, shoes and coats as ruby, garnet and vermillion. And it's the same color story at other local design houses, including ABS, Laundry, Guess? and XOXO.

According to Eiseman, blue-toned reds are more sophisticated and elegant, while yellow-based reds are considered more immature, energetic and sexy, which is why they go so well with animal print fabric (a favorite combo of locals Eduardo Lucero and William B.).

It also explains why career consultants advise against wearing red to job interviews.

OUR MODEL

Name: Justina Vail.

Stars in: UPN's ``Seven Days'' (8 p.m. Wednesdays) as Russian scientist Olga Vukavitch.

Born in: Malaysia; raised in England.

Lives in: Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Marital status: Single.

Education: Studied at Canterbury College of Art.

Personal stats: 5 feet 5 inches tall; size 2 dress; size 7-1/2 shoe.

Hobbies: Yoga, running.

Favorite Valley hangout: Aroma Cafe in Toluca Lake.

Favorite movie: ``Contact.'' ``It explored the possibilities that there's more than what we insist is our reality.''

Philosophy: ``Life's too short to do horror films.''

Credits: ``Jerry Maguire,'' ``Kiss the Girls,'' ``Suddenly Susan,'' ``The X-Files'' and ``Seinfeld.''

CAPTION(S):

7 Photos, Box

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) On the cover: Justina Vail in a vermillion shearling hooded coat by BCBG/Max Azria, $1,094, available at BCBG boutiq`ues. Her hair and makeup are by Shannon Frost of Cloutier Agency.

(2--Color) no caption (Same as above)

(3--Color) She's the sweater girl of the '90s in this hand-knit turtleneck design, $184, at BCBG boutiques.

(4--Color) Vail's black velvet pants and top feature rose applique by Rimini, $188, Macy's, Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks.

(5--Color) ``Seven Days'' star Justina Vail goes into the night in a red gown swathed in pink tulle by Laundry, $348, Macy's.

(6--Color) Animal prints and red - what a combo, thinks Vail in jeans, $78, and faux-fur trimmed coat, $108, by Guess?, at Bloomingdale's, Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks.

(7--Color) Red goes casually chic, in a cotton knit skirt, $68, and hoodie, $88, both by Allen Allen, USA, at Bloomingdale's. The DKNY sneakers, $64, at Macy's.

Photos by David Crane/Staff Photographer

Box: OUR MODEL (See text)