when black is not for you

photo Cate

Some people have a beautiful, delicate color palette … and black plays no part in it. Black is very high contrast compared to other colors. For many, black can make you look washed out. Navy is the dark color I wear in place of black most often.

but I’m feeling black today

Some people go through a phase of wearing all black all the time. (I did.) Anytime you feel like wearing a color, trust yourself and go with it. Black is mysterious, you may feel drawn to it. I love the intuitive knowing that comes with color. When you are attracted to a color you know it. When you are done wearing a color you know it.

for the young

Under 30? Even if black isn’t your color, you can wear it and look good. I know this because I look with my eyes. When beauty is in full bloom, the juicy life is there in the skin and eyes. I see young models wearing black and it’s not their color. But they look beautiful anyway. In online shopping, many companies seem to ignore the color palette of the model. But this is not true in film. In film, costume designers dress the main characters in their best colors. I love seeing it.

Now is a great time to start seeing and knowing your unique beauty. There are colors that will bring your skin alive or draw attention to your eyes. Really knowing your beauty, can help build confidence. You are a beautiful creature. When you see your beauty for yourself and own it, everyone wins. When you see yourself, accept who you are, and bring yourself forward authentically, everyone wins. Be the main character in your own movie.

for the wise

Have you gotten into a habit of always buying things in black, hoping it will be a staple and everything in your wardrobe will match? If your personal colors are more nuanced than this you are probably not enjoying your look these days. When you wear the best colors for your skin and eyes, you don’t have to try hard to look good. A friend approaching 50 told me today that she loves having workout clothes NOT in black. She can have messy hair, no make-up, a sweaty face, and still look good.

this color palette has dark blue and dark green, no black

Any very dark color can be worn in place of black. It will be slimming, dressy, authoritative, serious, chic, and great for evening, just like black. If you don’t have your personal color palette yet, try wearing a very dark version of your eye color in place of black.

who can wear black beautifully?

If your hair color is or was black, or if your colors are very high contrast – very light and very dark, you can wear black beautifully. A color specialist can tell you. But if you are one of these people, you probably already know it. If you have to ask, black may not be for you.

Knowing your best colors and wearing them is counter culture, because most clothing comes in black. Want to find out your best colors? Reach out and I’ll help you get started with a stylist and color consultant in your area.