Oh! The reasons I have heard for wearing or not wearing black. We women seem to have a love-hate relationship with the colour.
Some of us wear only black and some avoid it at all costs and some would wear it more if only they knew how to make it interesting.
Black is the fall-back colour when you cannot find anything else to buy. It is a corporate colour and safe to wear on any occasion.
Black is a colour that fills the wardrobe of plus-size women because it is extremely difficult for them to find interesting and flattering clothes in other colours.
Here are my modern dressing tips for business and professional women over 40 to help you get the most out of wearing black.
Black Plus Neutrals
When women think about wearing black with another colour, they usually think of combining black with white. This is a strong and often striking combination.
A bold graphic black and white patterned scarf or jacket looks fabulous on those with strong colouring and an extrovert personality. For introverts who want to dip into black and white, try subtle patterned black and white shoes or belt or an elegant pearl accessory with an all-black outfit.
Go beyond white to a neutral beige or the skin-tone colours. Shoes or handbag in these shades contrast beautifully and elegantly with black. Consider wearing a soft or leather beige flower brooch to bring light to your face. Black plus beige is great for quiet achievers as well as extroverts who want to show their softer side.
Black Plus Colour
Being a non-colour, black is a perfect background for adding jackets or accessories in any colour. The best colours to wear with it are those that provide a light contrast to the dark black. Jackets and accessories in a matt finish can look a little dull.
Go instead for a jacket or accessory with some sheen or shine. Light contrasts that look fabulous with black are pale pink, light turquoise, soft red or silver. You can go subtle in a necklace or earrings with a mixture of black, white and a soft or medium shade of any colour.
Lift the contrast level a little with a medium shade of any colour like medium red, warm or cool purple and medium aqua blue or turquoise green. For extroverts who love high contrast add strong orange, hot pink, red patent shoes or bright yellow to your black outfit to show your confidence and energy.
Non-Aging Black
Black can be very aging and unflattering to some skin tones. As you age, black looks best when your neckline is halfway between the top of your bust and your collarbone.
Go as low and as wide as you feel comfortable. If you are wearing clothes with a higher neckline, add a scarf or necklace that has beige, apricot or pink colours. These mimic a healthy skin colour and add lightness to your face.
If your hair is blond, light red, white or grey, wear patterns on the top half of your body that have more white than black in them. The opposite works for darker hair ie more black than white in the pattern. Black is a wonderful background for patterns, especially when the pattern includes colours that create the light and dark contrast mentioned above.
Wear makeup, especially lipstick, when wearing all-black clothing. Your lipstick does not have to be a red colour. Any of the softer, glossy neutral colours work well.
Last Words
Black is a colour too often downplayed or underestimated. Treat it with respect and it will reward you with increased confidence, beautiful memories and surprising compliments.
