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About black colour in my wardrobe

Katerina

Veteran

My relationship with black color is a life long love affair. Black is my most used neutral. Black footwear is dominant in my wardrobe and I just love these “perfect black” items - like the perfect black blazer, pants, suit, boots, bag - well, the list goes on and on. And yet, I often feel I should have more variety, skipping black in my outfits, wear other neutrals. Sometimes I feel that black gets boring, that I am a bit invisible in black. Sometimes thinking it is a lazy, uninterested option, too easy perhaps.
Here, on the YLF, some members actively eliminated or decreased the number of black items in their wardrobes. I wonder sometimes, how much of my occasional resistance to black comes from the inside - a need for more color induced dopamine, IYKWIM And whether and to what extent I get influenced by other people’s preferences re black.
In periods, I do actively try to avoid too much black in my outfits, only to come back to wearing black again soon and thinking it is the best there is….

It is not really a “problem”, I am just curious …

What is your relationship with black in your wardrobe? Do you think about it as well?
Or do you have your own “black” you are loving and then not loving any more, and then go back to it again (perhaps navy, or olive, or grey) ?

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from Katerina

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Looking at the way people on here talk about colors vs neutrals, I try not to call black a color, but that’s exactly what it is for me. I don’t see it being any easier (or more difficult) to pair with things than any other color.

Some interior decorators say that if you paint walls a dark color, they’ll be less noticeable, because they’ll recede out of view and the room will seem bigger, as if black was as invisible as the dead of night. Some people seem to think the same is true with black clothes. It doesn’t seem that way to me.

I had an interesting conversation with the Fleuvog sales associate about black. For many women in the NE USA, black is simply an easy default, the thing they reach for most easily. For women from the South, otoh, black is big and dark and looming. Midwesterners also see it as overshadowing whatever else is going on. For both, dressing primarily in black would likely be seen as an attempt to be very sophisticated. The SA is from Ireland, now lives in Boston, so has that instinctive reach for black first, but she did have a giggle comparing that way of wearing black (and those customers for whom black is simply the easiest) compared to the goth girls (they tend to be young) who come in draped in layers of black and insist on only looking at black shoes (and socks, and laces, and whatever other accessories).

I can easily recognize those different ways of wearing black. I am somewhat environmentally influenced. Being a Midwesterner who’s spent half my life in the south, I don’t wear all black and can find it overwhelming on me very fast. In warm months, it’s rare for me to put on something black except very intentionally with something bright and quite possibly metallic. But living in Berlin for a total of 6+ years of my life, I have an easy relationship with black when it’s cold outside. In fall weather, I tend towards black and white pattern, but once it’s chilly enough that no one skips a jacket, I start finding it easy to slip on a black sweater, jacket, or black jeans like I have on right now.

Helena

Veteran

Well, the forum has probably heard me talk about black far too much, but suffice it to say, I've always had some black and probably always will. Although it's not my default anymore, it's vital, practical, classic, polished and versatile - too many 'pros' for me to ever abandon.

However, while it is fine on me, it's not overly flattering per se, and this is where you and I (and many people) differ, because you look absolutely FANTASTIC in black Katerina! It suits your contrast, your dark hair and eyes, and your beautiful skintone (as well as the dramatic style that you wear with total ease). So - if I was you - I would consider myself one of the lucky ones and I would milk wearing black!!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Excellent point, Helena—black is fantastic on Katerina! Reminds me of a story in the color me beautiful book about a woman who had her 6 year old’s colors “done”, because the kid always wanted to wear black, which the mother found inappropriate. Turned out the girl was dead right; black was particularly well suited for her.

Runcarla

Veteran

One quarter of the items in my closet are black, but they are mostly things like accessories or footwear (more than half, actually) and I often dress in all colours or non-black neutrals. An all black outfit was particularly flattering/dramatic when my hair was a vibrant copper red, and still ‘works’ for me (see recent date night outfit.)

When adding things to my wardrobe, I try not to default to black when there are alternatives (colour), especially when duplicating! However, I do like to have one of each key item - one sweater, one pair pants, one coat, one pair shoes, etc. - in black, and will replace (with black) if the item becomes worn.

I do love the black items, but when I wear them I experience different ‘feelings’ than those I experience when wearing colours.

https://youlookfab.com/finds/c.....ction=9365

Black works so well with your colouring, it will always be a good thing to have in your closet, as long as it makes outfits that make you feel great!

cat2

Veteran

Interesting question. A few years ago, when the only other option was Ink Blue, I would have said I am firmly on Team Black, but since then the universe has delivered a big wave of army green and a smaller wave of claret pieces, and promises more grey, and I find black has a smaller role. However, black will always be my first pick for city wear.

Irina

Veteran

I share your feelings about black in a wardrobe. Black is backbone of mine. I always strive to find a “perfect “ black blazer, button down shirt, pants, jeans, top, coat, shoes, bag, cardigan and so on It is my default choice and I sometimes it feels I’m taking an easy road and just throw something black and call it an “outfit “.
At the same time, no other color is as versatile to me as black. It works with literally everything in my wardrobe. Sometimes it is my back up plan, sometimes it is my first choice.
I might be tempted by other colors and add some but in every category I must first have a black version of almost any garment.
I wear more color in the warmer months but by the fall I miss my black clothes. I used to avoid wearing black in the summer but I changed my mind and have some black summer items on my shopping list.
I tried to substitute black with navy and although I have a big collection of navy items, it works as color in my wardrobe. And I do love to pair it with black
No way to know with which colors I might fall in love in the future but black has been and probably always will be my main color. I just can’t imagine it might change.

DonnaF

Veteran

You have high contrast coloring and a dramatic style so black, especially deep intense black, looks great on you. For most people, including me, black looks at best merely okay. My hair has never been inky black so flat black is usually a better choice.

At one point I flirted with changing my dark neutral to navy, but I associate navy with flight attendant and other uniforms so I really can’t do it. Also, so much of the clothing offered in Petite sizing only comes in black, whereas the same style offered in straight sizing comes in an array of colors.

There is only one Katerina; please don’t compare yourself to others!

Sal

Veteran

Katerina - you look wonderful in black, it really suits both your colouring and the style of clothing you like (polished, dramatic, elegant, classic). I think on the forum you are one of the best in black....I genuinely mean that. And you suit high contrast looks with black and blue, white, red etc..

Black is very common here in NZ (our sporting teams usually wear black and are called The All Blacks, the Black Ferns, The Tall Blacks, the Black Sticks, the Black Caps.....) Lots of black is worn all of the year.

I am probably similar to Carla.

I do wear black and don't see this changing. I love to have a couple of black dress options (summer work, winter work and LBD for evening). I have black boots, black pumps and black sandals and a black bag. And I wear black leggings for exercising very often. I also have a black blazer and several black tops and pants.

What has changed for me, is that it is not looking as flattering on me in winter, and I am drawn more to wearing lighter and mid tones more, with less high contrast. I used to wear black and denim, but no longer like this very much on me. But I am some sort of spring and some sort of Kibbe Natural - I can make black work but I think most people would agree that other colours are even better on me.

The Cat

Veteran

Katerina, you look gorgeous in black. It really suits your colouring as well as your elegant dramatic style. So please don't feel that you have to reduce the amount of black items in your wardrobe.

For decades, when I had dark hair, black was my most important neutral. When I let my hair go grey, for a softer, more harmonious contrast I chose the greys (light grey, silver, medium grey and charcoal) as my main neutrals. And while I didn't stop wearing black, I chose to avoid solid black items (e.g. turtleecks, scarves, glasses) near my face.

I still love to wear black, in particular in winter, when it makes me feel warm and toasty. Rather than wearing all-black ensembles, I add a non-neutral plus often white/silver/grey (e.g. in a scarf and/or jewellery).

For me, black is still a versatile neutral and looks great with many other cool colours in my wardrobe. So I guess that regardless of the season, I will always like to have at least some bottoms (skirts, pants, jeans), crewneck tops and footwear in black.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Black is the backbone of my wardrobe too. I have always worn it and enjoyed it. I don’t often do head-to-toe black , and of course I wear other neutrals and colors too, but I have no problem with a black-heavy wardrobe. I would find it hard to get dressed for more than a day or two without it!

I feel zero pressure to change my ways, even with my changing hair color. If someday I decide it doesn’t suit me as well as it did in the past, I’ll reevaluate. I say wear it if it makes you happy!

MsMaven

Veteran

Echoing others: you look beautiful, gorgeous, and sensational in black.

I couldn't live without some black in my wardrobe--preferably tops and maybe a jacket. Way back when 4-season colors typing began, I was placed into the spring category and told never to wear black. I wore it anyway and when I did people would tell me how good I looked. Later I was maybe a summer (no black) or soft autumn (no black.) I couldn't live within any of the categories, although I do admit they work for some people. I think both of my blue eyed blonde sisters are Spring and they tend to those colors.

Sorry to go off on a rant on color typing. If you look at my closet you'd see the biggest section of one color top is black, with a couple pair of black pants, and 1 pair of black shoes I rarely wear. I find that scarves with black and a color or two in them are very useful.

I think it would be great to find a perfect black pantsuit.

Tanya

Veteran

Like it has already been said, you look stunning in black and no wonder it is your main dark neutral and you have a lot of it.

I have an unorthodox approach of using both navy and black as my main dark neutrals. I have "summer" coloring - cool, but lighter, with dark ash blonde hair (medium contrast), so according to the color theory navy is the most flattering dark neutral for me, while black, in my own opinion is good but not great on me. Since I love black and it suits me stylistically (one of my style shadow style personas is edgy urban) and is a practical choice, I have decided not to avoid it. I wear it more in winter and summer ( balanced by more exposed skin), and less in spring and the fall, but it is always there. If it is next to my face, I wear slightly stronger make-up, but otherwise do not worry about it. I rarely wear head-to-toe black, and if I do, it is always with strong emphasis on mux of textures.

JAileen

Veteran

Katerina, you look great in black because you have high contrast. I, on the other hand, look bad in black because I am very low contrast. I bought black shorts this summer and have already donated them. I just couldn’t make them work.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Great topic, Katerina. I haven't yet read the comments, but for what it is worth, you look fantastic in black!! There's a good reason it's your favourite neutral! It's dramatic (so it works with your style) and it also harmonizes with your very dark hair. You look good in high contrast --black gives contrast with your fair skin. What's more, you love to combine textures in your wardrobe, so black is never dull on you. There's a richness to it.

The neutral I wear and wear and wear and wear is ink/ navy. I don't even think of eliminating it, frankly, because doing so would mean buying a whole new wardrobe! I love navy and navy loves me, and I wear more navy (and denim) than any other neutral or colour. As I type, I'm wearing a navy velvet shirt and jeans.

My neutral that corresponds to black in your closet, though, is grey, and I also wear a lot of that. I say it corresponds, but the correspondence isn't exact. It harmonizes with my hair, so it lends the same kind of cohesion that black lends to your closet. What it doesn't do is amp up the drama, and I need a bit of drama. An all grey outfit does tend to make me disappear (that's why I almost always pair it with white or red or fuchsia or magenta).

I really like grey and find it super useful, but it doesn't make me happy, if you know what I mean. (It doesn't make me unhappy. It just doesn't make me jump for joy.) Navy doesn't really make me jump for joy, either, but it feels strong and rich, so that's something.

The colours that make me joyful are red, most berry shades, fuchsia & magenta, royal blue or cobalt. (I also love gold and yellow, but can't wear them. So I distinguish between colours that make me happy and core neutrals that keep my closet functioning.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Phew, that was long, but I'll just add -- I do wear black, but for me, it's a "colour" (i.e. an accent) rather than a core neutral. I have black footwear, a black jacket, a few black sweaters, and a few black summer tops. I like myself best in black, in fact, when I can show some skin, so -- paradoxically -- I tend to wear more black in summer! I'll never rule it out, but I look for other options first.

Oh, and I love love love the right B&W pattern, which works with grey hair.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Along with everyone, I absolutely agree that black works with your dark hair and eyes beautifully and there is no reason you should give it up. I think the problem is when black is a default for people that it doesn't actually suit or whom don't actually like it.
To answer your question, I have a lot of black and do have the coloring for it. My hair started out as near black and there are still dark bits and my eyebrows and lashes are still black. I do actually prefer dark blue near my face, but can easily temper black with some white and feel good. What I like less on me is the mix of black with brights, with many exceptions especially a well done pattern.

Echo

Veteran

Black works beautifully with your high contrast coloring, so you look great in it. I also prefer black, as I am high contrast, as well.

Additionally, I've found that black can be whatever a person wants it to be - goth, casual, sophisticated, trendy, business-like, fading into the background or "loud." It all depends on how it is worn. I've always preferred it as my "column of color" with an actual color as an accent in the form of a jacket or shoes or handbag or scarf or coat.

Sloper

Veteran

Agreeing with all of the comments, and especially Echo's - black can be whatever a person wants it to be.

In my life, I think black has played all the parts she lists - though my era was black-as-punk not goth

And I have also felt that I was sometimes taking the easy way out by selecting black items. Maybe fear of committing to a new color, maybe I didn't want to think to hard about something that would go with everything.

But over the past 6-7 years, after some major life changes, black has been significantly reduced in my wardrobe. Maybe 20% of items, and of those, nothing really new or worn that often anymore. I relied on a lot of black and grey for work (and navy during the summer) when I worked. Now I want brighter and lighter, and my blacks/greys have become olives and creams. And florals - a major first for me.

Also, I prefer lighter colors near my face. I'm a bit jowly, and white/light colors reflect light and fill in the shadows. Dark colors aren't so flattering near my face anymore.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I absolutely love black and I’d wear it more if I had dark hair and the right colouring to really make it pop. But I still wear it a lot because it gives me joy. The only version I try to avoid is head to toe black.

I think black is sophisticated. And easy. Easy in terms of colour mixing. Easy to find. (My favourite colours can be very hard to find here as our market is not as big as the US or Europe.) Slimming too.

Colours are harder (for me at least). But sometimes that challenge can be part of the fun of fashion.

If I had your colouring, I would wear lots of black! But I think you should wear whatever brings you joy.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

For many, many years I have worn black even though it does not look good on me. I am a true Spring, and it's rare that pastels are trendy. Over the years pastels have been either old lady or for babies and little girls.

I like black because it's got a cool factor unlike any other color. I also like that it's so practical. I own a restaurant and black hides all sorts of stains!

I agree with the other comments, you look FANTASTIC in black.

Bijou

Veteran

I'm a black lover too. I love the drama and sophistication of black, so like Tanya, whilst I am a summer in colouring and black is not my best colour - I still love it.

slim cat

Veteran

I like black, but as a color it's really too much for me ( pale with low contrast type ). I used to wear it anyway and always had black boots in my wardrobe. I started limiting black after driver hit me on a crossroad stating later that he didn't see me ( I was in black coat, black pants and boots on a grey cloudy day in Seattle neighborhood ).
After a few years of not wearing black I realized that I still like some black - graphic tee shirts, black belts, bags. I've got more black items in my wardrobe again - some for work like black pants, some for fun - black leather jacket. My black should have some texture - some shine, subtle print, etc.
You wear black beautifully Katerina - don't ever stop !

rachylou

Veteran

I like black. I don’t feel I wear it that much and don’t consider it the backbone of my wardrobe. BUT it’s essential in the form of some specific items: coat and combat boots - and it has to be said that the coat is ankle length. So not a lot of black items, but a lot of black when I wear the coat. I’m wary of being a PIB - a Person In Black. But I don’t think wearing all black, interestingly enough, is what makes one a PIB. I feel it really depends on specifics. A PIB is an urbanite creature in my mind and I think that would misrepresent me. I do and don’t live in the megalopolis…

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Hmm I wore black before but would treat it as a colour, since it felt too heavy & harsh to mix with all the other colours I wear (unlike a true neutral). Then I had my colours 'diagnosed' as a Deep Autumn & realised that the bright neon colours I liked to pair with black didn't really do me any favours. And whilst I could still technically 'pull off' black, chocolate brown suits me better.

But I think Hong Kong is finally starting to rub off on me, since I now 'get' the allure of all black in city outfits. I like how easy it is to create interest with different textures & shine, instead of just with colour & jewellery (my default strategy).

So my compromise now has been to create a black capsule wardrobe. It's supported with specific shades of blood orange/ tomato red as accents, & cream as the light neutral. It's still a work in progress, but I'm getting there.

Anonymous

Black suits you very well- no need to change!
I wear black a lot too, but don't like it with light/bright/cool colors on me. Black with burgundy, cognac, olive, tan, or denim are my main pairings.
With most of my wardrobe, I like brown more, or burgundy, as my neutral. Unfortunately browns are often not available at retail, especially with dressy pieces, so I default to black.
ETA- I only like black in matte fabrics on me for the most part. Anything too shiny, or leather besides shoes and bags, is just too harsh. But give me all the shiny browns and brown leather!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I have wavered a lot on black. When I was a young architect we all wore black all the time to look intellectual and now I don’t worry about that so much. At some point a few years back I tried to eliminate it— but found I could not! It’s an essential in hot weather because it does not show sweat. Best of all is “washed black” which feels more forgiving (of lint, pet hair and wear and tear) compared to pitch black.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jessikams, you've just reminded me of the old cartoon (apparently not available in Europe) of Charlie Brown saying "doing a good job around here is like wetting yourself in brown (but could also be black or any dark color, imo) pants; nobody notices, but it gives you a warm feeling"

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

My relationship with black clothing has certainly changed over the years. There was a time that almost everything I wore was black, but that was a long time ago. These days, I keep my black mostly away from my face since I have realized how much it washes me out. I am happy to have black bottoms, shoes, or black background prints with more flattering colors on top. I feel like I need the edge that black gives...and because I have dark hair, black is a natural bookend. I imagine that as I gray, my feelings about black will change.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Katerina, you are one of those people who wear black exceptionally well, and you remix it in all sorts of wonderful and creative ways. PLEASE carry on, and GO FOR IT! Especially since it brings you joy. The most important reason of all.

Furthermore, your wardrobe has a LOT of colour! I see great variety, and many bases covered. The best of both worlds

To answer your question, I do not wear solid black at all (anymore). It does not make me happy. It took me about 10 years to switch everything out to dark blue, and I am not looking back. I LOVE dark blue! That's my black.

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