How to wear black without looking boring

20 ideas

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Vintage leather jacket (here are two good alt options, both mens), Smythe black sweater (similar to this one from Cos), Bode white fish t-shirt, Alo Yoga flare leggings, Roger Vivier flats (a surprising holiday gift from Hirschleifer’s), Delarge sunglasses (guess what? We’re doing a collab)

The secret sauce is in the tiny details. Details like:

• Undershirts matter. T-shirts, t-necks, button downs — these tiny slivers are your opportunity to inject the break up factor. The break up factor is that bit of non color (think white, ivory, navy) that creates the tiniest bit of breathing room or levity. Within the underlayers is a good (low stakes) place to experiment with some color too.

• Take your tights seriously. But not too seriously, you know? Like wear tights, bask in tights, marvel in your tights, but get weird about them too. No color is off limits.

• This is true for socks too.

  

  Olympia Le-Tan book clutch, Q House of Basics t-shirt, Doen velvet shorts, Falke socks (Pantherella has good color options), Camilla Elphick flats

  • On the heels of last week’s Dior mens show, this one feels particularly fresh.

    

    The hataissance of 2024 is here — and these are def our socks

• This is your shoes’ chance to shine. Gold/silver shoes will offset all the black, and the stitching or lining around your shoes can make all the difference.

  

• The right jewelry is character-changing too — and doesn’t have to be as literal as a pearl or gold or silver necklace. You can defy seasonal odds by styling an unlikely, summer friendly piece over a plain knit like the above.

• The hardware on your belt wants to shine, too, and depending on whether you’re after a high intensity contrast, you’re gonna wanna go with something brushed and bright.

• Consider how your textures interact: wool on silk on cotton on velvet on…in the right light, this tiny detail carries heavyweight.

• Add a brooch. Duh!

• This could be your jacket’s chance to experience main character energy.

Splendid turtleneck, Khaite t-shirt (this one from Leset is good), Damernes Magasin red brooch (from Etsy, she’s nice), Bode fringe jacket, but this look reminded me that Cawley Studio’s sheepskins are a great option here (this one is on sale), Frances de Lourdes pants (I wear a small), Toteme boots (think these are the current season equiv, the sole is a little more refined, but if you’re a 35/36, might I suggest…)

Although I guess when we’re dealing with the suede fringe jacket heard round the world, main character energy is never really in deficit. But I can take this opportunity to highlight the unlikely wardrobe hero of the season: these Alo Yoga black flare leggings (shown at very top); for something a little dressier, these from Frances de Lourdes are no q subjective best). They become key man to the widest range of occasion-specific outfits of the season.

The Row hat and sunglasses (try Amy Downs’ version), Skall Studios padded anorak (this one from Whistles UK for $370 looks great), By Malene Birger Gloves, Loro Piana sweater (but anything goes), Khaite t-shirt, Alo Yoga flare leggings (I wear a small), Asics sneakers (the best range is at Matches)

See what I mean? Drop-off look for a 45-degree day. Moving on now to a place where there is no negotiation between maximum comfort and elegance:

The Penelope hat strikes again this time with a Loulou Studios velvet dress (one left in an XS here for $174 and here in a medium, for 20% less than that; it’s an easy tailoring job and the dress is shifty so size matters less than normal) styled over Toteme flare leg pants and a La Collection oatmeal turtleneck knit tied around my shoulders. The boots are you know what too

The sweater is practically a shawl. And while we’re in the realm of this hat, which could be a pill box, feather cap, or plain, simple beanie for you, there is also:

Same Khaite tee, Ines Aquino black button down (LMND’s is solid also), Liberowe black skirt (here’s a more fluid one), Toteme riding boots (they’re on sale in some sizes here, and recently I like this new brand too) and a belt from Santangelo

How a black mini skirt interacts with black (but sheer) tights. See also how the t-shirt makes all the difference? The belt is just gravy. Another example with a collared shirt:

Anne & Valentin sunglasses, Splendid turtleneck, Soeur white button down (just the right amount of collar, you know?), Smythe sweater (this one’s a good shape, but it will be itchy), Toteme flare leg pants, Chanel booties from the current Coco Neige collection

And here again with alternative lace accents, and that shiny belt hardware:

Emi Mess black trousers and The Row black bow grosgrain sandals — the trick for this kind of look in partic is to pair them with a thick ass sock

Kallmeyer leather jacket (but she is the one; in the realm of leather I like her too), Doen silk top, Alighieri gold necklace, Khaite belt (adequate alt here)

Which could be fashioned into the easiest black tie outfit to homemake.

Originally published here; Cashmere in Love black turtleneck, Khaite belts and your best bet as far as deal and quality for skirt, I think, is gonna be Norma Kamali, or a dress like this that you style a sweater over. The bag is from chapter 1 of my collab with the French brand Soeur, next one coming soon!

Per the shoe contrasts I referenced at the top:

Loulou Studios sweater styled over a Khaite dress (there’s one here on sale in a sz 4, or it’s on TRR for $720 in a 2), The Row boots (an alt option for you with a wedge here or…my gynecologist wears these and she looks really cool all the time)

Q House of Basics t-shirt (I wear a L), Khaite belt and errant fish pin running around my t-shirt, Toteme black flare trousers (the same ones that have been worn throughout), Skall Studios denim button down shirt under my belt (but anything goes), The Row ‘Tyler’ booties

And lest I omit this old pal, from last Fall’s ode to whimsy.

Loulou Studios sweater, Liberowe skirt, Manolo Blahnik gold flats (50% off at Manolo in some sizes here and then these in copper are also on sale), but now I feel like you/I need these to style with red tights. Speaking of tights…

How do tights or socks make a difference? From

Arielle Ratner black opals, which look so great over a black cotton shirt, By Malene Birger pants, Patherella socks, Christian Louboutin navy penny loafers

Simplest

Khaite studded jacket (the closest current comp is this; there’s one on Poshmark here, this one seems like a good time gal and here’s one with less frills that I do like too) and t-shirt, Blk Dnm skinny jeans (try these?), red Swedish Stockings tights (they’re better than socks with the cropped skinny ankle) and Emme Parsons loafers

To

Loulou Studios sweater, The Row comb necklace (but this is pretty), Kallmeyer ‘Mikado’ pants (these are a great update), same red tights and 2018 Balenciaga sandals

Found some pump versions of these shoes here, here and here

Least

Cashmere in Love black cardigan, Annie’s Ibiza embroidered dress (this doesn’t feel completely off as a comp), Alaia lace up sandals I bought before my engagement for $173 from a Barney’s outlet in Oahu, Hawaii that a reader from Man Repeller found for me. These/these look like less impossible pairs to get on, but the entire range of sandals on TRR is pretty good. I’ve been looking for these! And one of us needs these.

Reasonable, I give you:

Any black turtleneck works, but it’s fun when they have glove sleeves. Ditto that for underwear. The tights are Swedish Stockings and the pumps are from The Row (if you are going for these, beware, they run like half a size big). The shell necklace is from a spanking new tiny brand, Manà, which you can find on IG here.

The answer.

If you’re going to do this the no-pants way, you can hit on almost all the tricks of the trade:

Cashmere in Love sweater, By Malene Birger belt (it’s a really good one), Leset white t-shirt, here’s your underwear again, some lace tights for you too, and Bally boat shoes (alt here)

Sliver of white, ambitious textures (tights, patent leather bag), intentional belt buckle sheen (styled over a cardigan I intentionally peplumed), gold hardware on shoes! But something sheer to wear over your undies totally works too. Remember this from the holiday dressing extravaganza?

Wearing an actual bathing suit

Or here’s one that’s less extreme (creating lower stakes), but still featuring good contrast:

Heirlome collarless blazer, Camilla and Marc net overlay (from another dress — if you have any overlays that style over dresses, this is a good way to use them; don’t know what this website is but love the idea of this one), Splendid white turtleneck, Frances de Lourdes black pants, Lorenzo di Serafini belt (anyone remember these? They might be due for a comeback; then a similar version of the above belt can be found here, plus one more sleek option by LdS here), Christopher Esber net shoes, with a full range of sizes avail and everything!

Unless you consider wearing net shoes and white socks this time of year a high stakes risk which, honestly? It probably is one.

So as a recap, here’s what matters:

• the shirts you style under your outfit (or over them tied around waist or shoulders like a cape)

• the silver/gold accents you choose (belts, jewelry, brooches, etc)

• the trim on your garments

• how you think about incorporating tights into the look

• and I guess the one thing we didn’t talk about is what a baseball cap can give to your look.

Los Angeles Apparel spandex green turtleneck, Bally t-shirt (the blue Le Set Margo is great here too; so’s this one from Bode), Alighieri red string fish necklace, Vince cardigan sweater vest, Khaite belt, Nue Notes corduroy pants, Toteme boots and coat

A free pass for dirty hair mostly, but it works.

See ya Friday,

Leandra