Would you say that the reverse hold true. For example if you have dark hair would it be more pleasing to the eye to always wear black shoes or pants?
Thank you

Interesting post! Too be honest, I don’t really see it. I like all of the outfits and in general I prefer the look of black pants with any neutral colour. I am interested in the ASOS top on the left (the one in the YLF store) – how does ASOS run in terms of sizing? I have never purchased from them.

This is something I have never thought about. I do see it when you point it out but does that mean that a red jacket and white top underneath does not work with black pants? A black top would work better under the red jacket?

Great point, Angie! Explains why some outfits look unfinished or look like they need a final 3rd piece when paired w/black pants — it’s because it’s visually unbalanced! For example, to Lynn’s point, my red jacket & black pants look more polished with a black top or a black statement necklace w/the white top.

It may also explain why I’m told that I look good in black when I’ve always thought it’s a hard color to wear near the face & that it’s ageing — perhaps it’s because I have jet-black hair?

Wow! I’m definitely going to look in the mirror differently the next time I put on black pants. I assume you feel the same about navy and charcoal?

Oh! I never even thought of low-contrast bookending, as in examples 1 and 4. This is very helpful for thinking of outfits to wear my black ponte pants with. I guess I have more options than I thought I did.

This makes so much sense and explains why some outfits just don’t look right even when trying to bookend grey hair with silver shoes while wearing black pants. Thank you, Angie. You are brilliant!

Hrm… I hadn’t read below the pictures when I looked at them and thought, well, with the fourth one, it is a little subtle but still the black is balanced by the dark eye make-up! I think if she wore a black necklace, it would be enough along with the eye make-up to balance the pants.

This makes a lot of sense! I have dark hair (naturally jet black – I’m Asian – and currently dyed a dark red) and have always found black/dark bottoms to be almost effortless to wear with practically everything on top. It makes sense that it’s my hair doing all the work! I guess it’s kind of a cliche that Asian women wear a lot of black but it DOES work from this perspective. I’m not a fan of all black from head to toe though – it’s too severe for me and I like colors too much!

Great post, Angie!

Because of my fair skin and dark blond hair, I have to be savvy about balance when I wear black pants. I balance the top by wearing a print scarf with some black and onyx earrings and bracelet. That anchors the black for me.

Black from head to toe is much too harsh on me. I prefer black with denim!

I have never thought about bookending my trousers. First with boots and hair, now trousers and tops, interesting. I wonder if this is why when I wear a light top and very dark jeans, the look comes across as “off?”

This makes so much sense, Angie. Sometimes I love black trousers, sometimes I don’t, and I bet this explains why.

I never thought about this, but it makes sense. I wear black trousers and skirts often, and sometimes I just don’t like the way my outfit looks and I can’t figure out why, since I always assume that “everything goes with black.” I’m going to pay a lot more attention to this from now on.

I don’t have black pants, but if I did, I’d be in good shape because of my hair.

Is the same true for other pant colors?

great tips Angie..and it totally makes sense. For some reason though, of the two outfits on the blondes, I actually prefer the one on the far right to the one on the far left. I realize it could have alot to do with the hairstyles and fit of the tops, but for some reason the contrast of the outfit on the right just sets better with me.

I’ve never thought about it, but it makes perfect sense. That one last detail really finishes off the look, in contrast to just throwing on black pants and a colored top as a default look.

I’m intrigued by the idea of bookending, and also delighted, since I have long darkest brown Latina hair. It’s terrific because I love wearing black, and the affection is returned I’ve always sort of gravitated towards low contrast tops with black, though that has more to do with the fact that I’m short and this is somewhat elongating. I’m glad to know it can add more to my style quotient than I’d originally thought.

Actually, to me the model in the fourth photo does seem to be bookending her look with very dark eye makeup, which kinda makes me want to try it with other colors.

Interesting…I assume the same rule should be extended to black ankle length leggings and opaque black hose, right?
Is black the only color you need to bookend because it is such a strong statement or this rule should be expanded to other colors as well?

I was wondering the same thing as Sveta. If one wears white bottoms or light shoes, is it necessary to repeat the same color on top? I’m thinking about my light Maxximus booties and Cathy’s white Docs–especially since we both have dark hair.

Maggiethecat and dora, I thought the same thing about the last model possibly bookending her black trousers with very dark eye makeup! Queen Mum, that might be why you are drawn to the look. I still think that the 4th outfit would look more balanced with a bit more black repeated up top.

Jennifer, I don’t think that the reverse is a rule either. But I will go as far as to say that women with black hair rock black shoes – because it bookends their look. The same way I wear cream shoes and boots well because they bookend my blonde hair. However, I also wear black boots

Dee it’s a subjective preference so it doesn’t matter if you don’t see it.

Lynn, that combination depends on the colour of your hair. It’s going to look super duper if you have jet black hair.

Diana, you hit the nail on the head and I totally agree.

Maya, I foresee us both wearing black slouchy pleated pants soon. Your black hair will make things very easy!

Sveta, Kelly and Maya, bookending other colours of pants will probably make outfits more balanced, but I don’t think it’s a rule either. Black trousers are harsh and cover a lot of the body so the outfit looks better when repeated to my eye. Lighter coloured pants are softer and don’t necessarily warrant a repeat. And also, it depends on the colour of your hair. As a blonde, I naturally bookend light and white trousers.

Sveta, quite right. Bookeneding black leggings and opaques in the same way is effective.

I’ve always thought “something” wasn’t quite right when I wore black trousers, now I know why. It’s actually quite simple and easy, isn’t it, yet it had never occurred to me… This is one of the many reasons that I love YLF so much, Angie, your suggestions are always spot-on!

Hmm, I think whether black pants are harsh or not depends on your coloring. I always find white much more harsh on me than black. Crisp, clean whites work well with my coloring but are rather loud and jarring when worn in the form of pants or boots. I would have to throw on a white headband or scarf to feel right.

If only slouchy pants didn’t require tucking…:\

I think you’re are so right about this p.o.v. Just never thought of it that way. Now I know why I never feel quite right wearing black pants and a white top or any other strong colour – always feel like a waitress in my black and white combos.

Interesting to think of your hair color as an accessory! I am slow sometimes…

I love that first top and have been gravitating toward the look since it has become available… I wish there were more colors offered in this style in general – grey and black seem to be the norm, and I’ve got way too much of that already!

Maybe that’s why, while I love light colored shoes, I have a really hard time pulling them off. I have dark hair…

After reading Angie’s post and all the comments I feel like I’ve had a seminar in bookending. I want to go try some now.

I love these handy tips, Angie. You’ve been preaching this wisdom for a bit, now, and I now find I do it instinctively. How I lived without black camisoles pre-ylf I really don’t know.
This tip may come particularly in handy as I contemplate putting together a LBP outfit for Christmas night.
Tell me, though, is my hair dark enough to serve as a bookend in the absence of other options?

I also appreciate the idea of bookending in some small, subtle way, as with eyewear (particularly since I just invested in my first B&W pair of glasses a few months ago.) No wonder I am constantly surprised at how wearable black eyeglasses are on me, even though my coloring is more naturally suited to burgundy or brown. Great food for thought in this post.

I bookend a lot of outfits in order to appear taller. I’m a petite 5’1″. Today I’m wearing black boots,black leggings, teal cowlneck tunic sweater w/ a black t-neck shirt underneath

Outfit four is sloppy and unflattering; the top is too big for her. Outfits 1 and 4 are not flattering, either. women need to get over the idea that sloppy is attractive. Fall in love with your tailor and have your clothes fit you.

This totally explains why I feel very comfortable and confident pairing stuff with my black martin skinnies while I have to put in more effort to “ground” or bookend my white bottoms in summer! Thanks Angie

So funny that you posted this today. I was confronted with exactly this issue getting dressed this morning–figuring out how to wear a brown cowl-neck sweater with my black trousers. I landed on having a black camisole peaking out at the neckline, which I learned from YLF. Before I would have just been confused why things didn’t look right. Thanks Angie!

Thanks, Angie for spelling out something that might not be obvious but that helps keep things looking pulled-together and current.

great post! thank you Angie!

This is really interesting. I think I intuitively know about this, and avoid the look at the right, but I haven’t really thought about this in the past. Good stuff.

This is really interesting. I have very dark brown hair and eyes so I am automatically bookended. As a result, it’s not something I’ve ever thought about.

Audi wrote a great post a while back that made me realize why I don’t care for the classic fall-back outfit of black pants + shirt:
http://geekthreads.blogspot.co.....art-3.html
Visually, the extra black (or another dark color) just adds so much and completes the outfit. “Bookending” the outfit is a great way to put it!

Thank goodness I have black hair….makes this easier for me!!! On the rare occasions that I wear white jeans, do you think the opposite rule applies – that I should repeat white somewhere in the top half? (Would earrings be enough?)

I am aware of this and it’s a helpful reminder. Luckily for me, my black hair does this naturally and probably why I also have so many black shoes (we won’t say anything about my shoe buying addiction . Like Maya, I actually find I have to bookend black or much lighter, and bright/deep intensity colors more than black because of my skin tone and the color of my hair.

Glad that the bookending trick is making sense.

Thanks for the post, Marie.

Michelle, your hair is absolutely dark enough to bookend black trousers naturally.

Kathe, the outfits which you call sloppy are actually a fashion forward look in themselves. Voluminous, casual and forgiving with just enough structure. I do understand that it’s an acquired taste.

Maya, Yublokca and Sihaya, your darker complexions and hair colour *will* probably require you to bookend light or white trousers. Good point

I agree with you on this. Black is a strong visual element, so I like the balance created by re-enforcing the black elsewhere in the outfit. I think softer neutrals like grey and taupe are easier to let stand as lone neutrals.

I’m finding this bookending business very interesting. It’s making more and more sense. As a VERY pale girl with red hair I had the idea that keeping black on my lower half was the way to go. But the times I broke my “rule” and worked some black up top, whether in a print, a camisole or jewelry I’d get gobs of compliments…even though black isn’t supposed to be “my color”. Wonderful post, thanks!

This is such a useful post and exposes me to something totally new that I have never consciously considered before. Thank you!

Bookending as an articulated concept is new to me since coming upon YLF, but I was doing it subconsciously and am very happy that I have super dark hair and eyes; I rarely have to think about it! That said, sometimes a light shoe is fun but I usually have to work hard to balance the look out. I tend to keep bookending in mind but not focus on it as an absolute.

Thanks for the insight Angie. It explains why black pants/skirts/leggings/shoes feel so right – thank goodness for black hair!!