I’m going to offer some alternatives to black for thoseseasons whose palette doesn't contain black. Essentially, that means all seasons other than the Winters.
But first, I want to explain why so many peoplelove black the first place.
Black holds a special place in our hearts andwardrobes for several good reasons.
- First, black very versatile. Whether you're heading to aformal event, something casual, or a day at the office, black is almost alwaysan appropriate choice —reliable and ready for any occasion.
- Second, black is loved for its ability to create a slimmingeffect. For most people, this alone makes it a keeper.
- Additionally, black a color that pairs easily with almost anythingelse in your closet, making it a stress-free choice when you're not sure whatto wear. So many clients tell me they have almost nothing in there closetexcept the color black (that is, before they get a color analysis).
- Beyond it practicality, black carries an air ofsophistication and timeless elegance. It's a color that can project strength,mystery, and chicness, all wrapped into one.
So with Black having so many pluses and so few minuses, why evenwrite a post about alternatives to black?
My main reason is essentially my tag-line: It’s thedifference between looking good and looking your absolute best.
For some seasons, particularly the lightest seasons, blackcan be very draining and simply overpowering.
I will never say “don’t where black” if you love it. But hereare some alternatives to black for the three non-winter seasons, when you really want to create the bestvisual impact.
Think Dark Neutrals
The key is finding your best dark neutral and use that in places you might normally wear black, like blazers, blouses, and dresses.
Choosing your best dark neutral in your palette will help you curate a core wardrobe around which all other items will fit together effortlessly.
I will use the iconic LBD, the little black dress, toillustrate some alternate color options.
An LBD style dress is vital piece ofclothing to have in your core wardrobe as it can be dressed up or dressed downas needed and offers so much wearability.
Winters are super lucky in that black is almost always an option in almost every single clothing item and accessories.
Other seasons are not always so lucky.
Autumns
Your best alternative to black is Dark Brown.
As a Warm Autumn myself, I SO wish retailers would offer brownas a color option as much as they offer black!
Even Springs could do better with dark brown than black.
Dark brown can give us the same slimming effects of black (though thismodel above clearly isn’t in need of that benefit). But it will also add thewarmth that is needed by Autumns and Springs.
Unfortunately, unless it just so happens to be a Pantone color of the year, this color is pretty hard to find most of the time.
A couple more options for Autumns would be Deep Olive and Deep Teal Blue.
Fyi: Deep Teal Blue is one of those universal colors that looksgood on everyone. I’ve never seen anyone look bad in this color.
Springs
Since Springs are the light, bright, and warm cousins of Autumns, by lightening andbrightening Autumn’s best dark neutral we get a great one for Spring.
Medium brown is a great alternative to black for Springs.
Most color systems list light navy as a great dark neutral.And I can agree with that.
But sometimes it can often be too cool for a Spring, and is better suited for a Winter. Finding a version with a slight yellow undertonewill help. As you can see from the example above, left, blue eyed Springs doespecially well with this shade, but my universal pick on the right, DeepTeal-Blue, is fabulous, and also enhances Springs' delicate warmth as well.
Yes, I’m recommending deep teal-blue as an option for allthe seasons. Again, I’ve never seen it look back on anyone.
Summers
Summers are Winters' cool, lighter, and softer cousins. So whatis a lighter softer version of Black? Charcoal.
Charcoal is a great alternative to black, great for allSummers.
Actually, all shadesof grey are staples of Summer palettes, and great color around which to build acapsule wardrobe.
An equally great option is Navy.
Navy is a great alternative to black for nearly anyonelooking to add a touch of subtle color to their neutral pieces whilemaintaining the classic, sophisticated vibe that Black provides.
Navy is like charcoal with a twist,where the blue tones are more pronounced, offering a slightly softer feelcompared to the starkness that black may have on some people. This color is a great option for Winters, too.
In fact, Navy gets listed as a ‘universal’ color by many colorsystems. And while I agree it could work for most people, sometimes for thewarmest seasons, it is still too cool. If you can find a ‘warm navy’, it would workbetter.
Of course, my favorite, deep teal blue’ is also great forSummers. You just need to make sure its not too warm, ending up with more of adeep teal-green (great for the warmest seasons).
I admit, its tough to find this color out and about whileshopping. But when you do, don’t hesitate to buy it.
Winters
Yes, I know black is your best dark neutral. For most Winters,it is even one of your Power Colors.
But just to have additional options, here’s just a couple ofrecommendations for Winters, too.
Deep Red on almost anyone else might be a bit too overpowering.
But on Winters, especially Deep Winters (above), it is a great alternative to black.
As I mentioned before, Navy is an excellent dark neutral for all Winters.
But if you want a bit more of a colorful impact, try Deep Cobalt. Deep Fuchsia is a fun alternative as well.
How to wear Black when its not in your palette
True story: I justhad a client last week write the following response on her Questionnaire thatasks, “Isthere anything else you want to say that you feel would be helpful to yourcolor analysis?”
She wrote “You will pry black out of my cold, deadhands.” I heard that sentiment before but never in those words 😉
If you are one of those people who you will not let go of black,and it is not in your seasonal palette, that’s ok.
Here’s a few tips on how towear it more successfully.
1. The farther away it is, the less effect it willhave. Pants and skirts and anything farther away from you ‘hot zone’ can be inblack with fewer problems than tops, jackets and scarves.
2. Show more skin. The more skin and less blackthat exists means of course the color has less impact. A lower neckline and spaghettistraps, for example, are better than a high neckline and thick straps.
3. Whatever color you pair with black make sure itis one of your best palette colors to try and mitigate the black. This ensures youare wearing something to pick up and enhance your coloring.
4. Most importantly, always make sure you arewearing your best makeup colors and hair color for your season. These are directlyin your hot zone and are crucial to get correct.
