by EMERSSSOSN LOANE
I’ve talked before about steering away from wearing so much black. I understand the allure: it’s slimming, it’s our go-to color for feeling safe in wearing something in just about any situation, it’s considered sophisticated–and it certainly can be. Personally, I don’t find it…interesting. It’s a utility color. It’s a formal color. It’ll do. It gets the job done. But, I don’t find it necessarily creative on its own.
Historically, in fashion, black was worn strictly for mourning or for shop girls or other domestic servants. It was like that for about 500 years. Royalty wore black in mourning–so, naturally, followed others who wore black similarly, to emulate the elite. Down the line, it was a color that showed others you had enough money to afford black–black dyes for clothing were expensive.
At any rate, Chanel made it fashionable for women–wildly fashionable with the “little black dress” and men have worn black as part of formal attire for ages. Every woman should own one of those little black dresses and every man should have a black suit for funerals and for formal dining occasions where black tie is observed. Every guy should also have a black tuxedo in his wardrobe. I love mine, but I have a desire for a dark navy tuxedo, but that’s beside the point.
Black has its place and it can also be a base piece for an ensemble when you pair it with bursts of color or accessories like scarves, statement jewelry, and the like. Wearing black on black has its drawbacks. It can make you look older–especially your face. It can highlight dark lines under your chin, wrinkles on your face, shadows around your eyes. It ages your skin tone, especially if you have warm features and skin. It actively seeks out dark things in your face and gives it emphasis. As women age, it can harden their features. The same for men.
Don’t throw it out, though. Use it and use it well. Add a splash of color around your neckline, ladies, in a scarf or piece of jewelry. Or go for a low neckline. For men, avoiding black on black is key for having a fresh look. Pair your black blazer with a brilliantly colored shirt or definitely a patterned shirt (checks, pinstripes, etc.) and a burst-of-color tie. Use it as a frame–an accent–a foundation. Even the most formal uses of black for men at least break up the look with the ever-faithful companion of a brilliant white shirt. Accessories make the look work instead of making you look worn.
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