Black in my closet ...

Runcarla

...it’s a ‘10’ or else it’s out of there!

I seem to acquire black items going into F/W, but in recent years I’ve been eschewing black in favour of more colourful items - olive sneakers, a cobalt puffer, a lilac trench, golden yellow pants, a red bag, etc. I haven’t worn anything shown below (with the exception of the Converse) since May!

The pics below are black items currently in my closet. (I’m not counting patterned or embellished items with black in the mix.) They are, for the most part heavy hitters in the ‘special occasion’ capsule, but a few are classic items I really, really love and wear a lot...in colder weather.

#1 thrifted wool loft jacket that fits like it was made for me, Lululemon OTF 7/8 pants, Denver Hayes leather combat boots, Converse sneakers. These see lots of action.

#2 Special occasion wear that are 10+ happiness, even if worn infrequently - taffeta ball skirt, Ralph Lauren long sleeved shirred waist dress, Jessica LBD party dress (10+ yo and I hope to wear for my 60th later this year!) Anne Klein low heeled tuxedo pump

#3 my most favourite bag since I thrifted it 2 years ago, and a LePliage Neo that is the go-to travel bag.

#4 Calvin Klein peacoat, because - cashmere!

#5 cotton brocade trench coat Suzy Shier - one of those amazing beautifully made garments that somehow ended up in a budget fashion shop. I’m ‘babying it because it is showing signs of wear after 5+ years of love

#6 Parkhurst beret, H&M/Madonna colab wool fisherman’s cap (20+ yo!), black leather gloves.

Not shown - low heeled (winter) booties and tall dress boots. I have 0 (zero) solid black t-shirts or sweaters.

The numbers: garments 7/54, footwear 5/13, bags 2/8 - 3 accessories (haven’t totalled these)

What are your feelings around solid black items, and how are they represented in your closet? Do you wear solid black items year ‘round, or part of the year? What are your favourite black items and why?

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4 years ago

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

notsaf

Veteran

I really have really steered clear of black this summer, but it still has heavy representation in my loungewear and active wear. I'll be interested to see if I'm attracted to it again this fall. I've found it's terrible for video calls!

4 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Oops. I forgot that black isn’t a color. The following was part of my overly-long reply on your other post; I cut and pasted it here.

Charcoal works better for me than blackity-black; i discovered that when I lived in Berlin 25 years ago. People wear a lot of black in this city. In the last decade, I’ve realized that b/w (or black and other light neutral) patterns work even better and enliven my outfits. Even if the other piece is a simple monochromatic item, the pattern wakes up the whole look, imo. True to form, I started adding them without a plan, then realized they are well-represented in my wardrobe and that they fulfill a function.

You’ve got more all-black pieces than I do. I can see why that taffeta ball gown is a 10+. My all-black items are boots I wear a lot, 1 pair of pants, 2 jersey skirts (1 long, 1 short), 1 sweater, a tunic, a faux wrap piece that’s cut so low I wear it as a topper, a SS T-shirt, a LS T-short, and several tanks, mostly with shelf bras. The shirts get a lot of use (I wear the tanks for working out & regular use), and I wore the pants often last winter. I would’ve worn the short skirt more this summer if I’d left the house more. I may wear the long one and the tunic as part of a plague doctor Halloween costume.

ETA TIGHTS. How could I forget that I wear black tights all the time in winter? And there is this dress I’m not counting, because it’s in the holding zone until I lose the belly bump and the dress fits more loosely. When it’s daytime, I’ll look in my wardrobe to see if I’ve forgotten anything else.

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4 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I like your black collection - the converse are definitely winners. I am still wearing plenty of black bottoms and shoes but try to avoid solid black next to my face. Black bookends my eyebrows after all!

4 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

No idea you had so much black! I still find it an essential in winter, which we are still in here right now. I often team pieces with something brighter. It feels quite grounding in work shoes- my new black loafers from early March have had 48 wears now.
I often feel a bit somber in winter. Not actually depressed, but like a mild version of SAD ( seasonal affective disorder) and so I think some black suits my mood. Then I brighten up in spring and brighten the clothing too.
I like your things esp the special occasion wear. My LBD is also 10 years old, bought for my husband’s 50th in October 2010, which was a 1920s style “Godfather” party, so much fun at the time. I still fit it but not worn lately, keeping though for the future.
I have vague wonderings about a taco party for his 60th this October, if we will be allowed more than 10 people over by then.

4 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

@Jenni - I rarely wear all black. It is more like a supporting act!

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4 years ago

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Gorgeous. Especially pic 2.

4 years ago

Sal

Veteran

I do like black but am probably thinking like you Carla, that I should reduce it's role. I used to love black and white monochrome but recently have been disliking it on me (I can see why Fashintern and Suz like it though, it suits their colouring).

I have added my black finds below - I also have two tops and one dress where black is quite dominant in the pattern.

Of these I really love most of them - there are a couple with issues.

- one black tee, one pair of black pants and one black sweater are showing signs of wear
- the black jacket is tricky to wear but I do love it
- I am off the black long sleeve dress
- the jumpsuit has faded and is a washed black now - I "may" redye it - not sure

I will replace the tee and black pants, probably not the sweater.

Notsaf - I do love black activewear:)

Jenni - black is our national colour of course!!

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