Black for Summer
You can't wear black in summer, said no chic woman ever. It just isn't true that to look summery we must be shrouded in white from the dawn of the season and while i love white in a crisp cotton form you have your work cut out wearing it in real life, grubby scuffs, drips and don't even get me started on the yellow hue that sunscreen gives it - all of this makes black feel like the practical more stylish option, especially in the city, but how do we wear black in summer without looking like we are in mourning? and more importantly as we know black absorbs more heat, how do we stay cool.
Black summer clothes have their own set of rules, think breezy natural fabrics with less structure and more sway, Summer black doesn't have to be oversized or blouson but equally nothing form fitting or tight, and it doesn't have to be a sleeveless or short affair, longer silhouettes work and layering just needs to be kept light and gauzy.
The key to summer black not looking flat is to choose fabrics with texture, take silk, linen, raffia, and seersucker and mix them together, this is easier to do with separates, linen trousers, a cotton shirt and a raffia handbag or hat, but you can do it with one piece, belt a fringed scarf around a cotton dress or use chunky black beads and tasseled sandals to add texture or “friction” which is the current buzz word for interesting.
Beading, embroidery and embellishment are the perfect accents to lift an all black look, look out for lace trims, embroidered edging or beaded straps on simple shapes, they make all the difference on all black looks. There are shapes that lend themselves to black too, a-symmetric, one shoulder, square necks and strapless, so if it's all black evening you want, keep them in mind, punctuate trousers with a belt in patent or snake print, if it has a gold buckle even better and add jewellery, all black can take chunky and statement.
If you are not already a die-hard black wearer and want to give it a whirl I would look at black shorts - tailoring in black never fails, add a simple black flip flop and a vest - effortless NYC style. A black maxi skirt, avoid lace and hit yes to parachute shapes in light weight cottons, pair with a loose classic t-shirt- you might want to opt for a shorter length to balance out
proportions. And finally my favourite and probably something you already own, a blazer, bra/bralette and loose high waisted trousers - add kitten heels, huge or tiny sunglasses and handbag that fits nothing in, when wearing summer black accessories can be ridiculous, stop things looking too serious.
