Do you have Abundant Black Disorder?

 

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)