Do you have Abundant Black Disorder?
This woman has ABD!
Who doesn’t love black? It’s chic and sexy; makes you look thin, and you can wear it anywhere. But when it comes to building a fabulous wardrobe, are you stuck in a “black” hole?
We think so! Abundant Black Disorder (ABD) is a common wardrobe dysfunction that’s rarely spoken about. It can occur anytime in a woman’s life, but usually peaks at midlife. The symptoms: a closet full of black clothing and accessories, the irresistible urge to “buy it in black”, no matter what, and the feeling of being too fat or too visible if you wear anything other than black, black, black.
What women who have ABD don’t realize is, that an abundance of Black seriously cramps your style and makes you look old. How? After 40 too much black is notorious for draining the color from your already lighter, aging skin. Black hides your fabulous 40+ personality, while constantly dressing in black signals, ” I’m old. Don’t notice me. “…Sad!
We compare having ABD to going to an ice cream store and always ordering a single scoop of low-fat vanilla ice milk. It’s basic and practical, but it will leave you feeling bored and unsatisfied, sucking the joy from your life, and your looks.
How can you cure ADB? STOP being so terribly predictable. Perk up your looks and liven up your soul with a dash of color. Promise yourself not to buy anymore black for a very long time.
If that’s too drastic a change for you right off the bat, then look for outfits that combine black with a bold color. Here’s a few examples to ease you slowly out of black and into color:
| Flower Power:Floral prints are a huge trend this spring. Sheath dresses look polished on everyone. If you are bottom heavy try a sheath with a slightly wider A bottom. (Saks) |  |
| Black on Top:Black makes you look smaller. So if you have a large bust or big shoulders and a small bottom, wear black up top and a brighter pattern/and or bright color on your bottom half to balance you out. If the black washes out your face a bit, add a touch of jewelry such as cute earrings to put some color by you cheeks. (Saks) |  |
| Color BlockWear two blocks of color ( black and a bright) for a dramatic effect. If you are short and heavy, be careful as a horizontal line can chop you up making you look shorter and wider. Go for a monochromatic ( all one color) look instead. (Saks) |  |
| Trick the eye:Patches of black at strategic spots such as the waist can create a waist where there is little. (Saks) |  |
| Add personality: A simple pattern in a bright color adds life and personality to a black wrap dress, where there was none before. (Saks) |  |
| Modern way to wear color: Even though this jacket is bold fuchsia, the style is sporty and plain. Mix it with a plain black skirt the outfit would look deadly boring. Pair it with this contemporary pop art patterned skirt and the look is spirited and fresh. (Saks) |  |
I like this. I am in to bright colors this year. I love the yellow and black. Fresh and a nice clean look.
The lady in the red with black print skirt, on the bottom, looks like a motorcycle driver, trick the eye, actually pains the eye, black on top is perfect and flower power is hard to take seriously, though it is pretty!
Sandra – I will not wear so much black, I promise.
I’ve started buying deep, warm ink blue instead of black. It works wonders for my complexion.
YEAH, Karlanne! Now you can have fun and start pairing it with other colors than just cream or black…try looking at flowers, they combine the most interesting color combos, that you might never have thought of!!
Hi Sandra,
Great to hear you are taking the “not so much black” promise! Would love to hear your feedback of what happens when you do!!!
Keep us in touch! Also, you can have fun with color and not use black at all. Try pairing a teal sweater with a pink top, or any other color blocks.
No black needed at all!!!
The picture at the beginning of the woman in black was my LOL for the day – just hilarious! That will be a good visual reminder NOT to overdo on the black!
I have a black V-neck cinched waist cardigan. How can I make it work for spring? Now I feel so bad about black. I already try finding other things but usually all I can find is black or grey in all shades and grey does nothing for me as I am autumn color.
What about black and grey leopard print scarves. Are they a no? Paired with back even worse?
HI Nicole,
Don’t feel bad about black but you are right in trying to help liven it up! SInce you are an autumn color like me (JoJami) I sure know what you are talking about when it comes to shopping…there is SO much grey and black out there…but I just pass it all up (and it can be really hard to do sometimes) and have put in lots of chocolate brown in my wardrobe instead. But you can still wear black and spice it up with turquoise, golds, greens and plums. You might want to find a long skinny scarf that has some cream and brown and black and mustard and that would really make your black cardigan pop!
Nicole, about your question on the grey and black leopard scarf… I actually have one of those as well and do wear it, but I have to say, it never really makes me feel my best. I have since stayed away from buying drab colored scarves, since they are ment to help “spice” up an outfit!
I am coming to grips with being 40 and trying to figure out how to properly dress for my age. I have been in the all black rut for a while and have been trying to learn how to “grow out of it.” With the spring in the air, I love these outfits.
If this is an 40 website…and you want us to overcome our ABD, then why do you show girls (not women) in coloful attire. Show us OUR age women in colorful clothes. That’s the whole idea, right? I already know younger women/girls look cute in black, colors, etc.
I wish every woman could read your ABD article. I’m on a personal mission to get women into color when they shop in my beach boutique. Some won’t even try anything if it’s not black. But the ones who try color and/or prints are always thrilled with what color can do for your face as well as your figure. Ladies, have someone take your photo from behind wearing a black one piece swimsuit, then have a photo taken from behind wearing a similarly styled swimsuit but in a brightly colored print. ‘Nuff said!!
AHHH!!!! I look exactly like the old witch in black!!!! went out and bought a fushia sweater, a red sweater, and a purple drapey top, gonna mix it up and style my hair! oh lord, better put on some makeup!!! total wakeup call!!!
oh, found a couple other tops that make my eyes absolutely sparkle out of my face… an emerald green top, a sapphire blue one, and this beautiful white satin shell… oh, and a mustard yellow that looks fab too. kinda love my black slacks, skirts and coats more! lol
I can relate to the post 40 black drains all the color out of my face syndrome! It took me a long while to realize that it wasn’t my lipstick, but the clothes worn next to my face that made me look like a “tired frumpy Mommy”. I want to wear my fitted black jackets to court, but when I wear scarves, I look even more matronly. Suggestions for how to modernize scarves and get away with wearing black near my face?
Hi Liz,
We too are frustrated that we do not have more photos of women over 40 because there are none out there! Most stores are still showing young models and we do not know why they are not waking up and seeing that it is the women over 40 who are buying the clothes! Please note that we are very aware of the problem and are always looking for better examples for our readers! Thanks for your comment!
One more note on the young models…Even though we have a hard time finding models that are over 40, all the clothes and outfits that we do show are age-appropriate, so even though the gals are young, the clothes are still fitting for women over 40.
I agree that too much black can be aging and make you look like an Old Country granny. But I don’t think that the dresses you show are age-appropriate or sophisticated enough for mature women. For instance, Flower Power and Trick the Eye look too 60s–retro is fine for a 20-something, but look like a cringe-worthy attempt to capture lost youth after 40. I also agree completely with Liz S–I want to see all the clothes you feature on models my age!
Omnivore, you don’t think the sheath flower dress is age appropriate? I would disagree. Sheath dresses are classics that look good on everyone! I’m really curious as to what is un-age appropriate about it. Is it too bright? Too short? Sleeveless that is the problem? If you personally wouldn’t wear it because you just don’t like the print or that it is sleeveless then that is just your preference that has nothing to do in my opinion about whether or not it is appropriate for someone’s age. I agree with Dior who said there are two ages – girlhood and womanhood and there are also grandmothers, but it’s not necessary to dress as a grandmother unless you have a certain body type and a certain lifestyle.
I was just wondering what you would pair with a navy dress instead of a black sweater to make it not so dark?
I really love the black top with a different colored skirt. You still get the black but the yellow looks great. I will give it a try.
Black is the “non”-color in which I look best. I add color TO it, but next to my face, wearing black always gets compliments on everything from my eyes to my skin (I’m 57). I have an abundance of black turtlenecks, which go with everything and can take any “splash”. So, for some of us, I have to disagree with the ABD. I think black is the ultimate classy look. Audrey Hepburnish…