Many of you know I love to get on my soapbox about wearing black. Don’t get me wrong. It isn’t that I am completely against wearing black. On the contrary, black can be quite chic. In fact, it would be remiss of me not to tell you I own quite a bit of black in my own wardrobe and several little black dresses (aka LBD). It’s just that in order to wear black well, you first need the right body coloring (dark hair is a good start), and black also requires some spicing up to communicate your style statement.
Since I know many of you wear a lot of black, I thought I would share with you a few things I generally do to add life to an all-black ensemble.
(1) Add color! Here I am wearing a black and gray ensemble. In order to stand out in a sea of black-clad fashionistas, I enjoy throwing on a statement necklace, often a colorful one. This way my style comes through and you can pick me out in the crowd. If black isn’t your best neutral, add a colorful accessory near your face in one of your colors to neutralize the stark effect of black. Not sure if black is a good neutral for you and want to know your best colors? See me for that!
(2) Add a metallic topper. To bring life to your LBD, add either a silver, gold or bronze jacket or sweater. Gold and bronze generally work best on most people, but if you really like to sparkle and stand out give silver a shot.
(3) Wear a fabulous shoe. If you prefer the clean, chic look of an all-black ensemble, why not throw on a drop dead shoe to snazz it up? I think a LBD with minimal accessories and a killer shoe is effortlessly chic. Wear a deep red lip color, as well, if you dare!
As you can see, this isn’t rocket science. Bottom line: fabulous accessories separate you from the next black-clad gal. As Clinton Kelly once said on an episode of “What Not To Wear”: Accessories explain who you are as a person. So true, Clinton. I could not have said it better myself. Before you step out in all black, add a bit of your personality to it. You’ll add intrigue and interest to an otherwise forgettable outfit.