One of the biggest myths in fashion is the fact that black is universally flattering and that throwing on a little black dress (LBD) for a special occasion is the best way to look your best.

Now, I have some theories about the popularity of the LBD. Some of them stem from the misconception of black being "flattering," particularly when used to describe how a dress makes someone look smaller, or how it "smoothes" and "hides" any shape.

Historically (or at least, in fashion history), Audrey Hepburn's performance in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with her chic black dress look catapulted the idea of the LBD into the fashion stratosphere. The dress was Givenchy and she simple beautiful elegance of it has made it one of the most famous dresses to ever appear on screen. Around the same time Coco Chanel famously published a picture of a short, simple black dress in American Vogue. It was calf-length, straight, and decorated only by a few diagonal lines. Vogue called it "Chanel's Ford." It was supposed to be simple and accessible for women of all social classes, and it was described as becoming a sort of uniform for all women of taste. It also did a lot to dissociate the black dress from its association with mourning.

“I imposed black; it’s still going strong today, for black wipes out everything else around.”

— Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel's quote in particular sums up the effect a little black dress has on people: "The black wipes out everything else around, including the person wearing it." This quote perfectly captures the problem I have with many people who wear little black dresses. The dress becomes the center of attention and is the first thing you notice.

The effect we want when we get dressed is for our outfit to accentuate our natural beauty and work in harmony with our natural coloring, not stand out to a point that it makes us look washed out.

Now, I don't have any problems with a LBD, and in fact, my color season is Winter. So technically, I am the color season that can actually wear black and live up to the strength of this cool color.

However, I tend to think that when there are thousands of different beautiful hues out there, then we deserve to wear a color that brings us joy. Because colour 100% has that effect (dopamine dressing is scientifically real!)

Celebrity Colour Analysis:

Black is a cool coloru, and while it can be stunning on some, it can leave others looking a bit washed out. We often see it worn by celebrities on the red carpet, and I wanted to show some pictures of how different they look when they wear a LBD vs when they embrace colour and wear a dress in their colour season.

Spring: Think sunshine personified! Emma Stone, with her warm blonde hair and peachy skin, lights up in bright corals and light turquoises. Same goes for Scarlett Johansson, who rocks golden shades like a queen. Here they both look amazing in these brighter warm colours.

Summer: Picture cool and breezy with a touch of rosy charm. Reese Witherspoon's blue eyes pop against dusty rose and lavender tones. Jennifer Aniston, who we often see wearing a black dress, looks amazing when she embraces lighter tones.

Autumn: Warm and rich like a cozy fall day! Florence Pugh, with her auburn hair and golden skin, looks phenomenal in earthy tones like olive green and mustard yellow. Zendaya is also an autumn with her deep brown hair and olive skin, looks incredible in warm tones, burnt orange and chocolate brown.

Winter: Bold, cool, and oh-so-dramatic! Winter queens like Anna Hathaway command attention in icy blues, emerald greens, and crisp white. Alexandria Daddario, with her piercing blue eyes, looks incredible in salty reds. As winters both of these celebs, can get away with wearing black, as the contrast in their features stands up to colour, but personally I still think they look better in colour.

These celebs aren't even the best example of how LBDs can make us look washed out, as they have an entire army of makeup artists and hair stylists, there to counteract the effect of the black. For us "mere mortals," the impact of a black dress that doesn't suit our colouring can be much more obvious!

Black Dress Blues? No Worries!

Colour analysis is about freedom, not limitation. And for some people, the idea of giving up their favorite black dress is mortifying. If that black dress is calling your name, here are some tricks to make it work for your season:

Makeup Magic: Don't underestimate a bold lip or rosy blush! You can help bring the right color back to your face with makeup in your seasonal palette.
Accessorize with Intention: Scarves, jewelry, and belts in your best colors will add a pop of vibrancy and draw attention to your gorgeous features.
V-neck Victory: A plunging neckline creates space between the black fabric and your face, minimizing the color's impact on your complexion.
Layer Like a Pro: Throw on a colored blazer or cardigan in your seasonal palette to add visual interest and break up the black.

The Takeaway

You deserve more than just having to automatically reach for a black dress to feel your best. Those feelings that a dress will flatter, or obscure, are not the ones you should be leaning into. Instead, embrace the colors that make you look your best! Fashion is all about expressing yourself, and with colour analysis, you can do it in a way that truly flatters your unique beauty.

If you want to discover your perfect colours and how to wear them in a way that makes you feel your best version of yourself, you can click here to find out more about my Joyfully Dressed membership, where we identify your colour season and find out how to wear your best colours!

Interested in more fashion history? Have a look at my post on how colour analysis evolved from the invention of colour on screen.