When I watched “73 Questions with Anna Wintour” via the Vogue YouTube channel, I was not expecting the editor-in-chief of American Vogue’s reply to “What would you never wear.” Anna's immediate answer was “head-to-toe black." I knew that the fashion matriarch constantly sported vibrant colors and patterns, but up until that point, I considered an all-black outfit to be the epitome of style. I realized I needed to revamp my perception of fashion.
Since I was young, I watched "Project Runway" religiously and read fashion magazines more carefully than school books. When first discovering the origins of the industry, Coco Chanel’s little black dress stood out to me as fashion’s first “man on the moon.” Therefore, as I reached freshman year of high school, I dressed in lots of all-black outfits that made me look more like an FBI agent than a teenage girl.
Another role model of mine also voiced an opinion similar to Wintour’s. Iris Apfel, another creative genius who I greatly admire, stated in her documentary that wearing head-to-toe black more closely resembles a uniform than fashion. If two of the most fashionable women I know were speaking out against this fashion faux-pas, I had no other choice but to listen. Beautiful beaded gowns, mixes of magenta and lavender, and every print imaginable exemplify the fashion industry. With all of these trends available at my fingertips, why have I become accustomed to wearing black jeans and a matching mock turtleneck, calling that fashion?
However, when I started thinking more about this dilemma, I realized that the issue did not reside in the color, but in the inspiration to only wear black. After much self-reflection and a review of various fashion blogs, I realized personal style should be inspired individuality. Many people, including myself, sacrifice their own style with an all-black outfit in hopes of being perceived as fashionable. I’m sure that I’m not the only person who really wanted to wear that bright pink romper to Sunday brunch but didn’t feel courageous enough to take it off its hanger. That’s where the origin of this idea lies; not only has head-to-toe black become idealized as stylish, but also safe.
Although our wardrobes do not define us as people, they are an opportunity to express creativity and personality. My fashion sense doesn’t accurately represent who I am if I only wear clothes that are shades of asphalt. So, the next time you feel like playing it safe with an all-black outfit, push your boundaries and wear the clothes you know you truly want to wear. Sport as much glitter and as many patterns as you’d like and let the world be your runway.
