Debunking the Myth of Black Clothes
Here’s a challenge: go to your wardrobe, open it up and gather up all your black clothes. And then, if you’re part of the 75% of the population that don’t have black in their colour palette, throw it away.
“Wait, what?!”, I hear you say. “I have to get rid of it?!” That can’t be right…
I know we often think that black is easy, or slimming, or maybe even that it has an air of authority, but those are all myths that I’ll be debunking in the article below.
Black Clothes Myth #1: Black represents power and authority.
This is really just an old fashion trend from the 1300’s when being able to dye material black was new and exciting so the kings decided it would a good idea to wear it too. But by the 1800’s, people in the Victorian era only wore it because everything else was so dirty and dusty, that they had to wear black because it was the only colour that would still look clean after just a few minutes out in public! Businessmen wearing any other coloured suit would have looked dirty and grimy all day sitting in their office. Black did a great job of hiding it!
Black Clothes Myth #2: Everyone can wear black
Coco Chanel created the Little Black Dress in the 1920’s and convinced women all over the world that it was an essential part of any wardrobe. It become the statement of the high-class, wealthy and chic.
This was around the same time as Robert Dorr created the Dorr’s Color Key System while painting advertising posters for movies where he discovered that to create an air of beauty, power and happiness, different people needed different colours. In fact, black made some people look older and more tired.
It really can only be worn by those with a cool, winter undertone, which is only 1 out of 4 of the colour seasons, making it about 25% of the of the available palettes.
Black Clothes Myth #3: It goes with everything
The is only true if it is part of your specific colour palette. We have been told for years that as long as what we are wearing on top matches our undertone, the bottom doesn’t matter so much. But, the idea of putting together an outfit is to bring out the natural beauty of the person wearing it. That only happens by looking at the whole person. If one part of that is out of balance, it creates disharmony for the rest.
Black Clothes Myth #4: It makes you look thinner
Again, only if black is part of your colour palette. In reality, any colour can make you look thinner, it’s all in how you wear it. Any colour, when you wear it all the way down (shoulder to knee) will make you look thinner. However, if you are warm and soft, black will make the eye move away from your face, and focus on the black. If it’s not in your colour palette, black will always win.
Black Clothes Myth #5: Black is ‘safe’.
Some people will wear black because they don’t want to stand out, and wearing ‘bright’ colours make you more noticeable. In fact, the opposite is true. Looking pale, grey and tired is far more noticeable than anyone that looks natural, vibrant and healthy.
Black doesn’t go with everything, it’s not thinning and everyone can definitely NOT wear it. If you love wearing black, but you feel like you look old and tired, it might be time to retire the black and add more of your personal colour palette in to your wardrobe.
To find out more about which colour palette holds your Power Colours, download my FREE e-book, The Power Colour Playbook, and find out how you can look your best, everyday.
I am passionate about helping everyday women live their best life, and feel good doing it! I’d love to have you join me and get started on that journey too.