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Thoughts on black

anchie

Veteran

Last few days I have been going through my wardrobe, concentrating on fall/winter needs and wardrobe holes, making plans and lists. I realized that almost all my black essentials are too big and need replacement. Black is my main dark neutral in fall winter season but I don’t wear it at all during spring/summer, never have, it just seems too harsh for me. But now I am rethinking role of black in my fall/winter wardrobe. I am wear tracker and have years of data to analyze. I realized that I actually don’t wear much my solid black items. Especially solid black on top, like blazers, sweaters or coats. Items like black tweed, herringbone or like are getting more wear than solid flat black items. I am buying black shoes by default- everyone needs black shoes, right ? - but they get skipped over for my red, cream or snakeskin footwear. I think black footwear even though it is practical and widely available doesn’t work with my hair that well. My black handbag didn’t have outing in years. So what I am trying to say? Maybe I don’t need to replace my black essentials, maybe I would be better of with some other dark neutral? Maybe they are not even essentials for me anymore? Should I use this opportunity to stear my fall winter wardrobe in new direction color wise? All my black items in finds are years old, and I don’t enjoy shopping for them. But I always thought that I have to have black pants, black blazer, black top, black coat, black skirt etc.

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43 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

SarahD8

Veteran

Wow! What a GREAT example of the usefulness of tracking wears. My answer is YES, I think you should take this opportunity to move away from black in your fall-winter wardrobe. The color doesn't seem to spark joy for you and doesn't get worn -- that's pretty strong evidence that you don't need to replace your black items.
Does your wear tracking show that there's another dark neutral that gets worn more (navy?)? Maybe you want to seek out more of those textured/patterned black items (tweed, herringbone, etc)? Exciting!

anchie

Veteran

SarahDB - unfortunately black is my only dark neutral in f/w because I was stubbornly refusing to buy navy in winter weight. I don’t like mixing navy and black, especially very dark navy, to me it looks like dressing in the dark and not intentional. And I foolishly didn’t want to maintain two dark neutral capsules. My usual template for dressing is dark neutral + light neutral + color like example in finds.

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slim cat

Veteran

I'm in the same boat with black items. I wear more black jackets if there is a shine/texture or some other visual interest and skip flat black all together. Exception is my black pants but worn with metallic sneakers
( or hopefully yellow ECCO sneakers that are on my way now ).
I absolutely agree on lighter colored footwear since it's more fun and should be great with your fab hair! Snakeskin print, metallics, grey boots instead of plain black.

SarahD8

Veteran

Oh yeah, those finds make an outfit that really looks like "you"!

What if textured black IS your dark neutral, at least on top?

Maybe you don't really want to wear dark neutrals on the bottom?

I guess what I'm saying is, you could experiment with that sort of strategy and see if it feels like anything is "missing"...rather than shopping now for a suite of dark neutrals that you might not need and might go unworn.

I know what you mean about black and navy. I like mixing the two but it has to be a bright navy (almost like ink blue), which can be hard to find.

Joy

Veteran

Since my hair turned silver, I feel the same way a out black. My black footwear and best black bag go unused. I do wear black pants and have kept a black dress but have been mixing black more with white, greys, and tans. I have even started wearing black with navy or dark brown pulled together with prints that include both colors. Right now I want to try black with pastel blue.
Some blacks are too black like velvet. Some texture or transparency or even fading helps. Experiment with adding other neutrals and colors.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What SarahD8 said. EXACTLY.

And btw, I don't have black shoes. Not one pair.

Helena

Veteran

I love what Sarah said - maybe it's not the neutral/colour per se, but more of how you like to wear it. It seems like maybe you like contrast - so making sure you have the light/dark mix in your outfit might be the key (I definitely need to add white to brighten up my black, which I love - even if it's just in a pair of earrings or something!)

If you want to explore other neutrals, and navy isn't your jam, what about charcoal or brown? Or even a 'nearly neutral' like deep burgundy?

The Cat

Veteran

Achie, it is worth listening to your feelings, in particular as you have documented that you wear your black items less and less.

I can't tell you exactly what to do, but I can tell you about what I have done, and this might give you a little inspiration. For many years, I, too, had black as my only dark neutral. As my hair turned gray, I gradually replaced many black items with grey ones--ranging from silver and light greys to medium greys and charcoal. The greys look harmonious with my present colouring and are easy to combine with all the the cool colours in the rest of my wardrobe. Later, I have also felt drawn to, and have included, items in deep blues--however, not the almost black ones--and they kind of echo my blue eyes. Lately, I have also become interested in adding a certain COOL medium brown, which looks harmonious with my skin.

I still like and wear some black items, in particular in winter. However, in general, I don't wear black in large amounts near my face, and I always combine black with one of my best/signature colours (blue-ish pink, blue-red, purple, blue, torquoise, white, grey).

Do you consider yourself to be cool or warm? You have brown eyes, don't you? Could one or more browns--cool or warm--be an option? Or taupe--either grey-ish or brown-ish?

Please be aware that you might no longer NEED a very dark neutral. As our hair turns from dark to grey, we are no longer high contrast, but become medium or low contrast. Imogen Lamport at the Inside Out Style blog has written several useful posts on how to dress for your ideal value. I don't know if you are familiar with this concept, but if you are interested in reading about it, here is a link: https://insideoutstyleblog.com.....value.html

Sal

Veteran

I like what Sarah and The Cat said. I think Suz has written about this previously - she still wears black but more as an accent - or a component of an outfit.

I would be wary about adding a lot of black in - I do like black and wear black tops and pants - if together normally with light footwear, or with other colours or patterns including black with black footwear.

The Cat

Veteran

Also, bear in mind that even when replacing black with light or medium neutrals like light grey, medium grey or winter white, you will still be able to create the light-dark-medium effect you like. You can combine your light/medium neutrals with for instance forest green, wine, purple, teal or royal blue and perhaps accessorize with colours like lemon yellow, hot pink, clear red, torquoise or coral. There are lots of exciting possibilities.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

When I saw the title of your post, I thought "oh no, Anchie is getting into wearing black? I'll miss her bright colors!" Then I saw that in fact the title refers directly to the fact that you don't, in fact, wear much black. I fully agree that there is no need to buy it "just because".

I don't wear black well. I have a few all-black items, but many more black-and-white patterns. I think they play with colors really well. I think you are on a similar track with your textured black pieces, and can see that strategy working well for you.

I agree with Sarah that there's no need to rush out and replace these items--better to just bide your time and see what you seem to be missing, then look for that piece.

ETA--you may find that the black footwear appeals to you more when you are wearing lighter neutrals or "textured" black/white patterns with brights.

Back again: Before passing these on, you might want to be sure they wouldn't be helpful in a capsule you would wear rarely. I'm thinking of unfrumped's recent post about planning for funerals. Some of these pieces might be too flirty for that, but others might be just right. Just a thought.

Style Fan

Veteran

Tracking wears can be so helpful. I do like the outfit you put together with the red pants. That seems like you. The textured black jacket seems very versatile.

I am like Angie. I don't own black footwear.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I feel, as my hair has greyed ( still salt-and pepper, not as silvery as yours) that some dark greys like pewter and charcoal, and black-and-white, like houndstooth, or dark brown-and white, possibly look better on me than black. I still have some black.
Back later...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You might want to read these posts on the subject:

https://youlookfab.com/2020/01.....off-black/

https://youlookfab.com/2018/01.....and-style/

cindysmith

Veteran

I used to think I had to have certain things, too. Then I realized that I never wore those things. Basic black pencil skirt, trench coat, white button-up shirt, red lipstick, basic black flats... I don't wear skirts, trench coats, button-up shirts, lipstick, or basic flats. I was wasting my money on that stuff.

I wear a lot of navy in place of black. It's much kinder to my complexion, and navy pants are just more versatile for me. I say this sounds like a perfect opportunity for you to try something new XOXO

notsaf

Veteran

What Cindy said: if you don't wear them, you don't need them!

Bijou

Veteran

I don’t think any colour is a wardrobe essential for everyone. Black can look sleek, sophisticated and high fashion. However conversely, it can look harsh and boring, and details can be lost on a black outfit.

10 years ago I wore quite a lot of grey. Then I stopped feeling good in it. I have now almost eliminated grey from my wardrobe and don’t know if I will ever feel the desire to wear it again. Why not wear and enjoy the colours you love. You look wonderful in your light tones and colours.

unfrumped

Veteran

Great post and questions !
I generally agree with the other posters, with th EF idea that if you are re- thinking one color, it’d be good to think about your entire color palette. Maybe cruise through some Pinterest palettes plus review your existing wardrobe.
Neutral colors, main colors, accents.
You would not want to randomly pick s lighter neutral and then find it doesn’t work well with your other colors.

Plus I always had some issues finding good quality professional work wear, , kind of not- quite corporate but not casual, in as much variety.

rachylou

Veteran

Yes to what Sarah said - the power of tracking wears. I agree that instead of replacing them, you should explore a new neutral. I *do* see you as a softer person colour wise than flat black.

anchie

Veteran

Thank you all for the response, lot of wisdom here. I will be back later with more detailed reply, just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate it.

Minaminu

Veteran

Navy and black can be used in the same outfit and can look stunning, the proportions and texture of the items in the outfits can be really beautiful.

Having said that, I think black can be restricted to formal events, ie funerals or formal evenings wear. As your hair are now a beautiful shade of grey and you changed sizes, I think this is the best time to revisite your colour palette. Would a warm or cool palette work best for you? Do you also need to review your make up?

anchie

Veteran

I am on my phone and it is difficult to answer you all individually.

Regarding if I am cool or warm - I don’t know. I took many tests but it was always inconclusive. My skin is on warm side, with slight yellow tint and my veins are greenish and not blue. But my eyes are dark brown, almost black, so they are on cool side. And grey hair is never option in those test LOL.

I was not planning to replace those items immediately but was making a plan for future purchases and started to think if I should replace them at all. It is not that I never wore them, but hardly that much that I should consider them as essentials. There was always a different and most likely better option, and that is not a definition of essential
I do love navy and wear it a lot in spring and summer so that would be probably easiest to gradually replace solid black with navy. I still like my patterned and textured black items on top, so having solid black pants will probably be good idea. But exploring other colors seems very exciting even though it is probably more difficult than finding black and navy.

unfrumped

Veteran

Of course, you can have color paletteS, plural.
I like looking at some pics of tight color palettes and all-season wardrobes where everything seems to go together.
But I so far have not been that disciplined about my colors, or not able to have the exact silhouette I want represented, and so I tend to have overlapping capsules.

Point is, you can keep a black capybara let it shrink by attrition and editing; you can replace with or introduce navy , especially if you think it has trans- seasonal value, but maybe think whether you want an extensive navy capsule , or a smaller group of pieces and experiment with a less dark neutral so you later won’t feel you have tons of dark navy that is also too harsh.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

unfrumped, I did not know what a capybara was until my son used that word the other night--now it's coming in handy already Do you create capsules intentionally? When I look at my closet, I see a couple categories of colors, generally in pretty decent balance (ie: there are berry pants to wear with the berry colored tops), through no intention of my own.

unfrumped

Veteran

Haha. Yes, my phone was feeling in a Zoo mood, apparently.

I have kind of loose capsules, like black, gray/ navy / burgundy, and “ warmer” olive / khaki/ rust/ orange/ burgundy, and so on. Meaning I like those colors in different items, somewhat seasonal, so I may have tops, bottoms, and toppers.

The devil is in the “ loose” aspect , in which I may find that thing’s don’t go together as well as I though, or maybe I can make outfits but don’t like some as much as others.

My funeral outfit angst got me working on more outfit creation in general and yay/ nay and tossing some items that weren’t working and trying to see whether to try to “ fix” it with an outfit- completer or not.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t think guyabaras or capybaras are Anchie’s style, so let’s go for the wilder one

anchie

Veteran

I don’t even know what capybara is, I thought it is spelling mistake LOL

I have organized my whole wardrobe into capsules, main ones being dark neutral, light neutral and accent color. Also devided by season. But maybe I need medium neutral instead of dark. Capsules are useful but can be also limiting if I am forcing it or being too strict.

DonnaF

Veteran

Yes, no more black! But maybe a medium neutral instead of a dark neutral? I don't think there's a law that says you have to have a dark neutral in F/W.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I don't see any reason you need black pieces you don't enjoy and don't wear. I still wear black, especially shoes and jeans, but I have black eyebrows and still some very dark parts of my hair so it works with my coloring. Do you even need a dark neutral? I love the idea of forest green or burgundy as a potential substitute for you.

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