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Back at work blues.. or should I say blacks. It is commonly known that Melbourne is a very dark city. Not due to the tall buildings and the dark clouds but due to the high number of men and women wearing black to work and in their every day casual clothing.
This style of dress is not isolated to the city alone but has spread like a black plague out of the city and all over Australia. The spreading of black into all domains is the work of the designers who know that women like to wear black to look slimmer and people feel powerful in a black suit.
All designers know that black in any range will sell well and when you think of it, it does go with everything and will co-ordinate with all the black accessories we have in our cupboards. But should black prevail over all of our wardrobe space?
How did black take over our lives so insidiously? Looking into nature for shades of black and it can be found in the wings of a raven and a crow. It is the colour, or lack thereof of night as well as the results of a very nasty bruise. Movies have always given the bad cowboys black hats with the good guys in white. Bad witches practise the black magic.
No one has ever referred to it as blue magic or yellow magic. Black is the colour of the hidden recesses favoured by all things evil. Could you imagine the Hare Krishna dancing through the streets in black robes? They would all be bundled up by the police and locked away.
Black did not become popular as a colour to wear until the 15th century in the courts of Burgundy. Prior to this the men and women of the European courts would wear elaborate coloured silks and satins to show off their wealth and position. It was from this start that black become popular as a colour to be worn for formal and festive occasions.
Black can have it’s positives as a colour to wear. It is great for creating a dignified presence. You will look cosmopolitan, sometimes mysterious and firm in your resolve. On the negative side of black to cover yourself in it can have you appearing solemn and antagonistic. Some may see you as arrogant and proud. I recommend the wearing of black for those occasions when you want to look important and serious.
Black is great when it is worn with another colour to give you some life and interest to your outfit. For women with pale complexions black can be very overbearing. Chose to wear it with some pastel colours and especially keep it away from you face. Obviously the more skin you show the less impact it can have on your face and the less likely hood of it filling in the lines of your face with shadow and ageing you unnecessarily. Unless you chose a gothic appearance make-up is necessary to give some colour to your face. Men have always tended to make the black suit their first purchase as it can be worn to most occasions that require a suit.
Choosing to wear it with a blue shirt will give you a safe and trustworthy business like appearance. The white shirt combination is the most common and the classic corporate style of dress. Wearing black shirts with your black suit is more of a fashionable look than a serious corporate style of dress and once again can reduce your image to one more in keeping with someone who is not easily approachable in day to day events.
So should we banish black from our wardrobe? No way. Do remember though that it is a heavy colour. Chose to wear it with light and brighter colours to give your outfit a look of style and interest. Just remember that while it can be an easy solution there are many other colours available to be worn and you should try experimenting with all there is on the market.
For those of you returning to work though keep in mind that not all black fabrics go together and too many layers of black will not ultimately make you look slimmer. It can have the opposite effect. Keep you suits sharp and your blacks strong. Suits that are starting to fade or shine should be relegated to the bin and replaced, hopefully, with something else that maybe just isn’t black.
Tips to wear black successfully
- Keep it away from your face if it is not your colour
- Team it up with a lighter colour to give it some interest
- Make sure your blacks are the same when combining jackets and tops
- Wear it with gorgeous jewellery at an evening event
- When wearing a black jacket wear another colour outside your collar to soften the effect of black against your face
The best tip I can give anyone is to enjoy what you do and it will show. If black is your favourite colour then go ahead and enjoy it but don’t forget the rest of the colour palette available. It can make life very interesting.
Once again, remember to listen out for those three little words ‘You Look Great’ and you will know it is all coming together for you.
Clare Maxfield
www.claremaxfield.com.au
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