Saffron

Joyce drew inspiration from the red-haired Sra. Schmitz, the wife of the Italian writer Italo Svevo (and both he befriended while in Trieste).

E.g., James wrote: "[...] I've also immortalized the tresses of Signora Svevo. These are long and reddish-blond. My sister who used to see them let down told me about them. There is a river near Dublin which passes dye-houses and its waters are reddish, so I've enjoyed comparing these two things in the book I'm writing. A lady in it will have the tresses which are really Signora Svevo's."