Three Cardinal Rules to Wearing All Black

It might seem a little strange to talk about all black fashion with summer coming up. Most people would think that the color would be best suited for our rainy season (or even around December when we’re trying to cover up all the weight we’ve gained during the holidays). The truth is though, black is a color that can worn all year round – as long as you know how to do it.

People usually choose one piece of black clothing and stick with that. The look is classic but – let’s face it – quite boring. As the shadow in our body insecurity, the area covered by that black piece of cloth just looks diminished and sad.

This guide is meant to challenge that thinking! Black should not be about covering things up but of expression too! If you look at many fashion icons, from Grace Kelly to Marilyn Monroe to Audrey Hepburn, you’d see that they all favored monochromatic styles. They made wearing black from head-to-toe incredibly chic, sexy, and most importantly, effortless.

Fashion stylists have come up with three cardinal rules to all black wear which we will be sharing with you now.

Vary Textures

To avoid looking like a ninja goth hitting puberty, mix and match textures. Pair softer fabrics with edgier ones. The possibilities are endless. A good rule of thumb is to keep harder fabrics around areas you’re more comfortable showing off. So, for example, if you like your shoulders, go for a crop top in satin or leather then matching them with cotton pants

If you’re wearing a lacy, feminine dress, opt for a more masculine coat or jacket and pairing this with black boots and leggings. The effect is classic chic. For summertime, you can simply discard the leg-wear and choose simple black flats and exchanging the jacket with a beaded shawl.

Maximize the Little Things

One of the best reasons to wear black is because it’s easy. We’ve all done this: just throwing on the first thing we see and hoping we still look good. If you’re not interested in thinking which black piece should go with this black piece, try going for a singular black outfit. Look for dresses that are interesting on their own or have little details that make it different from the rest.

Don’t be afraid of fringes, beads, or additional things that give the outfit the oomph it needs. The beautiful part of this is that you can use your extra time to choose the right accessories. We recommend using a belt (black, of course) on a simple, patterned dress to further emphasize your beautiful waist. Or, failing that (because we are all lazy at heart), show off the stunning color with tousled hair and alluring confidence.

Showcase your Personality

Let your freak flag fly! Ladies, seriously, just go ahead and show the world who you truly are. Wearing all black gives you the perfect chance for you to do this. For one thing, you will naturally look sexy. Black just makes a person look mysterious without the person even trying. For another, there are so many ways you can mix and match your outfit. If you want to do the extreme goth look, wear lots of leather (but follow the first rule, and try slipping in something a little soft so you don’t look like you belong in the pages of 50 shades of Grey). Wear grungy tunics with knee-high boots. Accessorize with shawls or beaded jackets. Wear that mini black dress with net tights!

Remember that black is the best place for you to start your road in being a fashion maven. No matter what your body shape is, you can easily transform into a stylish goddess just by applying the right techniques. Confidence is sexy, but you shine more when you know you are being who are while looking good.

One last thing, black is not limited to the streets but in the sheets as well. Have you read our guide to lingerie, yet? If you haven’t, we hope you check it out here.

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