Dear Lily,

How much black is too much black?

-Victoria K.

Dear Victor,

We live, work, and go to school in one of the biggest fashion capitals in the world. New York City is the place where absolutely anything goes fashion-wise. 

I once heard one of my professors say that New Yorkers will keep wearing black until they can find something darker.

Some people associate this all black style with being goth, but there is a difference between wearing all black and being goth. 

You can very easily wear an entirely black outfit and not look goth in the least. 

What makes a look sterotypically goth is heavy black eyeliner, chains, black nail polish, silver jewerly, black lipstick or a black choker necklace.

The entire subculture of being goth involves more than just an outfit, including music, aesthetics, film and more. You could wear all black and still not be goth.

You can also experiment with shades of black. 

You may think, “That’s stupid, there are no shades of black. Black is black.” But you know how your black sweater from Store X isn’t exactly the same darkness as your black jeans from Store Y? 

There you go: different shades. Don’t forget about dark greys either! 

I like to combine black booties, black jeans, a black sweater and a long, dark grey overcoat for a mostly all-black look. 

The slight difference in shades makes the outfit have a little bit more depth and interest and can also help other people differentiate where your shirt ends and your pants begin.

You can also layer a sweater over a white t-shirt, for example, to add a sliver of white to the outfit and make a nice layered look. Layering is extremely popular right now and a great way to stay warm this upcoming winter!

Another thing I like to do with an all-black outfit is add a pop of color with the shoes. 

I’ll wear black everything, but wear a pair of white shoes or maybe black shoes with a colored pattern on them. 

It’s up to you! Black is very chic. It always has been and probably always will be. There’s never any need to worry that you’re wearing too much black; there’s no such thing! Particularly in the winter when it’s cold and dark, black fits right in.

The other great thing about black is that it goes with everything. You cannot go wrong with it because there’s nothing that doesn’t match it. 

It is a neutral color tone that can be found in all stores all the time. 

Black is never out of style. Another benefit of black is that everyone looks good in it. 

You know how some people can totally rock a certain color and others just can’t? 

Black isn’t subjective; everyone can rock it! It’s one of the few colors that works that way. It’s the most normal and fashionable color to wear! 

So never overthink black. There is no such thing as too much of it.