5 min read
Black is the most powerful neutral and the least forgiving one. It holds contrast against light tones, and it can flatten an outfit if everything around it is also dark.
The way to keep black interesting is to vary texture and to introduce either a bright light or a warm tone, not a third dark.
With white and grey
Black and white is the highest-contrast pairing there is. It reads graphic and modern, and it works in anything from tailoring to a plain t-shirt and trousers.
Grey softens black. A charcoal knit with black trousers reads quieter than black and white, and a pale grey adds a calm mid-tone between the two.
With warm tones
Camel, cream and tan warm up black and stop it looking severe. A black coat over a camel knit is one of the most useful cold-weather combinations in a wardrobe.
A single warm accent, such as a burgundy scarf or a rust bag, gives a black outfit a focus without changing its mood.
With navy, denim and colour
Black with navy is a considered mix in modern styling. Keep the fabrics different so the two darks read as a choice rather than a near miss.
Denim blue relaxes black and makes it casual. Bright colour against black reads strong and graphic: one saturated piece is enough.
The takeaway · Give black contrast: white and grey to sharpen it, camel, cream and burgundy to warm it.