This has made for such an interesting read! I wonder if threads on other colours would create similar discussions? Probably: I suspect people drawn to style, and thus more likely to participate in the forum, tend to have strong opinions about colours in general.

Aziraphale, no offense, but I promise you black is not a flattering colour on me. It's not as dramatically unflattering as, say, neon yellow, but it'd only be 'ok' on me if I didn't know what other, actually flattering colours looked like. If I wear black trousers or shoes, thus keeping it away from my face, there's nothing to bookend it with and I look off balance. And the eye still gets drawn away from my face, towards the black. Dark charcoal grey? Absolutely: I can wear that. True black? Nope. I'm not being fussy, and I think black on others can be absolutely beautiful, so it's not a personal aversion to the colour. It's not just between me and my mirror either: when I wear a black top, people always ask me if I'm feeling unwell/haven't had enough sleep/etc. Definitely not a flattering colour for me. And what's the point of owning a colour if I then have to swathe other colours around my face and/or add more make up to make it work? I feel just as sophisticated in other dark neutrals.

Suz, I find your description of northern winters fascinating! You see, I *love* grey days and grey skies and actually find myself more cheerful in the overcast weather you describe as dreary. (Yes, I live in the south now, but I've lived in the Midwest & Russia & felt the same way in those areas.) Like Gaylene, I also love the more monochrome palettes of winter, although the 'pop' of, say, a red cardinal is welcome as well. hehe Isn't it interesting how we all respond differently to same stimuli?

Diana, that's an excellent point re: the majority of the world having black hair!

Black is so controversial!

I wear black. I'm wearing a black puffer today (ha!). I really think it can be stunning (a la all of Deborah's fabulous outfits), but I entertain reservations about it. I most often use it as my backdrop.

My reservations are these:

• I am not a city person. I am a villager. Villagers don't have black because all the washings make black grey.
• In various places in the States, wearing all-black is something akin to wearing gang colours.
• Also, the States is a Fungelical land. A zillion years ago, it was "so ethnic" (i.e., "so Catholic") to wear all black. And as a Catholic, well you don't want to announce you're on your way with the bead rattling. Much better to sneak up on peeps...
• I associate it with a lot of wannabe-ism: spooky poets, rebels without causes, artistes, pseudo-sophisticates, intellectuals. My pretenses involve a pretense to having no pretenses...
• I am more cheerful than dramatic at heart.

E -- no offence taken. I did say almost everyone. You must be one of those who can't. I still think you'd be able to wear it (if you so desired) by putting a bright, flattering colour up by your face. But clearly you don't want to!

I would agree that heather black and charcoal, as well as ink blue, are slightly softer and therefore a little easier to wear. And I also stand by what I said about black being OK on most people -- i.e. maybe not their very best colour, but certainly not wildly unflattering. I feel the same way about white.

@Angie: "Brunettes with brown hair and light eyes look great in black - either olive or pale skin. " Well, that's me. Brown hair, pale skin, ice blue eyes. Nice to have validation.

It is interesting how loaded black is! I do wonder about the associations with death and depression. It's interesting that in China, white is considered the color of mourning. I always hesitate to wear white to any Chinese-related festive occasion! On the other hand, black was considered to be the king of colors in ancient China.

My observations about black really jibe with what Angie said. Beyond the normal societal uses of color (e.g., black at Western funerals), I basically look at use of color in outfits as a flattery issue. How does it work with your complexion, hair and eye coloring, and contrast? I've seen many people wear black and it looks draining or aging on them. Put them in navy or gray and they look better (as Angie says). But that's my subjective opinion, and if someone feels powerful and confident wearing black, go for it!

That makes sense then re: black not being wildly unflattering on most people, especially in combinations with more flattering colours. I'm glad I asked for more clarification, because reading your original post I thought you meant people who avoid black for flattery reasons are all simply mistaken. Now I understand what you're saying much better!

I actually have a black sweater that's in my winter pj/lounge capsule because it's lovely cashmere. I got it when I needed to wear all black for an event, and the cut & fabric are so nice, but sadly every time I try to work it into my normal closet I remember why I don't wear black. And it's not even a very saturated black, but it makes even my darkest grey trousers, that usually look almost black, definitely grey in comparison. Next time I'll try a giant scarf over top.

Black is also interesting historically (in the West, I'm far less well versed in Eastern history), because on the one hand it's associated with, say, fairly strict religious groups (i.e.: the Puritans), but it was actually the most expensive colour to dye. So wearing it as a sign of modesty/religious commitment ironically meant spending more money on clothes.

Has anyone read Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield? It's a gothic-ish novel, but there are some lovely passages in which she describes all kinds of shades of black and the various clothes & other objects of Victorian mourning. I wish I hadn't returned it to the library, because those quotes would be fabulous for this thread!

Oh, dear -- I've made it sound as if I can't appreciate the beauty in my own winter landscape!!

Not true. I actually love it.

BUT. There are limits to my love. Kind of like my feelings about black!!

I'm laughing reading Angie's opinions about black because I could so easily substitute the word white for her comments about black:

• I love white. My wardrobe wouldn't function without it. It's part of
  my much loved black and white outfit style. But I add it and wear it in
  extremely controlled and discerning doses, and always make a point of upping the contrast level by pairing it with dark shades like black. Otherwise I feel it looks draining and unattractive. Plus, wearing lots of white makes me feel ghostly - so I am cautious.
• I 100% feel that ink blue is softer on us all. (Agree, but a bit puzzled why I would want to soften my look...)
• I 100% feel that shades of black are easier to wear than white. (Compliments come easily when I wear black, but I have to work much harder to find a shade and style of white that makes me look good.)
  
• I firmly believe in the power and chic of white, but I also firmly believe in its draining, drab and unflattering effect. (I drool over Angie's white outfits, but my friends would be inquiring about my health if I wore similar outfits.)
• Wearing white in a flattering way is not easy, yet people fall back
  on it because it's easy, and assume it looks fab when to my eye, it
  doesn't. Of course this is subjective.
• I *almost* have a poison eye for all white outfits. (Looks either surgical or like I should be selling ice cream from a truck.) I am hard to please in this regard - like cropped pants. (Total agreement here!) But when it's done well, I fully applaud the look. I do NOT have poison eye for all white outfits and cropped pants. Let that be noted and not misquoted. (See comment re Angie's outfits, above!)

OK, you get the picture, but I'm wondering if the fact that I'm a true Winter with dark brown hair (well, maybe a bit more salt and pepper these days ), aquamarine eyes and pale skin makes me unwittingly gravitate to black over white? Do we all have this tendency to like what we instinctively feel is the most flattering to ourselves?

Interesting Gaylene about being a true Winter and your relationship with white -- because when I had my colors done (I'm also a Winter), pure white was one of my neutrals, along with black. And I find both colors flattering on me

Maybe I'm a true Winter with psychological hangups about white?
Just like my aversion to chocolate brown and yellow?

Wooohooo. More emotive responses to colour.

Hah. Gaylene. Thanks for the chuckles and compliments. You're a sport. And yes. Your complexion wears black well. I just generalized about that, so you can high five Shannon and Elisabeth with the same complexions. As a blonde with green eyes and peaches and cream skin, I wear shades of white with ease. To Diana's point about our natural colouring working.

As for the softening thing, it's totally subjective. Personally, I don't find overly harsh looks attractive. And black can look harsh fast and boss you around. So I believe you have to whip it into shape. I'm not saying that looking harsh is wrong. If it makes you happy and that's your cuppa - I support it. The same way I love to like strict and not whimsical. Some people find my strict dress off putting and that's okay. As soon as you speak to me, you'll realize I'm a softie.

Suz, you're a sweetheart and I high five all that you have said on this thread.

And on that note, I'm inviting Una, Gaylene and Rachy to my Wear White With Ease Bootcamp. I'm whipping you gals into shape by making your white wearing muscles strong.

I haven't had time to read all of the posts on this thread, but I think it's such an interesting topic, that I'll throw in my 2 cents (which have probably already been said several times).

I used to love black and wear it much more than I do now. But that was when I chose things to wear that were divorced from how they work on me. Sigh. I was so naive - I just wore things I liked and it had nothing to do with my size, shape, coloring, etc. But now that I recognize my own "constraints" (strengths?!) if you will, I realize that it's hard for me to wear black both because of my natural coloring and because (I know, I know) I choose not to wear makeup much at all, except for the occasional neutral lip color. Deborah, you have very striking features that you accentuate with your bold makeup and your bold hair cut, and I think this enables you to wear black in a way that I can't. Also, I find the struggle to bookend black to be sometimes exhausting as someone with fair hair and complexion. If you wear nearly all black, that's not a problem!!!

All that said, I have a black cashmere sweater and black Chio booties that I love and wear quite frequently, and I often wear black turtlenecks and black pants and black knee-high boots. So, I'm not opposed to black at all, but do find other colors (and white) much easier to pull off. And whereas black used to be my go-to neutral for coats, bags, etc, now I have only one black coat. I've learned a lot about what works well for me, and black doesn't. But I certainly love it on others and on myself if I take care in wearing it.

I like both black and non black outfits. I love black and white outfits on others but crave low contrast outfit on myself so when I do wear black it is at least a near all black outfit. I get my fair share of not your color comments, and I agree that other neutrals may look softer, but softer isn't really what I'm trying to project. I like a little hardness. I do like to lighten up my colors for spring and summer though.

Wow! I really need to stop sleeping to keep up:)

Ladies I am at work so will slowly catch up on comments and come back.
Angie, so nice that you had time to drop in, I may have to print your list and stick it up next to Gaylene's for regular reference

Be back as soon as I canx

I love all black, and all white, but both colours wash me out (and make me look old and wrinkly!) unless I've seen the sun so I have to get my kicks from them only in the summer.

I looked up your nymag link at the start of the post and it got me thinking as to why solely black or solely white outfits look, to my eye, very chic and stylish but the two ladies featured in the magazine article standing in front of their all blue/all grey wardrobes wearing all blue and all grey instantly put me off both those colours! Perhaps that's because the blue and the grey were of exactly the same tone in each case. Although of course all black and all white are the same too.....

I had to chime back in here because I finally got a chance to check out Deborah's link to the article about the five people who only wear one color. It's funny, I adore blue, but that woman's closet made me feel overwhelmed and almost claustrophobic. Almost like each piece had no definition -- it was just one big blue mass. So it's doubtful I could ever adopt a one-color wardrobe. I do love Stephin Merritt though.

I love Gaylene's "Ode to Black!" Deborah, I think you rock the black outfit look. Any other look just wouldn't be "you." Black is your signature color and you look fantastic in it.
I love black but can't wear it well on my upper half as it makes me look pale and washed out. Sometimes I do it anyway (like today, I wore a black top) but usually I'll add something to take away the harshness of the black on me, even if it's just a necklace.
My favorite looks are ones where people express their individuality, regardless of what others may think.

rachylou: LOVED your response! Very entertaining, and not without merit.

I have rather dramatic colouring naturally that, to be honest, I am not sure really flatters me (not that I do much to change it). My hair is dark and my skin is quite pale. And I have brown/black eyes. I will admit that black makes my skin look even more pale, but being so pale already, I hardly notice or mind. And while this may make me guilty of wearing black as a fall-back colour, everything goes with it. So using a different neutral requires far more thought (and would require far more purchasing on my part), whereas when in doubt, black pants and a blouse or a LBD will almost always be appropriate for almost any occasion.

I've also found that black is more forgiving as far as having a crepe paper tummy. While I have worked hard to lose weight after having children, the slightly baggy skin on my torso won't be going anywhere without the help of a surgeon. A pastel, white or almost any colour top except black that comes anywhere near my skin will highlight those little bumps. Anything except a stiff cotton can be depended on to draw more attention to uneven skin in the mid-section, and black is simply the easiest thing to hide it with. So while I may not actually look thinner in black, I certainly can fake looking more toned or not having a doughy middle.

Well... I popped out for the weekend and just now caught this fab thread! I am currently trying to sort out black for myself so what a treasure trove of wisdom this is, thanks very much all contributors Deborah, I think you look fantastic in black and am also very intrigued by your feelings and others about monochromatic dressing and very limited closet color schemes. Like "sarah" i dont wear make up and so I think i am currently trying carefully to identify colors that are complimentary for my coloring. (Dark brunette hair, light eyes.... maybe black does work! Thanks Angie for chiming in ) I love the drama of black and how many unique cuts seem to predominately available in black. Great thread Deborah, thanks for the food for thought!

I like black and have quite a bit of it in my wardrobe - but I am very much aware that it is quite aging and harsh when near my face - and so I intentionally avoid wearing it on the top half of my body - most of the time. (There are always exceptions - but when I do wear it near my face, I am very much aware of its non-flattering effect on my skin tone and eye/hair color - and try to balance it out with some "lightness" somewhere else in the outfit.)

I very much like black on dark-haired people (cciel, Alaskagirl, etc.) but am not crazy about it on people with lighter hair and eyes. However, I figure if they want to wear it - then more power to them!

Black is an important color in my wardrobe as it adds an edge to some of the more "feminine" colors that I like to wear - say, pink or blue. I love pairing those light colors with black boots and belt. The black sharpens up and "toughens" up the softer colors.

There are so many different shades of black - I find some of them are much more flattering than others. Deborah - I was just thinking that one of my favorites of your WIWs was a recent one where you had paired a white blouse with your other black clothing items. I loved that on you - I was amazed at how much the white brightened up the entire outfit. But, that's just me! You like all black outfits and IMO you've got a great "look" - and if you're happy with it, why change?

Such a long thread - haven't read any of the replies.

I LOVE black. I would wear it every day. Head to toe. And I own a lot of black already. I'm just not sure black loves me back. I really *want* it to love me back. I'm just not sure it does.

I'd say "as I age" -- and that's true, but, I also have this picture of myself from 6th grade..... my hair was white blonde and down to my waist, I am wearing a black poncho with fringe my mom knitted me out of acrylic yarn, and black polyester flares my mom made me, and yikes even at that young tender age of 12 it's kind of startling, the contrast. I don't know what it is. Something about my coloring combined with facial structure --- which isn't particularly edgy?

I haven't read the other (81 at this point!) responses, but I will just weigh in to say there is wearing black and then there is wearing black. The two photos you posted seem like very purposeful style statements. The first one is very edgy while the second borders on goth.

But here's Charlize Theron wearing all black and looking chic and sophisticated. Black will always be associated with simple elegance. I can't imagine a closet without it! It might not be universally flattering for everyone's coloring, but it certainly is universally useful.

Nancy, I beg to differ.. Charlize's outfit is NOT all black! She has white accents on her sunglasses, a white watch, and gold hardware on her top, ears, bag and sandals.

I would totally wear this outfit myself. I actually have something similar... the gold accents, however small, make a difference, especially if you're blonde and fair. Also note she is exposing skin on her feet - bookending. My outfit is a dress with boots - nude stockings to expose a little skin on legs does similar bookending effect.

I think this is a good example of Angie's point.

Rachylou, I'm still laughing out loud at your wise and hilarious take on this!

Well, I haven't read all the comments so I'm clearly out of the loop on this thread. I'll bow out now. (yipes!)

I just want to chime back in to thank you, Deborah, for starting this thread. This sort of discussion is exactly what keeps me coming back over and over to YLF. Enlightening, thoughtful, educational, and--always--so much fun! You ladies rock!

One bullet point Angie left out of her list, which I took to heart and adopted long ago, is that if you are going to do black, you have to have texture, dimension, shine or sheen to add interest. This makes all the difference. Flat black is boring and dull and draining -- on anyone. Doubly so on those of us who look better in other colors.

And truthfully? Navy may flatter me more than black but navy in flat fabrications is only slightly better than black in flat fabrications. This is why I steered away from navy as long as I did, and even developed a downright allergy to it, associating it with military uniforms.

Please don't Nancy! I'm also catching up, reading backwards. That example was perfect, it made me analyze why sometimes all black can work for me. You made me realize I'm not actually wearing all black - I'm breaking it up with touches of exposed skin, gold hardware, tiny bits of white. GREAT example. And pictures are worth a 1000 words!

I have enjoyed this conversation so much ladies… thank
you. And while I think this thread has run it’s course I wanted to just reiterate
that it wasn’t about me wearing black, it was my interest in how people respond
to black. So many wise and interesting comments that I am starting a file of “inspiring quotes from Fabbers”.

Momo, I haveexperienced this also. And I have never understood it.

E, I totallyagree there is an abundance of black out there but I must admit recently I havebeen disappointed having found some very cool tops that were not available in
black

Shevia , I thinkwe must respond to a lot of things on an emotional level and I know I have verystrong responses to colours.

IK, I loveliberty prints. And have even wornthem. And you would so rock them with
black. No question.

April, Swiffer properties??

Diane, you lookgorgeous in colour and it’s much about what makes us feel good. We all like to look in the mirror and behappy with what we see.

Blonde Ambition,
I love black with coloured and patterned accessories. It provides an interesting lift to the blackand creates some clever individuality to black outfits.

Suz, as alwaysvery interesting thoughts. I love looking at a monochrome scene, much like Gaylene. I find it soothing and beautiful to the eye. And as
mentioned by someone earlier, it’s all in the styling. And the associations we make to certain things, places, colours etc are quite strong.

Lyn like you I find the contrast of blonde and black quite attractive.

Shannon, Team black it is! You wear black with the best of them and work your colours in beautifully and in a way that doesn’t compromise the black (now there’s another conversation J)

Torontogirl I
would say adding white and grey has been due to flattery issues.

Sona,
absolutely! The world would be super boring if we dressed and looked the same.
While your style is different to mine, I adore how you put things together and glean little bits of inspiration I can apply to my style.

Aziraphale, no
black after 40 is such an annoying notion to me. And agreed there should be no judgement over what people choose to wear or otherwiseJ I certainly hope no one thought that ‘s what I was doing.

Carolebee, itmust be coloured shoes on your shopping list for MarchJ

AviahMariah,
adding a punch of colour to black is a wonderful signature.

IK, I believe Odyssey lives in Austin. How does her style compare to the general populace?

Janet a world full of people wearing vibrant colour would be too hectic for me. I would have to live in a very monochrome home which I do already but it is accented with some colour;)

Sorry have to go for dinner but I do want to respond to you all.