Crossword Genius

Red skirts — rip off skirts (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

crimson

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'red' is the definition.
(I know that crimson is a type of red)

'skirts rip off skirts' is the wordplay.
'skirts' becomes 'rims' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'rip off' becomes 'con' (conning is a kind of ripping off).
'skirts' indicates putting letters inside (skirt can mean to go around).
'rims' going into 'con' is 'CRIMSON'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for crimson that I've seen before include "Deep red colour" , "Flushed" , "Bright red" , "Ruddy" , "Shade of red" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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