Many moons ago, Audi wrote up a mild rant about black slacks as a fallback item. She pointed out that they can be a bit of a crutch for anyone stuck in a style rut, and encouraged her readers to explore other options for their beautiful bottom halves. It got me thinking – and yes, I think slooooowly – that for me it’s not so much the slacks that seem staid, but the black-slacks-bright-solid-top combo. I applaud ANYONE who opts to wear bold colors for any reason at any time, but this combination of pieces always gives me pause. Here’s why:
- I don’t actually believe that black is neutral. I mean, yes, it’s the anti-color so it’s technically as neutral as possible … but I agree with Trinny and Susannah’s assertion that black can really suck the life out of other colors. Bold, cool brights generally do well, but anything with warmth, duskiness, or subtlety won’t look its best when paired with black.
- An outfit comprised of one solid color on top, another solid color on the bottom divides your figure into two chunks. I generally prefer a more unified look that gives a less blocky impression of the body. Or, at least, a look that includes more than two chunks.
- It’s my impression that many women wear bright tops to keep the focus high and wear black pants to make their bottom halves disappear. And while every woman has the right to direct focus exactly where she wishes, I believe that bottom halves should be seen, loved, and celebrated.
All that said, I know that this pairing of pieces constitutes a work-wear formula that forms the foundation of many, many wardrobes. So instead of telling you to stop wearing these pieces together, let’s look at ways that this combination of separates can be made to look more unified, fun, and creative.
Black belt: Belting sweaters, tees, cardigans, and blazers allows you to bring color and definition to otherwise plain and classic tops. Using a black belt to cinch your colorful top at the waist creates some visual unity by grabbing some of that black from your pants and incorporating it into your top half.
Patterned scarf as belt: A scarf that includes both black and the color of your top makes an even BETTER belt, and can be worn at the waist or fed through the belt loops of your slacks. This item will 
marry the black with the color even more effectively!
Scarf worn long or draped: That same scarf can be worn scarfily and still be an effective unifying element. Tying it up near your face is fine, but even better if you can let that scarf float long. Knot a long rectangular scarf and let it drape, or pin a large scarf to your shoulder with a brooch like this. If the pattern can be seen against both the black slacks and the colorful top, it will mitigate the two-chunk look.
Long necklace: This look will work best with a pullover of some sort, and ideally the necklace should have some bits of black in 
it, too. It serves the same function as the long, draped scarf, drawing the eye up and down your figure and throwing some pattern into the mix.
Black brooches: Just as a black belt echoes those black slacks, pinning a black brooch or two to your top or blazer helps complete this ensemble. It’s amazing how much more pulled together this simple pairing looks with just one piece of thoughtful jewelry.
You’ll notice that all of these recommendations suggest using accessories that include some black. One of the reasons that a colorful top and black slacks can look disjointed is that nothing unifies those two halves. And since it’s pretty difficult to add colorful elements to your PANTS, it works better to add black elements to your top.
You’ll also notice that I haven’t added any additional clothing elements to this simple mix. Including a black blazer or black vest can help create an unbroken figure line, but also means that that nice punch of color from your top is further dampened. So I vote for accessories instead!
Do you do the black-slacks-colorful-top combo? How do you mix it up when you pair these pieces? Do you focus on accessories? Add pattern some other way?
Top images courtesy J.Crew. Scarf courtesy Echo Design. Brooch courtesy BeeJayKay.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
I almost never wear that particular combo. Black skirt and boots, colorful top, yes, but not black pants so often. I have a pair of "statement" palazzo pants that are black but wearing those is not about making the bottom half recede.
My M.O. is much more commonly to have a colorful or bold print skirt and a black top, so as to make my wide and square-ish torso recede. I have something like 10 stretchy black Target t-shirts and I consider them the "universal garment" and will end up wearing one every day if I'm not careful.
I bet that combo is a pretty common fallback for others, too, because I see it on other people.
I hear ya, black doesn't feel like that much of a neutral for me either. My go-to neutrals are grey for winter and cream for summer.
I did the whole black-pants-as-basis-for-everything look a lot back in high school and my early days of college, but I quickly grew bored of it.
Well, I currently cannot fit into the one pair of black slacks that I own (though I've lost almost all the weight I gained things appear to have shifted), so I don't really have this issue. I do think adding black accessories and a bold shoe are good ways of unifying these kinds of looks, though.
I'm a former teacher who retired to work in a flower shop. With wet hands all day, I often resorted to wiping them on my legs…eeewwww, I know, but it gets busy! So I wore DARK jeans almost every day. That's a lot like the black pants bottom, and in the flower business, it's good to look at least like you know trends exist! So…
What about luggage tan belt and shoes and a statement necklace of anything you love…or a necklace or scarf with some silver, a silver cuff and shoes in any color under the sun with silver hardware…or for the colorific
a hot pink skinny belt, a silk scarf with any 2 of the outfit colors and a third bright color secured off center with a black brooch then black shoes…I could riff on this all day…it's a lot like arranging flowers! What a fun challenge.
-Bifocalsandrippedjeans
This reminds me of the "You have to wear a black suit for interviews" rule that everyone keeps telling me about. I'm not a fan of black. Being horribly pale a lot of black washes me out.
Have you or could you do a post on interview wear? I'd love to see some other options besides the black suit.
LK: Yep! My post on interview attire is right here. Be sure to see the comments, too, for some industry-specific feedback from readers.
"I agree with Trinny and Susannah’s assertion that black can really suck the life out of other colors."
This is the only thing I retained from 'What You Wear Can Change Your Life." Worth remembering!
I completely agree with you on this one. I have a pair of black pants that I bought as a "basic," and I have not yet found a way to wear them in a way that doesn't age my by 20 years. (That's not to say that I haven't worn them once or twice when I was absolutely exhausted and just needed to find a way to be decently clothed.) I see some women who manage to wear black pants well, just not me.
I fully admit that I wear black pants all the time. Like really all the time. For tops, half the time the tops are black too – that's just how I roll… But the other half the time the tops are blue or purple or burgundy or some such color. So your post is addressing the likes of me. However I like my style so I'm good with that. I do agree with accessories making a world of difference though and I embrace scarves, belts and jewelry to give a little extra polish and interest to my look.
I do, thanks to Trinny and Susanah, worry about the bright top and black pant combo. I do tend to see black skirts and pants as my basics and I tend to wear them more than other items.
I love your suggestions. And speaking of love, I am loving the color of that JCrew sweater and that broach is pretty fabulous.
Black is most definitely not neutral. I'd consider grey to be truly neutral. You can mix grey with anything, but get black with the wrong shade of brown together and it looks off. That being said, I do love black, I have been on a mission to incorporate more black into my wardrobe for a few months now. I think it lets you play around with texture more, because the garment is essentially 'devoid' of colour, so you can focus on silhouette and texture.
Interesting notion. I'm still having "issues" with the whole belting concept. I'm very short-waisted, with an ample bosom, and I use the untucked blouse/sweater to elongate my rather puny upper half. A belt feels like it breaks up that line.
At any rate, I admit that I'm the postergirl for black pants/bright top combo you mentioned. Although I usually do colored shoes in either a contrasting or complementary color to the top, which I feel brings the color down rather than bring the black up. Sigh.
I'll work on the black accessories and scarves notion though. I think I can manage those tips.
Thank you so much for posting this! I've got WAY too many bold, solid-colored tops that after awhile just feel bo-ring mixed and matched with various bottoms. Definitely going to try the scarf/belt ideas!
I don't own a pair of black pants, but I am guilty of doing the same thing with navy or grey pants. Especially in the middle or end of winter, when I'm sick of my wardrobe and sick of being cold.
I try to create harmony by bringing the pant color up to my neck but lightening it. So with my navy pants, it's a light blue collared shirt and red cardigan; the navy comes up top but as light blue.
With black bottoms I'd do a white shirt, maybe with black stripes or a tattersall. That's what I do with my grey pants.
This is a great post, Sal! As I type I am sitting at work wearing…black slacks and a red top. Ok, I have some jewelry on, but it's mostly a dull outfit.
And now I have ideas on how to make something I wear pretty frequently more interesting.
I don't know many people who don't own a black pair of pants or a skirt. It's a DC workplace staple and travels well.
I personally like a patterned jacket or blazer.
Black tops don't work well for me as I suffer from dry flaking winter skin and I'll end up looking like I've been out in the snow by mid-morning. A pattern keeps that problem in check.
I wore this basic outfit *all the time* when I had my first big office job in the late 1990s. I did usually wear a scarf or necklace to introduce a bit of black or dark gray to my top half–but still, it was pretty dull. I don't even own a pair of black pants anymore, and I don't wear my two or three solid black skirts nearly as often as I once did!
Omg, yes, that *is* on of my standard work outfits! Black trousers & bright or jewel-tone top. I have read the "breaks you into 2 chunks" idea before, but I'm not sure I agree. That said, my favorite way to give the outfit extra polish is wear brightly colored shoes (usually pumps) that are either the same or a coordinating color as the top. Kind of the opposite of your concept of brining the black up into the top color.
I love tying my outfit together with great shoes. I never wear black pants but this concept works with any outfit.
I completely agree with you that the black pants/bright top combo is boring and uninspired, however there are some bloggers out there who insist that this is the classic and imply that mixing patterns, and using interesting shapes or trendy accessories makes one tacky. ugh.
It is really, seriously hard to find real work clothes that aren't black. While I don't wear black pants, I wear black skirts all the time. However, since I agree that colors don't look great with black, this means I almost never wear color. In the summer I will wear white or off-white with black but not the standard white shirt black skirt combo, because I would look too much like a waiter. In the winter, i'm often in black head to toe. More often, I mix in gray. Prettty boring, huh? Fortunately, black seems to be the official uniform of San Francisco.
(I do wear some color, but mostly on weekends.)
I used to wear that combo all the time. I still pull it out, but even my "black pants" have turned into a pair of pinstripe trousers. Black pants are no longer a fall back item. I'm more likely to grab my grey jeans to throw on.
On some level I intuit this, which is why I tend to wear jeans as my neutral bottom. Having said this, today I'm wearing my black, cuffed, high-waist pants (and feeling like a sausage, might I add) and a tucked in, thin v neck sweater in a maroon/cherry red/grey harlequin combo. I don't like it! I guess you've explained it to me
Yes, I tend to think of it at the "cop-out combo", and I've certainly been guilty of it myself. Accessories are definitely the way to go: a metallic belt, statement-y necklace and/or some funky shoes can make it more stylish.
yup, defintely done this quite a bit. I'm trying to tie in the bottom half of my outfit with the top half more often though. Ever since I read Audi's post a little while ago, I've thought twice about pairing a bright top with black pants and nothing else. But sometimes hot pink with black makes me happy…and on those days I run with it.
yes,yes, yes.
I started subconsciously doing this earlier this year. I didn't know the 'science' behind it but it made my outfits seem more complete to incorporate black in other places when I wear a black bottom. I've only got a few necklaces that incorporate black but I've worn them a lot this past summer since i had black bermuda shorts, a skirt, and capris in heavy rotation.
I'm going to continue bc it looks so much better. and when not paired with a color I treat black as a color and pair it with a top that incorporates black as well.
It's funny you should post this today, because the black pants/bright top is actually what I'm wearing. And it's entirely out of my norm. I just felt lazy today. Threw on some jewelry and leopard stilettos and called it an outfit.
This is TOO funny. Just had a convo about the combo the other day, namely how I swore it off this sort of color blocking after the late 90s when I wore it almost daily, along with every woman corp america. It's just so jarring because there's nothing to tie the top and bottom together. Also, I don't love color with anything else except denim, white, or browns because it's too bright and reminds me of Oprah's studio audience. Not that there's anything wrong with Ops. And I agree completely with Sal -black isn't a neutral. It's harsh. HOWEVER, I adore black leggings, skirts, and skinny jeans with white, gray, or beige on top, which looks more muted, timeless, and a little bit edgy. Sorry for the stream of consciousness, girls!
Hi — I have always chosen grey instead of black as a workwear staple because I love the way it makes bright colours pop without too much of the stark contrast of black. Lately, I have purchased three black tops and a black skirt — I dislike myself when I buy black, and I love colour on my face; however, being a teacher with an ample bosom, I wanted to start the year with black tops, or at least a dark jacket, to balance my figure.
I do love patterns — geometric, funky, flowers etc.. so I usually break up a black top with a patterned skirt. If I do happen to wear my one pair of black pants, I usually opt for a patterned top, with a colourful or black cardi, to avoid the 'chopping' in two look.
I'm so glad I didn't buy the Gap pants advertised for fall. They did look good, (if I say so myself), but I prefer grey as a neutral. or a subtle checkered or windowpane plaid pattern.
Great post & food for thought.
I've found it interesting how when I make an effort to not pair items with black its like I've doubled my wardrobe. I see many more possibilities when I go beyond 'this top must go with these black pants'.
i disagree, sometimes wearing bold 'statement' items makes you look aged, i think. i love a nice fitted black pant with heels. i think they are universally flattering.
I think it depends on the fit of the slacks and the top…if it is flattering and the top is interesting, it can be a really interesting combo. I think the rut comes when the pants aren't really all that flattering or the top is fitted badly.
Thank you for this post. I am a newbie to your blog and fashion blogs in general, and I'm finding it/them enormously helpful– much more so than fashion magazines, which I stopped reading eons ago. This combo is my fallback outfit, one that I feel I look "decent" in, but I realize there is something lacking. Thanks for pointing out why exactly I feel that way, and I appreciate that you didn't just diss this combo, but gave us some tips on making it work as well.
I gave this a try today, if you want to take a look at my post. It's only a baby step- but I followed your recommendations of adding black accessories, etc : )
http://fashiondailyinsanity.blogspot.com
Hear hear! Black makes a strong statement and is rarely as "slimming" as people imagine it to be. And as someone else pointed out, it can be very harsh against light skin tones. I like your suggestions for pairing black pants with a bright top more effectively, because I feel like a lot of people already have these items and little else in their wardrobes, and that's why they can't wean themselves from this combination. As for me, I can't remember the last time I wore black pants with a bright top — probably not since I started watching Trinny and Susannah…
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