Halloween might be over for another year, but the good news is that you don’t have to stop dressing like Morticia Addams just yet. (Oh, wait — that was me!)
One of the top trends for Autumn/Winter 2021 that’s sticking around is all black. It was first seen on the runways of Valentino and Tom Ford last year and shows no signs of going out of style.
Whether you’re usually a lover or hater of this bold hue, here’s how to wear all black to turn heads this season.
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The Benefits of Wearing All Black
First things first, can we just talk about how brilliant black is?
We realise that fashionistas who love colour might shy away from wearing it. That said, I personally love it because:
- It’s timeless
- It’s flattering
- You can wear it at any age
- You can wear it for almost every occasion
- If you’re clumsy (like me), it doesn’t show spills!
Even so, it can look too harsh if you don’t style it right.
How to Wear All Black
Follow these guidelines to make a solid black outfit work for you this Autumn/Winter.
1. Build Your Outfit Around a Key Piece
How to wear all black rule 101: pick a key black piece (or pieces) and build your outfit around them. For instance, this might be in the form of a fluffy black jumper or a ruffled rara miniskirt.
If you’re new to wearing all black, you might want to persist with one of these key pieces and then add basics like black skinny jeans, a black cotton tee or a black wool pea coat. Alternatively, if you’re well-versed in the world of black, you might want to mix and match your key pieces. (More on this later!)
Either way, keep in mind that all black outfit includes your shoes. Therefore, don’t forget to include them in your overall aesthetic.
2. Use Clashing Textures and Detailing
To break up an all black outfit, you can pick key pieces that have different textures. For example, a black faux leather jacket looks sassy AF when paired with a black satin midi skirt, long-sleeved black knitted top and black chunky trainers.
To take your stylish ensemble one step further, opt for key pieces that have unique detailing as well as clashing textures. For instance, a puffed-sleeve embroidered tunic dress is super cute with PVC boots.
Either way, don’t be afraid to try something new. It’s kind of hard to go wrong when you only have one hue in your outfit colour palette!
3. Add Tone Through Accessories
You can’t learn how to wear all black without learning how to accessorise all black.
To mix up the hue and add dimension to your aesthetic, use neutral jewellery, bags, belts, scarves and hats (etc.). Specifically, I’m talking about:
- Metallics (gold, silver or rose gold)
- White and cream
- Beige
- Light grey
- Pillarbox red
And it’s a good idea to stick to one colour family so that your all black outfit doesn’t suddenly become all black and white, for instance.
I like to include subtle hints of silver or gold in our jewellery, handbag hardware or shoe buckles, depending on what mood I’m in.
How to Wear All Black So It Makes a Statement
An all black outfit sounds super easy to don (i.e. just throw on every black piece you already have in your wardrobe). However, it’s actually quite challenging to add interest and depth to one tone.
That said, focus on combining varied fabrics, textures, detailing and accessories and it won’t be long before you’re attracting compliments.
What’s your favourite tip when it comes to how to wear all black?
Katie Davies is the Yorkshire-based freelance writer who founded Trendy Tourist. Since 2017, she has written for over 100 companies on a range of subjects, from fashion to marketing. When she’s not producing content, you can find her shopping, exploring a new place or sitting somewhere having a cup of builder’s tea.
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