Think of the colour black. Close your eyes. What does it immediately bring to mind?
Here's a few that I thought of:
(photo credit L-R: Google search; learningfromdogs.com; homecologist.com; kuriouskitty.blogspot.com)
Yes, there's all that stuff out there about black being the colour of darkness & mourning & other sad things. But let's leave the negativity aside and focus on the more positive associations with the colour.
Black has long been perceived as the colour of power and prestige. In the 14th century when good quality black dyes became available, government officials and other important people started wearing black. It was seen as the next best colour to scarlet, purple and blue which only the nobility were allowed to wear. But not for long. Soon, even royalty were seen adopting black in their clothes, especially at court. Even today, the perception lives on - black cars in a presidential convoy, black tie-affairs, black suits in the boardroom.
Somewhere in the 20th century, it also came to represent the colour of rebellion - black leather jackets of motorcycle gangs, street gangs, Goth sub-culture etc. The idea was to remove themselves from accepted norms and conventions. Black suited fine. It implied an end to the old ways. And by default, the start of something new.
(photos credit: Google search)
A line of thought is that people use black at various times to also hide - some use it to hide their weight; some their feelings or insecurities, some to project an aura of mystery.
To be honest, I have worn black many times because it makes me feel more confident & more in control. Who cares if it's all in my head... after all, it's how I feel that counts.
Wearing black makes me happy!
Here's a few that I thought of:
- The night sky (dotted with a million stars & a full moon, maybe)
- Cats :) like Bagheera (the black panther in Mowgli). Yeah, well, he's a fictional charcter. So?
- Classic films & photography - where would B&W be without the colour black (or white).
- Ink - on newly printed paper and in books fresh off the shelf. And I have always loved writing with black ink.
- Evening dresses - timeless, sophisticated, fashionable and elegant as always. Coco Chanel?
- Kajal (or Kohl) - the one thing most Asian women (and men) can't keep their hands off.
- Skin - beautiful, healthy, dark complexion. Think Naomi Campbell, Zoe Saldana, Nandita Das, Lupita Nyong'o, Padma Lakshmi etc.
(photo credit L-R: Google search; learningfromdogs.com; homecologist.com; kuriouskitty.blogspot.com)
Yes, there's all that stuff out there about black being the colour of darkness & mourning & other sad things. But let's leave the negativity aside and focus on the more positive associations with the colour.
Black has long been perceived as the colour of power and prestige. In the 14th century when good quality black dyes became available, government officials and other important people started wearing black. It was seen as the next best colour to scarlet, purple and blue which only the nobility were allowed to wear. But not for long. Soon, even royalty were seen adopting black in their clothes, especially at court. Even today, the perception lives on - black cars in a presidential convoy, black tie-affairs, black suits in the boardroom.
Somewhere in the 20th century, it also came to represent the colour of rebellion - black leather jackets of motorcycle gangs, street gangs, Goth sub-culture etc. The idea was to remove themselves from accepted norms and conventions. Black suited fine. It implied an end to the old ways. And by default, the start of something new.
(photos credit: Google search)
A line of thought is that people use black at various times to also hide - some use it to hide their weight; some their feelings or insecurities, some to project an aura of mystery.
To be honest, I have worn black many times because it makes me feel more confident & more in control. Who cares if it's all in my head... after all, it's how I feel that counts.
Wearing black makes me happy!
(photo credit: pinterest)
