The black, that color, which some say is not a color, represents the absence of light, the darkness, the night, that protective cloak that hides everything, but that at the same time can fill you with uncertainty and pain. But throughout history black It has been used by men as protection, to express grief, but over the years and with the evolution of cultures and fashion, black has become one of the favorite colors of millions of women and men around the world. world.
It has thus become a symbol of elegance and distinction, being one of the favorite colors when choosing a look or outfit to go to work or to appear at a special event, not only because it can be worn splendidly with garments and/or accessories in blackbut also for all the benefits it offers, from causing the effect of slimming the body to the fact that it can be combined with almost everything, which makes a black piece a wild card for any occasion.
If this phenomenon is analyzed from the color psychologywe must point out that black, according to the approaches of many researchers, is perceived as a protection felt by the wearer of the color, which helps to create a barrier between himself and the outside world, providing everyone who wears it with a feeling of comfort and protection.
At the same time, this tone has the ability to represent power, authority and control very well; Hence, it is used by most of the figures of the political, social and religious sectors, where these elements are decisive to infer in individuals a certain rank of hierarchy and importance, which in many cases are misused when trying to intimidate the the rest.
But, the thesis is also defended that people who exaggerate in the use of black, do so to hide their weaknesses, vulnerabilities and insecurities, and to be able to feel more confident, hide fear and transmit security.
It is important to mention that this symbology related to the black color It is represented since the existence of the first civilizations, which associated it with fear, because the primitive man of the Neolithic was afraid of the night and the darkness, relating to death, for which it was an indispensable element in funeral rites, without However this began to diminish with the discovery of fire.
On the other hand, in the Bible There is also a negative view of the color black, when it is related how Ham, Noah’s son, was cursed for having slept with his mother while intoxicated, so his skin turned black due to the divine punishment he received. It should be noted that peoples such as Canaan and Cus descend from Ham, which is the current Ethiopia, a term that comes from the Greek «aethiops» which means «burnt face», referring to the black skin of the inhabitants of that country.
If we move forward in history and place ourselves in the Spain in the sixteenth century, we find the first empire in the world, known for having achieved conquests and enslaving many countries, but also for setting trends in terms of fashion, when it was customary a shine jewels on dark clothes. On the other hand, the black It dignified the upper class of the time, and in England the Protestant Puritans made this color their uniform.
Likewise, in Europe Y America For more than 500 years, those women who were widowed dressed in black, in many cases wearing hats and veils, during funerals and the subsequent stage of mourning after the death of their husband. Later in the 19th century and following this tradition, Queen Victoria of England adopted black in her clothing permanently, due to the death of her husband, King Albert.
Although, in ancient times, the tradition of wear in mourning for two years, or perhaps more, as a sign of respect for the deceased person, this has been a custom that is followed in many countries in all social classes to this day, however, in recent decades it has been declining, and women are observed to wear discreet colors that do not necessarily have to be black.
Already by the year 1884, the use of black color it extended to different sectors, but it was still considered a symbol of power, authority and respect, for which it had to be worn in garments that represented all these values; however, the famous painter John Singer revolutionized the society of the time by presenting his work ‘madam x‘, in which a woman was shown in a fabulous black body-hugging dress with a plunging neckline, causing many to blush and being forced to remove the painting, which has since made black an immoral color for the first time .
This is how, that small great social revolution that John Singer provoked, perhaps unintentionally, but with the aim of showing the beauty of women, their elegance and sensuality, turned the color black into a tool of female seduction, which women have been able to use very well to highlight their qualities and sensuality, but not only that, but also its distinction and sobriety, there is something for all tastes.
Subsequently, the famous Coco Chanelwho was a critic of the miniskirt, but not of «black», took it into account in all her collections, giving poise and distinction to her creations, which gave a place of honor to this color, being considered as a symbol par excellence of elegance and sophistication, it represents elegance without risk, safe, easier to obtain with garments of this color.
It is attributed to the great Coco Chanel, achieve that black was seen as a tone that symbolizes elegance and modernity, instead of leaving it an exclusive use for moments of death, funerals and mourning. He achieved this goal thanks to the creation of the iconic black dress known worldwide as «little black dress”; which to date is synonymous with timeless elegance, distinction, glamour, practicality and above all sensuality and feminine power.
Likewise, the beatniks, a youth group that emerged in the late 1950s and early 1960s, contrary to what Coco Chanel and his little black dressused black for their clothes and accessories, to complement their rebellious look that represented their nonconformity with social rules, puritanism and the conventional, empowering themselves with clothing based entirely on black as a key to their counterculture and rebellion.
In this context, we can also mention that some famous fashion directors and designers have had black within their preferences throughout their careers, due to the power, authority and discipline that it transmits, making it a fundamental pillar for artists and intellectuals who They want to highlight their work. For example, during the 1960s, dancers used to wear black leggings and leotards to express their art, just as painters and musicians chose black turtleneck sweaters, because they were considered “cool”, pleasant, innovative and non-conformist.
This is how, the look began to be used “All Black”, or all black, which currently has an obligatory presence in many parts of the world, where women and men of all ages wear it. But, it is important to note that to maintain an appropriate style, you cannot make the mistake of not mixing different textures or shades, as well as not adding any element that stands out, such as details of lines, circles, small details in another color, for example, in white or grey.
For this reason, black has been used through the decades to express feelings of power and empowerment, and today’s woman does not escape this trend, which is why this color is always found in her outfits, as a basic and fundamental option to attend different events in her daily life, such as work for example. Speaking of which, we want to limit that if you have a job interview and you want to combine a black garment to look striking but sober and distinguished, you should use blue, green, brown and/or beige tones, which together convey tranquility, serenity and elegance.
Such is the importance of black color In the fashion industry and other areas such as psychology, much research has been carried out to analyze its impact and meaning. For example in England a company dedicated to the manufacture of t-shirts carried out a study that aimed to find out the meaning that the respondents gave to the color black in their clothing. In this way, it was obtained that 56% of the individuals surveyed, of which 48% were women and 64% men, maintained that the black it is a color that gives them confidence.
On the other hand, 66% of the women who participated in the study stated that a man dressed in black gave them more security, while 46% of the men surveyed believed that women dressed in black gave them more security.
These results allowed the researchers to reach the final conclusion that “the black is the color that most It is associated with intelligence, elegance and power. making it attractive and interesting for many people, not only those who wear it, but also for those who are dedicated to designing, making or manufacturing garments and accessories in series, for which it is taken into account when making decisions at the time to create your collections.
Consequently, we have a color, a history, trends and forms of expression, and definitely the black color is one, if not the most, that has contributed innumerable elements in the fashion industry, making people who dress in black use it as a way of self-expression, conveying who they are and what they want to achieve, making themselves known and being themselves in all situations.