I OFFICIALLY Have a New Black - YouLookFab Forum

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About: When One Item Catalyzes a New Style Direction

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

I OFFICIALLY Have a New Black

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ink Blue.

Sterling reminded me how one ink blue item many years ago took me into a softer style direction right away. And I'm on the same path.

My black-loving husband - (who looks exceptional in black because of his complexion and salt and pepper hair) - officially declared a few days ago that he prefers me in Ink Blue. And there you go. It's official.

I will be adding even less black to my wardrobe. That said, black is still brilliant in very specific wardrobe items for my style, (a small number of items), and I will keep it that way. For example, I love it with white and ink blue.

Over to you. Do you have a new black?

Dressing

70 replies

Latest reply was from Vicki

JAileen

Veteran

I like dark blue, too. Also charcoal. But not black.

El Cee

Veteran

Ink Blue is gorgeous on you, Angie. It is no wonder that it has become your favored dark neutral. And I am not at all surprised that Greg loves its on you too. As for me, my new black is.... BLACK. I am originally from New York and some things never change.

http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/0.....black.html

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Definitely blue, usually navy blue. Even though it's still dark, It seems to be a better color for my pale complexion. Any shade of blue brings out the blue in my eyes, so it's a double win.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

This resonates with me, too. Dark blues are definitely my main neutral. If it hadn't been for YLF, I'm not sure I'd have noticed the availability of so much dark blue.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

My black is black, but I've been careful, recently, to always temper my black with a more earthy neutral. Hello, brown! Brown and black are BFFs in my wardrobe.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

JAileen, you look amazing in all sorts of grey.

El Cee, thanks for the kind words. I'm sure you look fab in black, and as a native New Yorker - it's part of your style soul. I get it. Greg would make a brilliant New Yorker too. I would make the worse New Yorker in that regard. In Winter there, I am the ONLY one wearing my happy bright coats. I'm easy to spot in a crowd though, which has made others grateful.

Karie, high five.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Jenn, you don't give me the impression that you wear much black actually, but you are earthy all the way. Suits you to a tee.

Columbine, I think I have only ever seen you in blue on this forum!

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I have added two black dresses this year. But I wear them mainly with blue jackets or cardis. Haha.

Thistle

Veteran

I love black, and have recently started adding ink. While I like ink blue, it's harder to "match" across manufacturers. For example, Talbot's ink blue is not the same as Nordstrom's. But their blacks, are, well, black.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I love ink. But I also love black. I keep trying to keep a critical eye on black in case I should stop wearing it but I still love it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thistle, I've found blacks as hard to match actually. But quite right, navy is not ink blue - but CAN be worn together.

There you go, Columbine.

Aviah, I've noticed that you like to wear a lot of dark colours.

Bonnie

Veteran

I love black but I'm starting to love ink, too. I like to wear ink/very dark blue jeans with black tops. DH wears a lot of black and looks great with a black tee and earth tone casual cargo pants.

rachylou

Veteran

Lol, crazy pattern is my black...

RobinF

Veteran

I have and wear most neutrals but my favorite it dark gray followed by black. But I do usually wear them with brighter colors and have never felt like it was extremely dark. I think of ink as very close to navy, no?

Anonymous

Angie, I'm with you on the ink blue replacing my formerly beloved black. I'm constantly on the lookout for anything ink blue. It has to be a very specific shade, or I'll move on. Navy won't do. Dark blue won't do. It's harder to find it than I thought it would be. It has to be very, very dark blue, almost black, but you can still easily tell it's blue. Is that the shade you're talking about? And have you found it easily?

Tanya

Veteran

I am totally sharing your love for ink/navy Angie. My black used to be charcoal but it has gradually switched to navy over the past couple of years. I still love and wear black, certainly much more than you do, but the pieces have to be either very special, like my NAS TT coat and Halogen crop pants, or very useful like black turtlenecks, I think I might have five of them - all different and all worn.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Definitely dark blue.

Anonymous

Hurray ink! Ink is the best and I vastly prefer it to black *on myself*.

But...ink is not really available as a shoe colour, and I feel like it can't really be the new black until it replaces black for footwear and bags and belts.

But now that I think about it, could I use another colour for bags and belts and shoes? Maybe cream for summer and burgundy for winter?

Or maybe there is enough regular navy stuff to replace black?

Hmmmm....

Anonymous

I agree!! This post makes me happy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

High five, Sterling.

Tanya, apart from your love for grey, I could have written your comment. That's why you're my first LSS.

Smittie, I'm seeing dark blue footwear more and more. I only have one pair of black shoes left - riding boots - and that's it. Passed everything else on. I have ink blue booties that work as my black booties, and I will probably leave it at that. OF COURSE you can make cream and burgundy your choice of footwear instead of black. I wear all shades of white and metallic, and also love cognac, rust and animal print for shoes.

Tex, you are Princess Blue.

Xtabay, I love all shades of dark blue, including a lighter navy. I can wear them all and do. But most of what I have is ink blue, and I have not found it that hard to find - although black and grey is still easier to find.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

My favorite "black" is actually off-black, slightly heathered dark-dark charcoal. It was all over the place in the 90's but much harder to find now. At least in fabrics that are not meanswear wool types.

Aida

Veteran

White and to a lesser extent gray

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I have also consciously moved away from black. I think I have two black tops left, both layering pieces. I did recently purchase the J. Crew Teddie in black, so it will be fun to dip my toe into black-based outfits, but I don't think I look good in all-black or black near my face, so my tops will include my favorites (purple, pink, soft white, grey, blue, etc.) even if the outfit is grounded by a black neutral.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have added navy and ink blue (still working out the difference between the two) to my wardrobe after avoiding them for years, but I've also reaffirmed my love for black. I'm encouraged that you told me recently that I wear black well, because I was starting to wonder if it was getting a little harsh on me now as I age. I enjoy a variety of neutrals, especially dark ones, but I want to wear black forever!

Aida

Veteran

I should clarify that I'll talking about solid neutrals. Still quite like black in patterns! But don't wear black based outfits often at all; I tend to treat black as a "color" component in my outfits versus as a "neutral" (if that makes any sense) -- though I don't know that I treat anything as a non-color!

viva

Veteran

I love black and also very dark blue (maybe it's ink? i don't know) and also charcoal - and I wear a lot of all three.

Style Fan

Veteran

I have a few black pieces in my wardrobe. I try not to buy black because it does not make me feel fab. Brown has always been my black. I am considering moving to the land of Burgundy for my black. Burgundy is so much easier to find than brown and it reminds me of the 60s.

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

I still love black, but have been buying only in the ink/navy colorway for new pieces in solid neutrals. I really enjoy black with most shades of blue, so this direction makes a lot of sense to me. I can remember when navy was considered only for those who dress strictly in a traditional style. Funny, considering dark jeans run the gamut of navy-ink...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Black is the new black!

Actually, I much prefer ink, navy, and charcoal. But my grey hair makes black more appealing again. I think ink is still more flattering but I'm reevaluating the role of black in my style. I think it will remain more an accent than a core neutral but if I find items I love that are only available in black (as sometimes happens) I will be more willing to give them a chance.

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