The fashion industry is one that constantly evolves and pushes different boundaries every day. On the personal level, the world of fashion is also open to interpretation, giving individuals a chance to reflect their personal style. Columnists Alexis Williams and Aubrey Yeo look at different topics in fashion, and find out what keeps fashion moving forward at UCLA. This week, they will focus on a timeless pairing: black and white.
It’s really hard to imagine a life without color.
Words like “vibrant” always seem to connote positives, while words like “dull” perpetuate the opposite. Why is it then that outfits devoid of color are so popular, and have been for such a long time? I guess things just aren’t so black and white.
Quite simply, black and white are fashion staples, so I guess it’s only fitting that they go together in so many of fashion’s iconic figures. The combination can be traced back to Coco Chanel’s classic pairing of black dresses with pearl necklaces to Karl Lagerfeld’s present-day signature look – one that never fails to include black suits with the man’s white hair and black sunglasses.
Wherever you may look – or whenever, for that matter – you’ll always come across that color combination. It’s found its way into prominence within the fashion world once again, featured in the Spring/Summer 2015 collections of Balenciaga and Jil Sander, an eponymous label founded by, but no longer affiliated with, the German designer who once spent a year on exchange at UCLA.
I think what really gives the combination its lifetime appeal is how the colors work so well together by ironically being complete opposites. The stark contrast created by the colors creates a natural break in whichever outfit hosts the combination – a simple black belt on a white dress can help to separate the dress to a top and bottom half, while a white shirt with black layering helps delineate the two articles of clothing.
“If you pick an entire outfit with similar colors you sort of look like a blob, to be honest,” said second-year financial actuarial mathematics student Calvin Liu. “If you wear just black, black, black you’re either going to a funeral or it looks just like one thing. If you have a contrasting outfit it’s more exciting – there’s more going on.”
Liu’s H&M; black-and-white striped outfit and black-and-white Converse shoes illustrate how the amalgamation of black and white isn’t precluded to just individual garments. Contrasting black with white on the same article of clothing, whether it’s the collar, cuffs, lining, buttons or a whole new partition seems to add a new dimension and visual impact to the item.
My favorite outfit that takes advantage of this dichotomy is my black knit COS sweater with repeated white patterns. Or is it a white sweater with black patterns? Well, there’s some gray area there, but you get the point.
– Aubrey Yeo, Bruin senior staff.
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It all started back in the early 20th century, according to TIME Magazine.
Over 100 years ago, the only looks featured in “Harper’s Bazaar” and “Vogue” during the winter months were dark pieces. The magazine speculates that this could be due to a risk of soiling white clothing during winter, but it’s at least in part due to the social elite’s desire to save their clean white linens, hats and heels for their summertime vacation homes.
Thus, the old adage “No wearing white after Labor Day” was born.
And now, 100 years later, it’s finally ready to retire from the fashion world for good.
Even Vogue agrees. Over the past few seasons, white has transitioned from a faux pas to a staple of winter wardrobes, and I couldn’t be happier.
I look to Victoria Beckham as my winter white clothing icon. She has been rocking her white brushed wool coat for several seasons now, often paired with white trousers, black pumps stilettos and a red Birkin or leopard clutch. By pairing pure white pieces with black detailing and accessories, Victoria teaches us how to achieve the perfect winter white look without looking like a snowstorm. The white creates the classic look while the black pieces add depth and a striking contrast.
“I think white and black, I mean they aren’t technically colors, but they’re the most classic and simple kind of look you can have,” said first-year theater student and author of the blog My Red Lip Classic Thing Lauren Henning.
Henning’s blog, which is focused around a classic pearls-and-red lipstick aesthetic, showcases Henning incorporating winter whites into her daily wardrobe flawlessly, and using contrasting colors like black and navy to create a more striking look.
“I think they look good on everyone, so to limit them to just a season is ridiculous, especially in a place where we don’t even have seasons,” Henning said.
To keep a winter-whites look simple, yet elegant, it’s important to use winter pieces, and break up the bright whites with softer nude or beige tones, or a striking contrast like black. Instead of white sandals or shorts to achieve the winter-whites look, I prefer simple white heels from Zara, soft lavender pants from BCBG, a matching white blouse and trench and a black bag. The white and black play effortlessly off each other to ensure all eyes are on you, and adding a soft pastel like lavender adds a whole new dimension to a classic white style.
– Alexis Williams