I'm not talking about wearing a black suit (with a different coloured shirt and tie), or a black dress, or black outwear like coats and shoes, or black lingerie or underwear. These items are pretty much staples in most peoples' wardrobes, so don't include those. And I'm not talking about funerals and formal events.
I'm talking about an entire, head-to-toe all-black outfit, not mentioned above.
I've noticed some people wear almost no black. Sometimes it's generational. My grandfather, now deceased, once remarked, "In my generation, black is associated with funerals. It's too dark to wear otherwise." And there's a whole bunch of people in my family who, strangely rarely if ever, wear black, which I find very odd. I know it's impractical in the heat. But what else?
I love it. I wear a lot of it. I always feel good in black, and I like it on others. But I like urban, cool, edgy, formal, all that.
How about you? Do you wear it head-to-toe, and how often?
I like it. It makes me feel good.
I don't like it. Black feels too dark/sombre/depressing when several pieces are worn together.
Psychologically, wearing black is a color of wanting to blend in, not stick out, be mysterious and unseen/unknown.
I used to wear all black frequently more, but I actually like a fair bit of variety and color here and there so rarely anymore. I'm not uncomfortable at all in black, though, it is a fine and easy thing to slip into... like a shadow.
"Blend in"? No, that's only true some of the time.
It has many associations and representations. Aloofness Austerity Authoritative Avant-garde Confidence Containment Dignity Drama Elegance Empowering Evil/villains Glamour Gravitas Grounding Impenetrable Modernity Power Rebelliousness Seriousness Strength Unifying Has solidity and heft The embodiment of sophistication; Worldly, wise, knowledgeable, cultivated, and poised It has imposing visual and psychological presence It is a force to be reckoned with The quintessential essence of cool and chic The primordial void, emptiness, the vastness of space and all its unknowns Puritans, priests, and monks Mafiosi There is a great dichotomy and paradox in the meaning of black. While nighttime offers hours of rest, nefarious deeds can also be done under cover of darkness
Black is life! However all black outfits? Well it's alright but a bit of color to contrast the black is what makes the black even better. Red and black or orange and black always great.
Actually, I don't think of dark/sombre/depressing. The impression I sometimes get is: pretentious. Self consciously cool and bitchen yuppies. I think of New York City and people who love consumerism, brand names, night life, etc.
Yuppie (young urban professional): a young person with a well-paid job and a fashionable lifestyle. "stereotypical 1980s yuppies obsessed with material objects and financial success"
I don't know why that image comes to mind. Maybe is was. some of the photos you posted. Maybe it's because I also think of "arteests" in skinny black pants, patent leather ankle boots and black turtle necks. Beatniks were like that, too. Trying soooo hard to be seen as intellectual and superior.
All black could, in some cases, signal aloofness, harshness, lack of whimsy and no fun. Then again, some people can look outstanding in black. Black is actually elegant.
I'm not painting everyone with the same brush. There's nothing inherently wrong with black. It can look quite good. In some circumstances (especially formal) it looks damn good. I don't have an automatic negative reaction. I probably don't even notice an all black outfit when I run across someone wearing one. Some of the outfits in the photos you posted are just fine. But I have to say that I was surprised to feel an immediate, visceral hatred for the guy with the ripped pants and the guy with no socks. Do people really dress like that or are those fashion ads? And is that guy with the buzz cut an international assassin or something?
I hope you don't find my perspectives on this question offensive, Amanda. You asked what others thought. I'm just sharing some impressions that popped into my head. Honestly, it not something I ever thought about before. And I am certainly not judging your taste. Your tastes are as valid as mine. And I'll bet you look marvelous.
I guess I grew up surfing and liking the mix and match, Gypsy-chic clothing styles of people like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Jefferson Airplane, for example. (Not the Grateful Dead, tie dye, hippie stuff). I was and still am anti-establishment. I much prefer rural and historic small town to urban, glass skyscrapers and neon. I'll add that I never found black leather attractive. It looks sweaty. I like cozy.
But hey, I'm not a fashion cop and my opinions on fashion aren't worth a cup of 7Eleven coffee. :-)
I like them, even if now that's summer they aren't that practical and I wear light gray and white! However, I'm not sure my choice of clothes would fit right in your question, since although they aren't western suits, they are suits of some kind. I like best to wear black abacoste - which are a sort of formal suit born in Africa as a way to reject traditional Western wear
And naturally a variety of black Zhongshan, Mao style jackets, which are versatile and every element of them, from the button to the pocket, showcases a virtue to master.
Ironically enough, all the Western suits I wear are either light blue or gray. I pick the clothes depending on the occasion and the role I'll have in it.
Very interesting! I had a boyfriend, much older than me, for three years. One Christmas, I asked if he would come with me to my parents' house, just for a few hours. He reluctantly agreed. It was a two hour drive. We had to go separately because of work schedules. He got lost. It was dark and he had no idea where he was, and this was before cell phone. Can you imagine. Eventually he arrived, flustered, but trying to keep it together. My mum was more nervous than he was, though, I think. The 25 yr age difference wasn't the awkward thing, not really. (My parents are cool that way.) But you know what was? He was dressed in almost all black (save for a white, mandarin collar dress shirt; with a gold stud.) My mother was intimidated. She's scruffy and casual, by comparison. It was a bizarre situation, I tell ya. This was always me - existing in these two worlds. My family? No, never. Later, her first (and almost only) remark: "He looks like a priest." I had to laugh. "Well, he is Buddhist, but that's beside the point."
That sounds really cool, and seems like he really made an impression on her! I hope it wasn't also snowing a lot when you got there, or it could have been dangerous. If I can ask, you were in your 20's - 30's back then? I personally don't have issues in seeing people in relationships with big age gaps, but I think there can be some issues in expectations and life stages if they aren't properly discussed - my parents have a 19 years age gap and it was a big reason for them splitting up. I can imagine how such peculiar clothing must have drawn comments from your parents! I've likened as well to a priest when I wear the tight collar jacket, but most often I got compared to the North Korean leader due to similar hairstyle and getting fatter, but that's more because of my medicines than me eating a lot.
lololol. Yes, good 'ol Kim Jung. He's certainly iconic. Infamous. (Did you hear, he apparently lost 40 lbs? ha ha. News flash. Guess some news does make it out of N. Korea. When it suits them.)
It WAS snowing! I forgot to add that part. He borrowed his friend's Jeep, but still. Yes, low-mid twenties. We met at work. (High-end retail menswear.) Yes, a lot of people say age gaps are a problem if long-term/serious, and I do generally agree with that. Or they can be. I have people in my family who don't like a ten year age difference. We were together for three years and it certainly added different elements to the relationship (just life experiences), but we together for far more than just the clichés. In fact, I don't think those 'typical benefits' factored in much at all. We were both irreverent, I guess you could say. Independent-minded. That's one thing we had in common. Did not care one bit what other people thought of us being together. I never wanted to marry him though. And neither did he. He'd been married before, and preferred independence. I married someone my own age. And it is easier. Though age differences, even today, are not a deal breaker, in my opinion. I don't close the door to any age. (Now, most often, I'm on the other side, which is slightly amusing.)
Yes, they say he lost weight because he's worried about the food situation and started eating less. Most likely, the heart attack he allegedly had last year was the wake up call to start taking care of his health or not reach 40. Well, I'm glad that despite the snow that went well! Being like minded despite the age difference is always a big bonding factor, most of the time also way more important than age difference. You can get along with someone who's 20 years your senior or junior and then not have any common ground with someone your age. Sounds like those were really good three years even if it ended!
The thing about preferring older people when younger and then drawing the attention of younger people when getting older is something my father too told me, that he when he was my age or younger he'd attract older ladies, and as he grew older the same happened with younger women. But he also barely aged and just got white hair over the years. He also said it could happen to me as well, if I wasn't a ''block of wood'' and ''robotic'' like my grandfather.
I sure like it, and at some point... all of my clothing was black, ALL of it.
Nowadays, it's maybe 70% and it wasn't heat the most to bother me, but the "unwanted attention" that can sometimes come with it. Sometimes not the best idea to look like John Wick, with the cartels around... lol.
Hahahaha. I just watched his movies! Damn he looked good. Those movies have very little dialogue and the writing is totally cliche, but they have some of the best visual design I have ever seen (and you know how many movies I've seen.) Those interiors, and his wardrobe, are very impressive. (And interestingly, it's not always the same location manager or crew. They just have created a specific look, and keep upping the ante every time.)
I've never found it garners unwanted attention. That's interesting. People definitely think I'm friendlier with other colours. (They notice and remember the colours and patterns I also have), but sometimes you don't want to be seen as friendly, right?
Well, to be honest... it wasn't me as much as my companion, either girlfriend or girl friends, that like to be in full goth attire that would get unwanted attention. Also, in the US it wasn't much of a big deal as it could be in Mexico, where is less common.
Just some regular looks and comments from people, and some times questioning. On my own, it was a lot less, but none of this was an issue, till later, when I lived more into cartel lands during more violent times, that's when it wasn't a good idea to calls people attention... lol. It's a bizarre reality.
And yes, visually striking movies.. that's why I liked them, especially the first ones.
I think it looks amazing and is probably the one or two monochromatic outfits that you can't go wrong with, maybe along with all-white.
The pictures are great examples too, especially when it's jeans and a leather jacket too.
Personally, I don't really wear monochromatic myself though, because I feel i may give people the impression that I don't know how to match my clothes and matching tends to refer to contrast, I believe, so I always go with that.
It's like I'm almost too scared to try it when it comes to all-black or all one colour, although I did try on an all-blue outfit before and I think that looked okay, just by myself in my room, lol, I sometimes make outfit combinations when I'm bored.
I have absolutely no issue with others who wish to wear all black outfits, but I like colors in my outfits. Pinks, hunter greens, multiple shades of blue and reds make the most appearances in my wardrobe.
Now, it is not lost on me that I am literally posting this while in a black t-shirt and shorts. I will take solace in knowing, however, that they are hidden underneath a very colorful blanket.
I think black pairs well with every color, even black. I wear it a lot, especially for work where the dress code uses black. I can wear other colors like gray or white but those stain too easily. So I just wear all black.
Tell me about it! I am in all black at home almost all the time. I never get sick of it and it's the most practical. We're going through a massive, extreme heat wave right now, and I finally broke out some light-coloured t-shirts (first mint green, then pink) and what did I immediately do? Splashed tomato sauce on it when cooking dinner last night. Fingers crossed it doesn't stain. As soon as this heat wave is over, I'm back to black. I never have to worry about permanent stains then.
All I can say is that it just doesn't look like me when I see myself in the mirror when wearing black. My wife thought it looked great. Me, not at all. If you want to send some color theory my way, that'd be cool. Or, I could research it myself. Color theory regarding fashion, perhaps?
I've noticed that most of my wardrobe is black. Because of that I bought a red T-shirt. It says "All my black shirts were dirty". I don't know, I just tend to buy and wear mostly black.
Blacks / Greys , winter neutrals which can be worn at any time , I think all the examples you provide there are stunning , love the leather jackets , its a real statement , particularly as shown here.
My whole closet is basically all black, good quality stable pieces. Makes things easier, shows less wear and tear and matches everything.. also kind of matches my vibe I guess but it's not gothic
For me it's too boring, uninspired and plain. I am a freak when it comes to colors in clothing, a black suit is nice but wearing a black shirt with make head twitch like a robot having an error 😁.
As a clothing colour I don't like black at all. It's just too dark, too negative. I associate it with evil, with movie villains. Dark blue is okay though, or other dark colours, but black is too depressing and morbid.
Certain people pull it off better than others. My favorite combo is a black Armani button up with designer jeans, I also have a fondness for platinum jewelry with onyx inlays/cufflinks.
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