How to Wear Black

How to Wear Black even when it's not in your Palette, plus
Some Suggested Alternatives to Black

Black holds a special place in many women's hearts and wardrobes for several good reasons.

First, it’s very versatile. Whether you're heading to a formal event, a casual outing, or a day at the office, black is almost always an appropriate choice —reliable and ready for any occasion.

Second, black is loved for its ability to create a slimming effect. For most people, this alone makes it a keeper (I know it's my number one reason for keeping it in my closet - and I'm a true Warm Autumn!)

Additionally, a color that pairs easily with almost anything else in your closet, making it a stress-free choice when you're not sure what to wear.

So many clients tell me they have almost nothing in their closet except the color black. 

Beyond its practicality, black carries an air of sophistication and timeless elegance. It's a color that speaks of strength, mystery, and chicness, all wrapped into one.

Alternatives to Black

So with Black having so many pluses and so few minuses, why even write a post about alternatives to black?

My main reason is essentially my tag-line: It’s the difference between looking good and looking your absolute best.

For some seasons, particularly the lightest seasons, black can be very draining and simply overpowering.

I will never say “don’t wear black” if you love it. But here are some alternatives to black for the four main seasons when you really want the best visual impact.

The Beauty of Your Darkest Neutrals

The key is finding your best dark neutral and using that in places you might normally wear black, like blazers, blouses, and dresses. Choosing your best dark neutral will help you curate a core wardrobe around which all other items will fit together effortlessly.

I will use the iconic LBD, the little black dress, to illustrate some alternate color options. An LBD style dress is a vital piece of clothing to have in your core wardrobe, as it can be dressed up or dressed down as needed and offers so much wearability. 

Autumns

Autumn's best dark neutral is dark brown. 

As a Warm Autumn myself, I so wish retailers would offer brown as a color option as much as they offer black!

I can get the same slimming effects of black, but will add the warmth that is needed by Autumns.

You can also try any dark version of your color palette, like Deep Teal and Dark Olive. 

Springs

As Springs are the light, bright, and warm cousins of Autumns, by lightening and brightening Autumn’s best dark neutral, we get a great one for Spring.

Most color systems list light navy as a great dark neutral. And I can agree with that. But sometimes it can be too cool for a Spring, better suited for a Winter.

Finding a version with a slight yellow undertone will help. As you can see from the example (right), this color could be considered a Warm Navy or, one of my favorite colors for nearly everyone, Deep Teal-Blue. This color is fabulous and dark, but it also enhances her warmth.

In fact, I recommend this universally flattering color for everyone, including Summers and Winters.  I’ve never seen it look back on anyone.

Summers

Summers are Winters' lighter and softer cool cousins. So what is a lighter, softer version of Black? Charcoal.

Charcoal is a great alternative to black, great for all Summers. Light Summers would do better with a medium grey, but all shades of grey are staples of Summer palettes, and great color around which to build a capsule wardrobe. 

But true navy is a 'cooler' option (above), giving the depth of a 'little black dress' but with the blue undertones that Summers thrive in. It's also a nice option for Winters, too. 

Winters

Yes, I know black is your best dark neutral. For most Winters, it is even one of your Power Colors).

But just to have options, you can also choose deep magenta,  midnight blue, deep burgundy, deep purple, among other dark, bold colors. 

True story: I just had a client last week write the following on her Questionnaire questions that asks, “Is there anything else you want to say that you feel would be helpful to your color analysis?”

She wrote, “You will pry black out of my cold, dead hands.” I heard that sentiment before, but never in those words 😉

If you are one of those people who will not give up black for anything, here are some tips below.

How to Wear Black if it's NOT in your Palette

So if you will not let go of black, and it is not in your seasonal palette, that’s ok. Here are a few tips on how to wear it more successfully.

1.  The farther away it is, the less effect it will have. Pants and skirts and anything farther away from you ‘hot zone’ can be in black with fewer problems than tops, jackets, and scarves.

2.  Show more skin. The more skin and less black that exists, means of course the color has less impact. A lower neckline and spaghetti straps, for example, are better than a high neckline and thick straps (left).

3.  Whatever color you pair with black, make sure it is one of your best palette colors to try to mitigate the effect of black. This ensures you are wearing something that will pick up and enhance your coloring.

4.  Most importantly, always make sure you are wearing your best makeup colors and hair color for your season. These are directly in your hot zone and are crucial to get correct.