On the one hand are the Classicists. They say things like, “everyone needs a little black dress”, “black is slimming”, and “cuz it goes with everything”. On the other hand are the Idealists; they declare brown and navy and other (presumably more flattering) dark neutrals black equivalents. But equivalent they are not.
I have made the point many times that black is not that flattering on alot of people. While charcoal and navy are perfectly acceptable as business wear, and midnight blue or chocolate brown can be a chic alternative to the LBD; can we just be brutally honest? There is no reason not to wear any of those “black alternatives” with a black shoe.
After many years of trying to delete black entirely, I just have to face facts:
certain basics are only available (and/or practical to shop for) in black
This is particularly true of leather items. (Not to mention that brown leather presents an entirely different vibe than black.)
So, although my Keirsey Temperament Type is Idealist, I am choosing to be more of a Realist in this and wear solid black by my feet and not by my face.
What other items are better in black?
You’re sure right about the difference between black and brown leather.
I’ve pared down my black leather garments to two maybe/on trial jackets.
I know I don’t want any more black leather garments because they convey too much toughness or hardness to me.
I was just reading the latest installment of Wardrobe Architect over here
http://www.coletterie.com/category/wardrobe-architect. Last time asked you to gather favorite colors but this time asks you to group them according to neutrals – “goes with everything” – near neutrals that go with most things and statement colors.
Made me realize that I don’t think of any color as going with everything.
Sometimes it goes theoretically but I don’t prefer the combination and other times it doesn’t go at all. I have quite a variety of dark browns. I don’t wear them with “everything” and they certainly don’t go with each other. Same for opposite shades of camel. Some more pink, some more yellow/tan. They can’t be worn together. Not without making me feel antsy, anyway. This is a very liberating personal insight for me – that I don’t have to aim to have colors that go with everything.
But also, what about black going with everything. I don’t think it does. When I grew up in Southern California in the early 60’s, the “black goes with everything” idea was worked out as black straight skirts with sugary pastel angel blouses, for example. It’s as though your top and bottom halves were put together from one of those flip books where you can put the head of a rhino with the middle of a chicken and the legs of a horse.
So this made me realize that I like black in two ways. One is very much like what Sal is wearing, all black with a portion of color bursting through.
http://www.alreadypretty.com/2014/02/dressed-for-minor-adjustments.html
The other way is to decide that black *doesn’t* go with everything but to add a black piece as The Statement Color. Cannot explain why those straight skirts with the angel blouses wouldn’t fulfill this but they clearly didn’t and the black was more of a fill-in or afterthought and certainly not meant to be the piece that got noticed.
Lol. I read your paragraph about the flip books to the hero; he laughed – I think it’s hilarious! Someday you may find me posting that quote. 🙂
The idea of not having to have anything that goes with everything is definitely something to think about. I am having alot of nothing goes together right recently; wonder if it could be connected. I just bought myself two new white long sleeve t-shirts, though, and I think that will help me alot. Whether I am wearing black or not, I almost always feel (and look, I think) better with a flash of white by my face.
Now I am off to try to find a new theme for the blog! 🙂