Women in red

A group of women wearing red clothes, sitting together in attitudes that suggest relaxed confidence and slight amusement. The feeling that they will talk amongst themselves more frankly than they will to anyone else.

Red room

A red room. Red carpet, walls, curtains, ceiling. Even the air seems tinged with it.

When I noted this down I didn't recall the HG Wells story, but I think I must have read it. Reading it now it seems very familiar so I would not be surprised if there is a connection.