When you look in your closet how much black clothing do you see?
Is black really that flattering for your unique body colors?
Keep reading to find out what to do about all that black clothing you own.
Here’s my black clothing story.
My mother wore a lot of black and she told me it was slenderizing, so for many years I wore mostly black clothes.
In my sophomore year of college, my roommate Leslie , who was a good friend, told me if I bought one more piece of black clothing, she was going to strangle me.
She was sick of looking at me in black. At that time I didn’t know what colors looked good on me and black clothes were so easy to find and mix & match.
I bought a few items with color, so Leslie wouldn’t be upset but I continued to wear lots of black.
In 1990, when I had my “color chart done,” by a ” Color 1 Associate” and got a wallet containing 40-50 of my best shades, magic happened for me and I was able to begin adding lots more color into my wardrobe.
I have said in previous blogs that by repeating body colors you can create visual harmony because our eyes automatically search for colors that are repeated. My hair is very dark brown but gives the illusion of looking almost black. Because the color black repeats my hair color it creates visual balance. Now I combine black with my best shades of other colors.
Is black one of your body colors ?
If not, then black is not a dark neutral for you. You may still be able to wear black in small amounts but in large amounts it may drain the color from your face, and it can emphasize your lines and shadows.
What to do with all those black clothes, if black is not your best dark neutral
For my image clients that don’t look their best in black, but aren’t ready to part with their black clothing , I tell them to shows some skin when they wear black. This means v neck lines or scoop neck lines. Or wear a scarf near your face that is a flattering color.
Wondering what your best dark or light neutrals are?
I recommend getting JoAnna Nicholson’s books, “Dressing Smart for Women,” and “Dressing Smart for Men.” These paperback books explain the Color 1 approach to color, which I believe is the most accurate system of color analysis around.
If you are interested in having your colors done and you are located in Baltimore or surrounding areas including Washington, D.C., I am available to work with you in-person. I can do a color analysis on-line if you live in other parts of the country or the world.
I offer a free 30 minute telephone consultation to help you determine if my services are right for you. Contact me at Nancy@wardrobewiz.com
Nancy Goldblatt, “The Wardrobe Wizard of Baltimore,” is a Color 1, professionally trained personal image consultant.