Someone who doesn’t understand might look at my closet and see a huge row of black shirts. But it’s not sheer madness to have multiples of any item that is a staple of your wardrobe. You may see “black shirt” but that’s a very superficial assessment. What kind of black shirt? What function does it serve?
Is it a black camisole with lace trim that looks nice under a cardigan?
Is it a black camisole that fits extra long so I can wear it under more cropped tops for a totally different, casual look?
Is it a sleeveless black top with a V-neck that I can wear belted with a silk scarf for a dressy suit look?
Is it a rockabilly black top with a ruffled neck and big buttons that I can wear with jeans while I go line dancing?
Is it a ribbed black mock turtleneck that I wear all the time with my hair up in a bun because that’s my favorite go-to look with a pair of big silver hoops?
Is it a black cardigan? A black cotton cardigan for the summer? A cropped black cardigan that looks really cute with dresses? A black cardigan with pearlized buttons that looks beautiful with a sexy silver blouse for the holiday parties?
Black blazers. Is it a fitted black blazer that works best for church and funerals?
Is it a swingy black blazer with fun buttons that looks great with jeans and a colorful blouse and boots?
Is it a black cotton blazer with a a bit of spandex that travels brilliantly and never wrinkles?
Is it a black blazer with a military cut and brass buttons that gives me a bit of a spiritual dominatrix look?
Is it my most special fitted black blazer with the stunning jet buttons I brought back from Italy in 1996 and that I’m hoping will fit me again since I’m losing weight?
Black skirts. Long, short, mid-length. Knee-length, business casual. Knee length, cotton and summery. Etc., etc., etc.
Everything in your closet has a function. It contributes to a look you want to create and an impression you want to make. There is no virtue in having a closet full of garments that all look completely unrelated to each other. If you know yourself, you should have a color palette you mostly stay within, an understanding of the way certain cuts and fabrics work for you or against you, and an intimate knowledge of each and every garment hanging in your wardrobe. I own many black shirts but I know why each and every one of them has earned a place in my wardrobe, and I know just how I use them in various outfits. The smocky black top with the empire waist that I wore to the office today with a turquoise cardigan, a huge Mexican necklace, jeans and big clunky winter boots bears no resemblance to the tailored black top I will wear next week with a plaid blazer, pearls and suede boots.
A rose is a rose is a rose. But a black top is never just a black top.
Ta, cookies.
You may have written about this already, but what do we do with blacks that fade with washing and don’t match the other blacks?
Jan, I’ve had good results with re-dying items with regular old RIT fabric dye. YMMV, depending on the type of fabric and other factors. I hear you about the issue!
Especially not when your main work shirt has to be black with clerical collar.
I wash all my black garments together in a Woolite no-fade detergent. That keeps them from fading. Anything that looks noticeably “not black any more” gets donated but I can’t remember the last time I did that.
We always end up with a cold load, a warm load, and a load of blacks. I wondered if I would have quite as many blacks since I don’t do as much theater and dance anymore, but now I’m training to be clergy! Of course, I’ll always think of them as “blacks” because it makes me feel like I have the poise and ninja skills of many of the technical theater people I’ve long looked up to.