CLASSIC BLACK AND WHITE WEAR
In 1926, Coco Chanel issued a simple, black dress (an outlier in the era) that forever changed fashion. Vogue magazine pronounced the dress “Channel’s Ford” a comparison of its impact on culture to the Model T and featuring it in the October 1926 issue of the tastemaker publication.
In 1926, Coco Chanel issued a simple, black dress (an outlier in the era) that forever changed fashion. Vogue magazine pronounced the dress Channel’s Ford” a comparison of its impact on culture to the Model T and featuring it in the October 1926 issue of the tastemaker publication.
Four decades later, in 1961, Audrey Hepburn wore the iconic little black dress in her role as Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” confirming the LBD as a staple in everywoman’s wardrobe.
But it wasn’t always so.
Way back in Roman Empire times (27 BC -476 AD) Men and women wore white togas when in mourning. Queen Victoria jumped the shark and wore the opposite, black, after her husband died in 1861. The British upper class was quick to copy the Queen and began wearing black when in mourning. And when not in mourning. Black gowns became a status symbol, no matter if someone had died.
Black is classic and chic, appropriate year-round and for nearly every occasion.
Wearing black has its conveniences too. A co-worker went on a sales call one morning and just after stepping into the reception area she looked down and notices that she had one black shoe and one navy blue. Flustered, she asked the receptionist to re-book her appointment to another day. The receptionist wisely pointed out that the male CEO she was meeting with would never notice the faux pas. “Guys don’t see stuff like that.” She sold the ad, surpassed her monthly sales goal and I took a lesson, only having black shoes in my closet to spare me the same fate.
Wearing black and white isn’t just about thinking in absolutes: white hat/black hat, purity/mourning, good/evil. It’s not about polarization of culture or rigid thought.
Instead it affords simplicity and minimalism, professionalism, uniformity, sophistication and certainty. Plus it makes it much easier to pack for a trip or simply dress for the day.