Wearing Black

6 Rules to Wearing Black Clothes

This guide is designed to make you aware  of the way different fabrics hold black dye as well as which fabrics and textures look good together. With this in mind, These six rules should help you when choosing your black wardrobe.

Wool and You Should Love It. Wools are always a deeper black than cottons (wool holds dye better) which is why when buying black trousers, sweaters and of course suits, you should stick to wool. And what’s even better is wool doesn’t fade like cotton does over time.

Matching Your Blacks. No matter what the fabric, shades of black differ so be careful when putting an all black outfit together. For example, when pairing a black shirt with black trousers, the black shirt might have a purple cast while your black trousers have a brown cast. These differences are subtle, but important. We would suggest buying an all black outfit together so you can compare shades. Or bring the item of black clothing you wish to match another item with.

Mix Textures and Fabrics. There is a right and wrong way to wear black clothes. As with any ensemble, it’s important to mix different fabrics and textures. For example, a heavily textured sweater with a smooth pair of pants looks dashing as does a plain wool sweater with a tonal stripe pant. Doing this will make you look less like you are wearing a uniform more like you put a little effort and thought into your outfit.

Cotton Purchase with Caution. When it comes to cottons, they fade rather quickly which is why I suggest you buy black cotton shirts that have a touch of Lycra in them. The synthetic fiber helps cotton hold the dye better. I would also suggest you buy mercerized cotton shirts since the blacks are deeper and richer than other cottons.

Taking Care of Your Black Clothes. If it is black (or dark), dry clean it. Even if you launder your shirts, dry clean the black (or dark) ones. It will keep the color from fading as quickly. When it comes to washing black (or dark) cotton items at home, use a cup of vinegar the first time you wash a new article. The vinegar helps set the dye. If that sounds unappealing, you can use a dark laundry fabric wash, which is specially formulated to minimize the fading of colors and maintain color intensity. Also, always use cold water with your dark items.

Cleaning Out The Closet. Retire clothes when they start to fade. Faded blacks just make you look tattered and we don’t want that now do we?