It is fall in New England and there is nothing more beautiful than a brilliant blue sky as a backdrop to crimson and tangerine-colored maple trees, as a gentle breeze scatters fallen leaves. I have taken to wearing a bright orange sweater with black leggings for which I get many compliments.

We wonder if clothing is seasonal in more than summer versus winter fabrics. For example, when we think blue and white, we imagine a summer scene, by the beach or sitting under an umbrella sipping summer drinks. Orange and reds are fall colors, and perhaps pastels remind us of spring. But then there is black, which is the go to color for all of us whatever season and whatever place. What is it about black that is so universal? Has it always been this way? We tried to find out when it was that we all started to wear black.

Guess Who?

Audrey Hepburn

Think back to the scenes in the “Godfather” in Italy where the women of the village were dressed in black, think back to the traditional clothing of mourning where widows wore black for a year, and think back to a time when one only work black at a funeral.   No longer is this the case, and it may have been when Chanel came out with “the little black dress”.   And then Christian Dior designed the black afternoon cocktail dress for the wealthy and fashionable in the ‘50s.  Then came the beatnik era and the fabulous Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” in black tights, black sweater and black flats.

There was also a time when black was associated with the Satanic and black leather was the choice of heavy rock bands. Someone wrote that colors have meaning and that black symbolizes depression and anxiety but we do not agree. Black is slimming and it is in style wherever you go. Walk down the streets in New York City in black and you are fashionable, no question about it.   Here’s to it, summer or winter or fall or spring, go for it. Find great winter black leggings, a beautiful black cashmere oversized sweater and black boots, and you are it girl!

Lucy and Claudia