I’ve been making a conscious effort to wear more colour recently. I’m enjoying the challenge and the change, but the thing is, I naturally gravitate towards darker, more muted, neutral hues – especially black summer clothes. Because, in my opinion, you just can’t beat it.
Especially on those can’t-be-bothered days where you want to look put-together but understated. There’s an undeniable chicness to wearing it head-to-toe. It also transcends trends, which is a huge plus in an age when we’re all trying to be more conscious consumers who purchase less and wear what we do buy for longer.
However, I’ve often felt pushed into foregoing black and buying and wearing colours I’m not comfortable in just because I thought they were more ‘appropriate’ for the summer months – a fool’s errand for so many reasons, not least my bank balance. It took me a while to realise, but black is just as wearable in the summer, even on the balmiest of days. You’ve just got to give the best black summer clothes a little more thought.
Get it wrong and you can easily look like you missed the Met Office memo, out of place and awkward. But get it right and you’re set for summer style success that, if you’re like me, is far more aligned with your preferred aesthetic.
Keep it simple
If in doubt, keep it simple. It’s something I tell myself a lot when buying clothes and formulating outfits. It’s far easier to dress pieces up than it is to dress them down, and dress-up-ability is one of black’s finest features, so indulge in it. You can’t beat a simple black bias-cut slip dress. I often refer back to a simple black dress from Celine’s spring/summer 2013 campaign that was a masterclass in wearing black for summer…
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Match your shades
It may sound silly, but not all black is created equal. A pair of black linen trousers won’t perfectly match a black cotton top, the shades will be slightly different due to the different fabrications, which can lead to your outfit not looking quite as slick as it could. Avoid this by opting for co-ord sets, jumpsuits or dresses in the summer.
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Think about fit
Skin-tight black clothing has a tendency to make you look like you’re going ‘out out’. Great if that’s what you’re doing, but it can look a little incongruous if you’re set for a day at the office, a wander around the shops or off to a lunch with friends. It’s also, obviously, less comfortable in the heat. Looking for loose-cut black pieces will serve you well in the summer.
Black has a brilliant ability to make floaty, diaphanous silhouettes traditionally seen on the beach, like kaftans, appropriate to everyday life by adding visual weight to the style and taking away the only-on-holiday vibe that can come with them. Equally, it can really enhance romantic, voluminous features like balloon or mega-puff sleeves while making sure they don’t become too pretty-pretty or overwhelming.
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Lean on accessories for a lift
Entirely black outfits can easily veer into #GothGirlSummer territory – this is where accessories are your friend. Use them to add little accents of colour and points of difference. Whether it’s non-black sandals, a colour-pop bag or some rainbow earrings, accessories ensure head-to-black looks less funeral, more fun.
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Pick your fabrics wisely
Fabric is key when it comes to the summer months. You want soft, lightweight fabrics that will be comfortable and cool in the heat and negate black’s quality of absorbing heat. Linen, cotton, cotton gauze, seersucker, ramie and even silk (just beware of sweat patches!) are all good options. If you want to carry your black denim through to the summer, opt for lightweight compositions with added elastane for stretch, rather than thick, stiff denim that could be uncomfortable in warmer weather.
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Add pattern to the best black summer clothes
An all-black outfit doesn’t have to mean block colour. Print is a brilliant way to break it up. Whether it’s a delicate monochrome polka dot, slim stripes, a little embroidery, broderie anglaise or even a subtle floral atop a black background, a pattern or print is a great way to wear black in summer.
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