We’ve all heard it: “Every woman needs a little black dress.”
It’s become almost fashion law. But here’s the truth: black doesn’t flatter everyone and it’s definitely not the only option when you want to look stylish, confident, and put-together.
In fact, for many women, black can be too harsh. It might drain your face, deepen shadows under your eyes, or leave your skin looking dull or tired.
So before you assume you need that LBD in your wardrobe, let’s look at what works for you and how colour can elevate your look and your mood.
Black: Stylish, But Not Always Safe
Don’t get me wrong, black is chic. It’s elegant, it’s timeless, and it’s all over the shops.
But it’s also a strong colour, and only truly flattering for a small part of the population, especially those with cooler undertones and high contrast in their features.
Luckily, there are gorgeous alternatives that do exactly what a great LBD should do: make you feel amazing.
So What Should You Reach For Instead?
Let’s break it down by the four main colour types:
SPRING (Warm, Light, Clear)
Go for warm navy, golden brown, camel, or even a rich peachy coral.
Black is often too heavy, but a deep warm navy brings elegance without overpowering you. Add warm accessories and you’ll glow.
SUMMER (Cool, Soft, Light-to-Medium)
Go for soft navy, dusty rose, muted burgundy, or powder grey.
Black tends to look too sharp. Try a softened navy or grey with silver jewellery. Polished, chic, and totally you.
AUTUMN (Warm, Rich, Earthy)
Go for chocolate brown, olive, deep teal, or a warm rust.
Autumns shine in earthy depth. A chocolate wrap dress or dark moss green outfit will do much more for you than flat black ever could.
WINTER (Cool, Deep, Bright)
Go for black, true navy, charcoal, or jewel tones like ruby or emerald.
Winter types can wear black and often own it. But true navy or deep jewel tones will make you pop just as much, sometimes more, especially in daylight.
Already have a beautiful black dress but it’s not your best?
Don’t worry. With the right tweaks, you can still make it work for you.
Here are some quick tricks by colour type:
Spring and Autumn (Warm types)
Warm it up. Add gold jewellery, a belt in camel or warm beige, and choose blush in coral or terra tones. Even a warm nude lipstick helps.
Accessories like scarves, earrings, or a necklace in warm, cheerful colours like coral, warm turquoise, or soft orange can do wonders — especially near your face.
Summer (Cool and Soft)
Look for a soft black rather than a crisp or shiny one. Then add light, cool makeup.
Pinky blush, a soft rose lip, and silver or pastel-toned accessories. A pair of coloured earrings or a printed scarf in your best cool shades helps balance things out beautifully.
Winter (Cool and Deep)
You’re one of the few who can truly wear black, but you can still play it up.
Use contrast to your advantage. A bold lip like berry or red, a crisp white blazer or icy jewellery will make your black look sing.
Use Colour As a Tool, Not a Rulebook
Colour analysis isn’t about putting you in a box. It’s a tool. You get to use it how you want.
Maybe to shop more mindfully, to reduce decision fatigue, or to feel more confident in what you wear every single day.
And of course, the best colour is always the one that makes you feel like yourself.