After a change to brown and gold for Christmas, I’m “back to black” for New Year’s Eve!

“Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all.. [Its] beauty is absolute.  [It is] the perfect harmony.“

COCO CHANEL

Back to black

Back to black

Black is elegant, chic and slimming, and oozes drama and sophistication. But, as wonderful as it is, it can be one-dimensional and a bit boring, if you opt to wear it ‘head to toe’ and many women are intimidated at the thought of taking the plunge to go ‘all black’. 

Jewelry can be a great way to spice up an outfit that could otherwise be boring.  You can add statement jewelry pieces like a sparkly necklace or dramatic earrings to make sure you look radiant and glowing and that the ‘all-black’ doesn’t drain the color from your face. 

This creates a focal point for your look and ensures that you don’t “disappear” in an abyss of black fabric.

However, this Sandro dress already incorporates jewels into the waist, so I’ve opted not to wear a necklace, although I am wearing earrings (you just can’t see them!).

Remember to add a piece to your look that reflects your personality, such as a fun hat, a distinctive bag or a signature necklace. 

To get my look, see below:

Style Inspiration


Dress :  similar here

Jewelled belt : similar here and here

Shoes:  similar here, 

Earrings: tassel earrings by Jules Smith, similar here and here

Lipstick: by Gucci, available here

However, I can hear you say, “But what if black just doesn’t suit me?”, and whilst black is a great color for most skin tones, it can be draining, especially as women age and lose skin pigmentation. In this case, I would add the following tips:

  • choose low necklines, so that the “black” is not immediately next to your face
  • wear ‘lighter’, transparent fabrics (lace and mesh) close to your face and keep the heavier fabrics (leather/ velvet brocade) for the bottom
  • add a statement necklace or earrings, or for your ‘pop’ of colour, opt for a bright, colourful neck scarf.

The key to wearing all black isn’t so much WHAT you wear but HOW you wear it. Remember that your best asset is self-confidence and to finish on a quote:

“One is never over-or-underdressed with a little black dress”

KARL LAGERFIELD

I hope you enjoyed this feature about Back to Black, and have a look here for more of our style features.