Trendspotting Jun 18, 2007 @ 9:00am

Are You Still Wearing Black?

vera wang in black.jpg
There’s a very good bit in the New York Times, where Vera Wang’s first meeting with Kohl’s is described:

“Vera Wang reviewed prototypes from an exclusive new collection… that Kohlâ€™s plans to sell under her name. â€œThis is all black,â€? said Ms. Wang, dismissively. â€œBlack is very â€™90s.â€?

And it’s true - we haven’t seen much of it on the runway, unless it’s part of a print or heavily layered with blues and violets. Even the most coveted handbags have switched from black to blue-gray or white.

But maybe only in New York and LA. According to The Times, “Julie Gardner, a marketing executive for the Kohlâ€™s chain, described the meeting as an epiphany of sorts â€” a moment when she realized that much of what she had assumed to be fashionable was, in fact, out of date. â€œWe were hanging on her every word,â€? Ms. Gardner recalled. â€œWe all looked down and we were all wearing black from head to toe.â€?

The question is, are you? Or do you think that black can be a trend color, the way everything was orange in 2001?

One more interesting thing: We couldn’t find a photo of Vera Wang where she isn’t wearing black!

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posted by a lady

Jun 18, 2007 9:36AM

vera, not only in color, but in print!
http://www.style.com/slideshows/parties/082405CFDA/01m.jpg

for myself, black will never be wrong. ever. head to toe, maybe with cognac or white leather accents, especially on days when I need to feel anonymous.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2007 9:45AM

There was so much black in the fall collections!

posted by Allison

Jun 18, 2007 9:45AM

I'm not wearing black today, but normally I am. It's classic and slimming. I don't think black is a trend color, but I do think it's popularity fluxiates and the 90s were a one of those time periods.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2007 9:51AM

I don't wear black nearly as much as I used to.

posted by aiDoll

Jun 18, 2007 9:56AM

black is never in or out to me. it's just always there, and thank god! think about days where you feel like you have nothing to wear - i always reach for something black and classy. and white. =p monochrome is a lifesaver.

â™¥ +x&o's!

posted by ZoÃ«

Jun 18, 2007 9:59AM

Sorry Vera Wang, this is New York. We wear black.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2007 10:02AM

Of course I'm still wearing black. I work in an office, I can't always be wearing something fun. And at night, black--as in a short eyelet mini sheath, a d&g bustier dress, a little tunic with gold flats, etc.--is as sexy as ever.

Perhaps the presence of black in your wardrobe is proportional to your likelihook of going out in public wearing denim booties?

posted by leia

Jun 18, 2007 10:16AM

I definitely don't wear black as much as I used to. Navy seems so much fresher lately. But when you're having one of those nasty pms days, black does the trick. I just usually punch it up with a colorful bag or shoes.
Vera was in Bazaar last month and mentioned something about black tights seeming so nineties....

posted by glynis

Jun 18, 2007 10:16AM

In Chicago, we wear black too. Everywhere.

posted by Sara

Jun 18, 2007 10:20AM

I wear black a LOT, which is unusual here in Houston. Black always looks a little classier than any other color.

posted by Anonymous

Jun 18, 2007 10:26AM

LBD, hello! Black is never out. It's classic

posted by LL

Jun 18, 2007 10:28AM

a few years back, a friend of mine interned in Vera's PR office, and they had to dress in all black for work every day. I wonder if this is still the case?

posted by sll

Jun 18, 2007 11:21AM

I read that last night too and thought: Crazy talk.

Just think of all the black minidresses this spring/summer and all the coats and tights in Fall / Winter 07.

Amid the walls of Kohl's blinding pastels and tropical prints, it might be unwise for Wang to bog down her section with all black -- too funeral. But sweeping color ulimatums like that one don't age well and are bound to be broken.

posted by Chels

Jun 18, 2007 11:57AM

I rarely wear black. I think brown looks more laid back, and the colors I wear -- red, hot pink, teal -- look better against brown than black. Same goes for navy, which looks more polished than brown. I have some black things I wear, and black is never going out, but I think chocolate brown and navy are fresher alternatives.

posted by andrea

Jun 18, 2007 12:08PM

Black is not a trend, it is an ever chic look/color. When you wear black, you instantly look chic, no matter if the outfit is from a low end label, or high end. As I tell my teenage daughter, "words to live by- when in doubt, wear black. You'll always look effortlessly chic/cool, and you never have to think about it." Maybe because I am born/bred in NYC but it's true.

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2007 12:12PM

Sorry NYC, black isn't unique to you, in any way. Nor will faded black ratty cotton always look "chic."

posted by jack

Jun 18, 2007 12:22PM

I don't think I could live without black, it would kill me to have colour near my face, as they make me look ill.

posted by Brittany

Jun 18, 2007 1:18PM

im sorry, did we fall, bump our heads, and forget ALL about fall 06 rtw?? black was WAY in, and im pretty sure its still present for fall 07.

where would chanel, armani, gareth pugh, and even vera herself BE without the color black??

id like to know.

black is classic; always chic and never out of style.

posted by sfl

Jun 18, 2007 2:52PM

for such a stylish and influential person that is the dumbest and most pretentious statement ive heard in a while

posted by guest

Jun 18, 2007 2:58PM

haven't you heard...the 90's are back

posted by deborah

Jun 18, 2007 3:06PM

I had to re-read that comment -- then had a good laugh. I'm introducing more color into my wardrobe but black anchors it all. Besides, I rarely see Ms. Wang in anything other than black when she's photographed.

posted by Fashion Critic

Jun 18, 2007 4:07PM

Yes...but in my defence it is very cold in London. Summer still has not arrived.

posted by Bonnie Lass

Jun 18, 2007 4:20PM

I don't agree that black is ever really out, but I believe the amount of black is somewhat seasonal. It was heavy on the fall runways, but it was also softened by greys, blues and even bright oranges, as in Michael Kors' collection.

I'm just happy she's doing this with Kohl's while they're trying to bring something more to to their customers. If you don't live in NYC, or close to any major metro areas, your shopping options are severely limited. The choices you do have are usually limited to the bland khakis and polos kinds of stores. (For us, it would be Belk, JC Penney's, Sears, etc.)

So, good for her. It'll be interesting to see if her stuff sells down here in the rural South, or if it'll just sit on the shelves, like the Proenza-Schouler Target collection.

posted by Anna

Jun 18, 2007 5:27PM

The all-black, neo-gothic thing was a big trend for last fall. In fact, I stayed away from wearing all black until within the last year, even though half my closet is black items, because I didn't want to get confused for some Hot Topic shopper.

I agree that black is not really a trend color, that it's very classic. Maybe Vera means that the idea of a downtown, cutting-edge, creative type in all-black is a very dated, '90s idea? Hasn't the idea of a artsy beatnik New Yorker or a fashion-forward Manhattan editrix--clad in head-to-toe black--kind of become a cliche? Street fashion--not the timeless, classic look--is all about bright hues and edgy color combinations these days, not all-black.

posted by Jojo

Jun 18, 2007 5:37PM

I have to say that I, too, find head-to-toe black very 90's and outdated. Formal attire aside, this look is boring, stale, and uninspired. Not to mention it looks too heavy during the summer.

Those who hang on to the all black look because they think it's chic or slimming should reevaluate and update their wardrobes.

I live in Paris, the chicest city in the world (afterall, even the word "chic" is French) and you never see people wearing all black (except the skateboarder kids).

Fashion is supposed to be a reflection of one's personality; are there really that many somber people out there?!

posted by heidi

Jun 18, 2007 6:17PM

looks who's calling the kettle black.

posted by Kris

Jun 21, 2007 3:19PM

She may always wear black, but she also never wears make up. I don't think she means for her personal wardrobe choices to reflect her her line of clothing. She makes beautiful dresses in great colors, but she never wears them herself. So I don't think it's hypocritical of herself to say that at all, since she was referring to her products, not herself. Besides, Black is basic. When you get a Vera Wang piece, even if it is from Kohls, you don't want to purchase a basic piece.