Is Anyone else Shying Away from Black this year? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Is Anyone else Shying Away from Black this year?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am.

In fact, I try not to wear black at all - unless it's with lots of white, in a pattern or with brights. (I do love wearing my black ankle pants with black ankle strap animal print pumps though. And my black Tokyo suit comes out to play when it needs to). I also prefer to wear a non-black top with white jeans at the moment, which was not the case last year.

The skirt in this outfit I wear quite a bit because I actually keep on thinking it's ink and cream. I guess I am intentionally in denial.

It's just a stage I'm going through with my style at the moment. It will change in Oct when I am back to wearing my very favourite wardrobe essential of all time - a black turtleneck - with anything.

Parsley, I am high fiving the comment you just made on yesterday's ensemble post:

"I like all these pieces, but I find myself shying away from black these days, which is a real departure for me! I think I’d have to add a fair amount of white to these in order to feel good for summer".

Over to you.

1

Dressing

86 replies

Latest reply was from texstyle

Mo

(website)

Veteran

quite the opposite! I seem to be buying a lot of black just this last month, which is quite atypical for me any time of year, but particularly the warmer months. Not sure what that's about. I do wear plenty of white with it, though.

abc

Veteran

I just got two EF pieces, both in black. Can't wait to show you, actually though more for the cut than the color.

But yes, if I do wear solid black lately it's with a very heavy dose of white.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if this is a bit of a seasonal preference. I lean less heavily on black in the warmer months, but as my outfit yesterday proved, I am far from giving it up. I suspect black will always play an important role in my wardrobe.

Dana

(website)

Veteran

Overall I don't wear a lot of black. I bought the Stem dolman sleeve top in black, but will probably save it for fall or cooler summer days. Surprisingly I've been wearing a few more neutrals (cream, taupe) than usual, but I love my summer brights!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Mo, I've noticed your black binge. Isn't that interesting.

Janet, yes. The seasonal reason is a good one. I have no intention of eliminating black from my wardrobe either - but I am treading VERY lightly no matter what the season. With grey too.

Dana, I remember that you are not a black fan.

abc, I look forward to seeing your outfits.

rachylou

Veteran

We-ell... I'll put it this way, I've been donning black so often so far, it's starting to worry me. I don't want to be a PIB and I don't want to get beat up! Lol. I have to work on Country Punk in Colourchrome!

jennifer

Veteran

No ,I am apparently massively embracing black this year. A month or so ago I bought several black items from the clearance and my head manager said"What's with all the black?!"
I was buying a black lace button down;a black,cream,and metallic sweater ,a black pullover sweater, a black moto ( for mom),and I forget if there was anything else....but when getting clearance items often black will have the best style longevity .
And I have bought red,navy, cream, white,tan,blush peach,and wine red items this year too( and worn them!).
Okay just went to my list and looked. Out of the list so far (24) ,11 are or ar a combo of something and black,hmmm..

Gaylene

Veteran

Nope. Just discovering that I really like black in the summer when I'm exposing more skin as a counter balance. Oddly enough, black is now becoming a summer color instead of a winter one.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I've had a heavily black wardrobe until the last six months. Now suddenly I want to wear a lot of columns of navy, with a little white. Every piece of clothing I've bought in the last year has blue in it. Not tired of it yet at all. I've tossed worn out black shoes and only replaced with navy or blue.

Marillen

I don't wear a whole lot of black in the first place. Force of habit, mostly. So to be more adventurous I just got a black midi that I'm trying to dress down, so nope no shying!

columbine(erin)

Veteran

P.s. I think my blue binge has a lot to do with a lot of my favorite blues being around now. They just hadn't been available for quite a while.

Isabel

Veteran

I have actually been pulling away for a year or so. As I was replacing my wardrobe, I was consciously choosing gray and navy ( along with black ) as my core colors. In years past it was just black. I just feel as if there are so many more options available. I remember how hard it used to be to find navies.
I cannot see myself never wearing black, it is still a main part of my wardrobe, but this may be the first summer that I don't have something black with my daily outfits.

Neel

Veteran

Join me in the *shying away from black* camp. Black bottoms are still my favorites but I am increasingly not noticing black tops and black dresses unless they have some other color in it. I think I am not liking the black against my face? Not sure.

On the other hand I am loving navy and ink.

Cindy S

(website)

My shift away from black feels more permanent than seasonal, mainly as I've found it harsher next to my face, it overwhelms my features, even when worn as a sleeveless tank. I loved black so well for so long, I didn't even get it at first, but got all the way through a season without once reaching for former workhorses and suddenly, the aha! lightbulb moment! Then I went through and deliberately tried on those solid tops and Ts and realized what was happening...however, I still find Black to be the Ultimate neutral in its color absence, I will always own and wear black pants/skirts. Have recently been experimenting more with lighter bracket shoes: nude, brown, metallic, colors.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Not at all. Black will always be the backbone of my wardrobe. Of course I get the color in seasonally appropriate fabrics. I do tend to add more white in spring and summer though to balance it a bit.

marianna

Veteran

I think as the weather warms up, it's natural to shy away from black. I still like a healthy dose of black, but I've definitely been wearing a lot more brights as well.

Parsley

Veteran

Interesting, Angie!
So I'm not the only one, but it's far from universal.
For some reason, though, lighter colors are appealing to me more and more, and when I look at a lot of black clothes all of a sudden they just feel too heavy or "goth" to me. it's weird, because black has long been the mainstay of my wardrobe.

Some of it is undoubtedly seasonal, but I was feeling that way even before spring. The true test will be when fall and winter roll around, but I suspect that I will continue to wear less black than before.

This spring I've been loving head-to-toe light colors. I'll try to post a few recent outfits this weekend.

I can't imagine ever completely eliminating black from my wardrobe, but I seem to be entering a new phase with much less of it.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Black is always a constant year round in my wardrobe. I use it as a base for most if not all of my styling options. It gives me a great sense of security. I have tried to incorporate brighter colors into my wardrobe but, never reach for them.

DonnaF

Veteran

I'm trying mightily to shy away from black and move toward gray and black and white patterns, but I just bought a black Topshop jacquard kimono sleeve jacket, black 3/4 sleeve T, and have the black (as well as gray) Stem t-shirt on order. When items come in regular and petite sizes, stores will often only offer black in the petite sizes!

I'm going to a SOMA art show in SF this afternoon, so I feel compelled to wear black. <gr> I think I'll cut the tags on the arty Topshop jacket.

Laurinda

Veteran

There never was much black in my wardrobe, just a few accessories (boots, purse and belt). And black workout bottoms.

I'm much happier with navy blue or ink as my dark neutral.

kkards

Veteran

In my own way. I'm definitely buying more navy/ink. And I'm consciously not wearing head to toe black. But honestly black pants and black shoes, are and will continue to be the foundation of my wardrobe.

Greyscale

Veteran

I'm not avoiding black (shocking, I'm sure) but I'm definitely adding in a lot more white to go along with it.

MsMaven

Veteran

In the last couple of weeks I've found myself putting on a black top, then changing it for something else. I just figured it was the change in light with the longer days. Come to think of it, I only own one pair of black pants, (not counting yoga pants that I wear at home) and not a single black skirt, other than black and white ones.

Come to think of it, however, I have been trying to avoid black by using gray, taupe and navy. It's also the changing hair color that pushes me to experiment.

On the other hand, I just bought a black jacket and some black and tan shoes. These are the only black shoes I own. The jacket is to wear over a print dress when needed. Hmm. Maybe I am moving away from black more than I realized.

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm in between.

Over the past year have made an effort to move to non-black neutrals in gray, camel and "burgundy as a neutral" , mostly trying to shift to non-black for jackets and for dresses or any items which are stand-alone near face.

Yet, I am still wearing black tops, and even added a couple, since these are often worn under a lot of other camoflage, and because they go with everything. But at least I have colored tops and other neutrals as well.

Still have majority black pants but found some other neutrals, but would like more non-black options. Skirts in color and print outnumber black. Also somewhat successful with more non-black footwear!

Anonymous

Not really. I haven't bought anything solid black since last Fall, but black or charcoal is a feature in several of the prints I'm wearing now.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, ladies. I can't respond to you individually because I am out and about and on my phone. But I am in the minority. Fascinating.

Marcy, I could have written your comment on this thread. More high fives.

Greyscale, the world would turn inside out if you shied away from black. Same with Deborah. You both wear head to toe black daily. Clearly black is your colour. For Greg too.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I have never been a die hard black wearer, although I've had my share of black trousers, skirts and jackets. But lately I've shifted from black to navy, and I love it! I think I can wear black, but navy is kinder to my complexion. I much prefer a dark blue top to a black one.

Jules

Veteran

Haven't bought any black including footwear for... well over a year, except for a pair of back jeans and one colour blocked tneck with cobalt. I've definitely gone over to navy as my dark neutral. Off white and navy are so much more flattering on me than high contrast black and white.
Actually I find not wanting black limits trendy options. Black is still default. When silky track pants first came out they were mostly black. When looking for longer skirts this spring, again mostly black. Since I'm also at the upper end of sizing at places like Zara I have few low-cost options for these items anyway. So I might have to wait for the second year of a trend to get it in non-black. I got some silky track pants in olive this year for example.

Annie

Black used to be my uniform and favorite neutral, head to toe. I love the strong, cool, and urban vibe. It used to look really good on me against my black hair and pale skin. But as I get older, wearing black is bringing out more of the dark circles and shadows on my face and much harsher on my complexion. I still love wearing my black blazer, trouser pants, and winter boots as they are wardrobe work horses. But I am embracing ink blue/dark navy and white as my new neutrals, and also adding a pop of color in my clothes and accessories.

12 3