Thursday, 31 July 2014
Back to Black – July 2014
Colours can
be used to enhance our overall appearance and like our clothes, the colours we
wear are a form of non-verbal communication; another way to visually express our
personality as well as convey our mood and vibe to the external world. As the
darkest colour, because it absorbs all light, black is connected with all
that’s dark, dangerous, intense and mysterious; Black Friday, black magic,
black mood, black thoughts, blackmail…but, colours hold different meanings for
everyone and black certainly has a colourful past, symbolising everything from
abundance to grief, holiness to sin, luxury to poverty, power and authority to
sorcery and secrecy, nobility and romanticism to youth and rebellion.
For me, no other colour presents so many contradictions: conservative – provocative, assertive – submissive, commanding – demure, formal – casual, glamorous – drab, sexy – modest. I believe Coco Chanel articulated it best with her comment “I have said that black has it all” and, it was this very lady who revolutionised women’s fashion and redefined black as the colour of supreme sophistication when American Vogue published her design of a simple black dress in 1926. Soon thereafter, other designers embraced black as the colour of fashion and the rest as they say is history. So, what is it about black that secures our devotion?
Practical
– black is easy to wear because it’s the perfect base colour to mix and match
with other colours, even other shades of black, so you don’t have to think too
much when putting on black as you know it will work with anythingFor me, no other colour presents so many contradictions: conservative – provocative, assertive – submissive, commanding – demure, formal – casual, glamorous – drab, sexy – modest. I believe Coco Chanel articulated it best with her comment “I have said that black has it all” and, it was this very lady who revolutionised women’s fashion and redefined black as the colour of supreme sophistication when American Vogue published her design of a simple black dress in 1926. Soon thereafter, other designers embraced black as the colour of fashion and the rest as they say is history. So, what is it about black that secures our devotion?
Immaculate
– doesn’t show dirt or stains in most cases or at least, not as obviously as
its lighter counterparts
Stylish –
black is always in vogue! Sure, every now and again announcements are made by
the fashion industry that navy or grey is the ‘New Black’ but for me there is
no substitute: black is always the ‘New Black’. There really is no comparison
and for this reason, black is forever fashionable
Elegant – black
is classy; it looks sharp, smart and swanky even if it’s inexpensive
Versatile –
can be worn on all occasions, throughout every season, suits all complexions
and hair colours and best of all, you are able to be inventive and create
numerous, unique looks by incorporating interesting, colourful accessories - jewellery,
shoes and bags as statement pieces to an outfit.
Flattering
– a well-designed item of simple, precise lines and a perfect cut will outline and
accentuate the lines of the body making you appear slender and longer hence, produce
a slimming effect.
Interchangeable
– you can ‘dress up’ your black-on-black
ensemble and go instantly and seamlessly from day into night with the simple change
of a lipstick colour; nude or soft pink lips during the day to a dazzling hot pink
or bold red lip at night.
On the
surface, black gives an impression of respectability and refinement. It also
transmits confidence even when you are lacking in confidence and feeling uncertain
and quite vulnerable. On a deeper level, wearing black implies self-control; an
ability to remain level-headed and keep your emotions in check during challenging
situations. Additionally, it suggests a secretive side to you. Due to black’s contradictory
nature, it doesn’t communicate anything definitive about you and this elusiveness
raises many unknowns about your true self and, much like the trench coat, creates
an aura of mystery and intrigue, arousing curiosity thus causing people to speculate about you. Furthermore, we instinctively wear black to conceal
information about ourselves such as, cover the few extra kilos we have put on and
hide our insecurities and self-consciousness from everyone and, because black
exudes such intense energy and has a powerful effect on the senses it can be
overwhelming, even intimidating, enough to keep people at arm’s length so much
so French style guru Madame Genevieve Antoine Dariaux advised against wearing
black before 1pm!
Writing
this, I realise that I have been wearing black as a barrier between myself and
the world to conceal my feelings, especially what’s going on in my heart and protect
myself from others prying into my life. In black, I feel composed and in complete
control of my emotions despite the turmoil within and am able to remain calm, sweet
and positive as I ride through this difficult period.
Finally,
you’re wondering if, as the most worn colour, I feel as though I get lost in
the crowd and blend in. No. On the contrary, the darkness of black is a
striking contrast against my fair skin and hair so, I feel I stand out more
and although it doesn’t yell “look at me!” like the bright, vibrant colours I
wear do, it definitely demands its own attention and admiration. In fact, I
wear black when I want to express my individuality. I personalise all my outfits
to my suit my personality and style so I always look different to others. In my opinion, black possesses magical
properties because of its ability to transform me into everything I want to be, allowing
me to flaunt my sensuality and sexiness in a way no other colour can and leave
an absolutely unforgettable impression.
“Women
who wear black lead colourful lives.” ~ Nieman Marcus ad
Posts
I love this! As you know I am no stranger to black, I often don't know where an item of my own clothing is, because it is lost in a sea of black in my wardrobe! x M
ReplyDeleteHaha, you can never have enough black clothing!
DeleteSo happy you enjoyed my post! Thanks. gxx