Since Coco Chanel revolutionised the 1920s Fashion Scene with her then-shocking monochrome outfits, the Little Black Dress, or LBD, has risen to iconic status as a paragon of versatility, sophistication and sexual allure.

Before the ’20s, black clothes were more associated with the clothing of the servants or mourning. Still, there was something about the Great Depression which called the stars of the first screens to flaunt their bodies and go against societal and religious custom by discovering black was a powerful attention-grabber. Women were about to discover the LBD at a time when simplicity and affordability were key. So was expressing freedom.

Later, during the war, when textiles and fabrics were rationed, the simple black dress remained the outfit of choice for elegance without breaking the bank.

For practical reasons, the popularity of LBD grew in Hollywood. Technicolour films became more common, and filmmakers relied on little black dresses since other colours looked distorted on-screen, often messing up the colouring process.

Since then, designers have relied on its power in the fashion market as a reliable timeless fashion staple that makes women feel good and makes money. ‘What’s not to love?’ I hear you say.

For me, Image, which includes our style, energy and values, goes way beyond fashion. I’m not a great fashion lover since the whole concept is to have women aspiring to be like someone else’s idea of what they should be like! 

The designers and trendsetters determine the parameters year after year, and then women buy and wear clothes that look like everyone else’s! When those are no longer fashionable, they discard them (the worst pollution problem on the planet) and go and stock up with a whole new lot of stuff so that they are seen to be following the fashion. Um, excuse me? Can someone tell me this is a good idea for empowered women who want to stand out from the crowds and uphold values far above a follow-the-sheep mentality? 

What’s more, black doesn’t suit everyone! That’s the ridiculous thing about fashion: just because the colour is trendy, everyone wants to wear it, regardless of whether it enhances their beauty and personality or not. Let’s go deep on why that is.

 I believe that the popularity of black has enabled women to get lazy about finding their signature look and expressing their personality.

How can we be so fussy about our branding and websites and so unconcerned about our appearance? It’s not coherent! Website, branding, our PR image – they should all be reflections of our purpose and values. They should reflect the right messages that you, as an entrepreneur, want to convey – usually something along the lines of ‘pick me!’, ‘buy me!’, ‘sign up!’, ‘join us!’.

Remember that we are in this energetic universe? Everything including your beauty, your vitality business, and your abundance, are all down to energy. Everything is energy. And so is style, fashion and Image.

Colour, like sound, is one of the most powerful energies in the natural world! In the colour spectrum that makes up the frequency of light, black does not exist. It’s a black hole, a void, a no-thing. And that’s not all; black is linked to the unknown, the occult, the unseen. That is typically associated with the negative. 

 Authoritative and powerful, the colour black can evoke strong emotions, and too much black can be overwhelming. In heraldry, black is the symbol of grief. It is the colour of uniform, authority, religion and witchcraft. 

Black sends contradictory sensory messages. It is both severe and seductive, chaste & raven, posh & discreet, austere & chic, sinister and tantalising.

In colour psychology, black symbolises power and control.

It can be intimidating, unfriendly and unapproachable because of the energy of power it exudes.

It can prevent two-way communication because of its intimidation. The salesman wearing all black will make a lot of sales, but no friends! 

Black implies self-control and discipline, independence, a strong will and the corporate environment. 

On the other hand, black absorbs negative energy. It is useful to carry something black with you to protect you from harm and negativity when travelling or when going about your usual daily activities outside your home.

People who like black may be conventional, conservative and serious, or they may think of themselves as being sophisticated or very dignified. Usually, people wear black to hide – their body or their personality or maybe a secret. 

If you look at a woman dressed in colour, she will radiate in those colours. You will see the woman, her beauty, charm and personality. If you look at a woman wearing black, your eyes will be attracted to the black, not to the woman. It’s the way that black works on the mind and our sight! 

If you go on a date dressed in black, the guy you’re about to meet will not be able to tell anything about you (which might be a deliberate move on your part, haha!) 

Anyway, beware of the conflicting effect that black can have on people! And be honest, look at yourself in the mirror. Does it actually suit you? The power of black usually effaces Spring summer and autumn palettes! Only winters carry off black really well. 

It’s one weird non-colour!

Now you might hate this article and be railing against me thinking of all the LBDs you have hanging in your wardrobe, how convenient it is to throw black on, how you don’t have to think about it, that it will ‘do’ anywhere and ‘everywhere’. If that is so, just reflect on what that says about the way you treat your Image! 

All of those thoughts about yourself, including your Image, body, and clothes, are truly creating your reality! So it’s a good habit to check yourself and your mindset when dressing in the morning! 

Ok ok…I get it! You are very attached to black! So here are some caveats on how to make the LBD something entirely original, and individual and still reflect your personality.

Find out your colour palette. I recommend using the free app Color.Wise 

If you are on the scale of spring, summer or autumn colour palettes – give your black clothes away. 

Failing that try adding any of these items to black to diffuse its power and add some edge:

A denim jean jacket or a soft leather bomber. 

Both of these make statements that dominate the black!

Pairing with anything in neutral colours – a blazer, scarves, jewellery, accessories.

Black is always classier when it is paired with a neutral shade. That’s what made Chanel famous! Avoid saturated colours and black together—pink, yellow, green, orange, and purple are no, no, nos. Blue can work; it’s a combo that has been used by designers often. Apart from the beige family, blue can work well with black. And lately, I’ve discovered that dark brown can work with black as well!

Black and white patterns are very alluring, as Coco found out in her tweeds and her black and cream suits. However, as pure white is also a non-colour, avoid using them together in blocks.

Avoid overdoing the jewellery with black, or you will be sending out a powerful signal that you may not want!

Wear your favourite colour, or eye colour near your face, and black as a skirt, jeans, trousers or shoes.

Mix black with unfussy monochrome patterns – that means simple designs that contain 2 or 3 max shades of the same colour.

Finally, to find your very own classy, elegant version of the LBD, seek the BMD dress – the Big Me Dress; the one which expresses your unique charm, personality and charisma. 

Take your favourite colour from your palette and mix a little black into it (in your head!) 

What colour do you get? You should be imagining anything from deep copper, conquer or mahogany, through burgundy and prune or aubergine, moving on to pine, deep moss, and ivy, to deepest jade, then abyss or midnight blue, indigo and dark violet to eggplant or deep royal purple.

These are all black with colour in! These ‘coloured blacks’ have light and energy. And they will flatter your skin, veins, hair and personality. They will also flatter your figure, and they carry the best symbolisms that black does! Seductive, posh, tantalising. With the frequency of colour, personality and communication infused into the darkness.

You see you can have your blacks and wear them too!

We just had to get the dark truth out of the way.

Jenni P

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