While “Orange is the New Black” may be on everyone’s Netflix binge list this fall, the title is deceivingly inaccurate. Orange may be the new black for protagonist Piper (seeing as she’s forced to wear orange), but let’s be real. Black is the new black, the old black, and the ONLY black in the world outside of a fictional, women’s federal prison. Especially in New York, black is in fashion no matter what. Black is as necessary to a New Yorker’s wardrobe as Butler 209 is to a late night study session. Wearing black doesn’t make you look like A. you’re going to a funeral, B. you’re an alternative goth from a 90’s movie (think Edward Scissorhands), or C. you’re a depressed, tortured artist. No, the color black adds dimension and sophistication to our wardrobes through its effect both on our attitude and our figure.
Black can make all different sorts of statements. And guess what? They’re all strong, bold, and beautiful just like us Barnard women. An all black outfit with the right attitude can make someone look extremely mysterious, in an Anne Hathaway Catwoman-ish way. However at the same time, a black outfit can also be incredibly sleek and classic a la Coco Chanel. In both cases, black is empowering. Just putting on a black outfit makes you feel like you could conquer the world whether it be by cleverly scheming your way to the top or doing it the old fashioned way with grace and elegance. If you choose the second route, black is the perfect color to make you look polished and professional. If you saw a gorgeous guy in an all black suit, you’d think, “Wow, he looks like he could grace the cover of GQ”. But if you saw the same man in bright green pinstripes, you’d think he looks like a sophisticated clown. The point is black means professionalism and power. It will arm you with the confidence you need to take on the tough city more so than your neon apparel for all those summer music festivals.
We’ve all heard the idea that black is slimming. And there’s a reason for it. We all saw those models from fashion week roaming around. So as fashion week comes to an end, I think we all hope to see those few pounds leave too. However life in college doesn’t lend much free time for seeing personal trainer and a dietician, let alone time to hit up Dodge. That’s where black clothes come in. Wearing black can be that get slim quick scheme we all look for; the minimal amount of work just to get by. It’s also extremely easy and versatile to wear. Literally anything in black could be seen as high fashion, even trash bags! But, black can be more than slimming, easy to wear, and fashionable. How, you ask? Well, it looks great on all skin tones and won’t make us pale people look washed-out when our winter whiteness comes out to play. If that doesn’t convince you that black is the perfect color for your wardrobe, I don’t know what will. But, hopefully we can all agree that black outfits will always benefit our appearance no matter what. If all black isn’t your style, no need to fear. Accessories can be your best friends with black clothes. From a pop of color in a bracelet to a printed shoe or even a bright lip, a subtle addition of color or texture can add a whole new dimension to your black outfit. Just don’t forget that there are enough lights and color in Times Square, so keep the accessories subtle! Hopefully since you’ve made it this far in the article, you’ve joined the “dark” side and agree that New Yorkers should continue wearing black. The color black has so many great qualities, so we can’t stop, and we won’t stop. Thanks Miley!