Wearing Black Isn’t Your Best Color – or Is It?

Wearing Black Isn’t Your Best Color – or Is It?

The right colors light you up, while the wrong color can overpower you and wash you out. Is wearing black your best color or not? Let’s find out.

Beth Sheepishly guided me to her closet, telling me that yes, she too, had a closet filled with black because she didn’t know what else to wear. She had been following me on Instagram and knew that I worked with hundreds of other women who told me the same thing. She sheepishly told me this as if she were confessing a cardinal sin, and was awaiting forgiveness. She knew her mistake and was ready to make some changes.

Working with women since 2008, I have seen it all when it comes to style mistakes. But one thing I’ve seen more than any other is leaning too heavily on wearing black. Somehow, somewhere along the way, wearing black became THE color to wear if you wanted to look chic and get dressed easily. Yet what most women don’t know is that all this black is washing them out and zapping their joy when it comes to their style.

Black is defined as the absence of color. When we wear color, that color is reflected onto our skin. When we wear a virtual black hole of pigment, that, too, is reflected onto our skin and can leave us with an unflattering pallor. That is, unless black is one of our best colors.

I happen to be one of those lucky people who look good in black. With my dark hair, fair skin and hazel eyes, black actually looks good on me. Yet if I were a sun-kissed blond with a golden tan and blue eyes, black would simply drain me of all color and cast a pallid hue on me. A warm camel or a rich cream would do much more to enhance my assets and make me look radiant.

But wearing black is easy. Women have come to think of it as their fallback, almost like their security blanket when they’re not sure what else to wear. When they don’t know what other color to wear, they wear black. 

Imagine during the holiday season as your LBD gets pulled out and put to work for cocktail parties, dinner parties and holiday soirees, making your grand entrance only to be greeted by a sea of – gasp! – little black dresses. It almost begins to look like a uniform, and sure doesn’t go very far in expressing personal style. Sure, a black lacy designer dress is going to stand apart from a black shift from Target, yet if you opt to wear a gauzy, floaty creation in pink or even in an another neutral such as chocolate, you’d set yourself apart from the pack and really make a style statement.

Many women want to fit in and play it safe when it comes to fashion. But what I’ve found is that when women know what colors look good on them, they’re much more risk taking. They opt for bold, bright colors in styles that flatter their figure, and they look like a million bucks rather than wearing colors that make them feel like they’re hiding. But knowing what colors to wear can be the tricky part.

Don’t worry. I’m willing to share a few of these tricks with you:

– If you know a color looks fabulous on you (based on compliments and how you feel when you wear it), go for it!

– If a red dress makes you feel daring and sexy, then why play it safe? Find the sexiest red dress you can and wear it with confidence to match.

– If you must wear black, then jazz it up with a pop of color. Wear emerald earrings and shoes to match, or leopard platforms with a great clutch.

– Black on black can be pretty boring, so mix in some metallics and have a little fun with it. Gold or silver with black can be an elegant combination. Add a little texture.

– If you must wear black, try something with a lace accent, a little embroidery or a metallic accent.

Don’t get me wrong – wearing black is not all bad. I just want you to wear it with intention. It’s so easy to wear it by default, and not have to think about color. But when you do, look out! And when you want to dress to impress, go for broke and wear the colors and styles that will make you stand out in the crowd. You’re beautiful – now go flaunt it!

Want to know what to wear instead of black? Take our course, How to Find Your Signature Style, and discover your ‘new black’, along with several other signature colors that make it easy to shop and build your wardrobe. Get ready to love your look! Check out FindYourSignatureStyle.com