Why I Still Wear Black

 And Wow on Wednesday

Dear friends.  One of the fastest ways to shock my Kettlewell colour club friends is to tell them I still wear black. 

Colour analysis tell us that only a very small sub group of those classed as Winter can wear black successfully, near the face. 

I took this quite seriously at the start of my analysis journey.  I could see that "my" warm and bright colours were far more flattering.

But then.....I started to rebel.

The reaction to black interests me and I've been delving into the psychology of the colour  (although it isn't strictly speaking a colour!).

People in Power Like Black

Steve Jobs famously had a uniform - black turtle neck, blue jeans and New Balance trainers. His logic was that the less time he spent making decisions, the more time and energy he had for the important things.

His minimal style was copied by Elizabeth Holmes from Theranos, shown here portrayed by Amanda Seyfried in the HBO drama. 

Research in 2022 showed that Black is the color you choose when you want to impress, reassure or woo. It conveys credibility.

I used to wear black at work when I was mixing with the young trendies at the ad agency. I had a black MaxMara jacket, acquired at a budget price on a sale rail, that I wore when I wanted to look powerful. I still have it and can't bear the idea of giving it away. This is how I used to wear it, with black boots and a big brooch. 

I remember buying the black top below, which has a corsage, to wear in the job I started in 2017. 

A lot of my outdoors and wet weather clothes are black, and it would be foolish to get rid of them. What I do instead is try to pair them with more flattering colours. Below:  North Face rain jacket worn with warm pink scarf and lipstick.

Another reason I wear black is that the gamine style I love often comes in black and white, and very seldom in my spring colours. 

BLACK IS SEEN AS A POSITIVE COLOUR 

Although black is often associated with Goths, EMOs, Halloween and funerals, it's actually viewed by most as a positive colour. In the 2022 survey, black ranked first or second in most "good" attributes and was rarely seen or rated as "bad." Similarly, the colour black is often perceived as attractive. One study suggests that this is because it is often perceived as "serious" and "reliable," which in turn has a major impact on self-esteem.

Nearly half of women and 64% of men agreed that the colour black exudes confidence. 

Black is also said to be a slimming colour, one of the reasons why every women often have a "little black dress" in their wardrobe for parties.

How do you feel about black? Do you wear it often, or just occasionally for particular types of event or occasion? Do tell in the comments. Scroll down below the link-up to find the comments box.

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LAST WEEK'S FAVOURITES

Hair and Self Esteem by Kellyann at This Blonde's Shopping Bag

Linen Skirt for Fall 3 Ways by Mireille of Chez Mireille

Is This Mutton's Pick

Blush Pink A Line Midi Dress by Amber of Avec Amber 

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