The Power of..

〈〈 18 LBD skater dress and pair this with a small black bolero.

The traditional black blazer. Do what the Parisian women do best: wearing the traditional black blazers! From classic tweed to on-trend oversized styles, a black blazer is definitely a wardrobe must-have.

Classic black suit. A sharply tailored black suit is the epitome of formal elegance. You can’t go wrong on this! Both women and men can choose from Classic Fit, Executive Fit, Slim Fit, Modern Fit & Skinny Fit. I say go for all of it!

Black trousers for men and women. Another must-have staple in your closet! Personally, I go for the black tailored cigarette pants which I normally pair with a turtleneck.

Black Turtlenecks. This classic staple has a deeper meaning. In the Western world, it symbolises subverting the norm or being anti-standard. For me, I just love the cosiness of it and one can’t help but channel Audrey Hepburn’s character, Jo Stockton in Funny Face!

Black T- Shirts. Never underestimate the true power of a black t-shirt. There’s strength in simplicity. You can go for either the crew neck or the V-neck style (which is most flattering for all body types) and you can dress your t-shirt up by wearing a blazer over it or wearing it as is for a more casual look.

Black Coat. If, like me, you live in a cold climate, then a black wool coat is a must investment. Complete your closet with classic or edgy coats from real leather, to wool, to cashmere or even glam it up with faux fur!

Black shoes, handbags, shades. Complete your black essentials by having black shoes, handbags and shades. For shoes, I tend to favour the tall riding boots, a classic pair of black ballet flats, and the elegant leather stiletto for evening or daytime wear. With regard to handbags,

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I would go for a quilted leather boy bag or a black crocodile tote. And for shades, I’d personally go for the big and bold black shades channelling Jackie O! Of course, you needn’t go for designer labels, but I highly recommend sticking with the classic styles when choosing your shoes, handbags and shades.

Black leggings. Even when you hit the gym or do some sports, you must have the classic black leggings. American Joseph Shivers deserves a round of applause for inventing the Lycra fabric that is used to making these slim, stretchy activewear pants! Leggings are so comfortable to wear and you can even pair this piece with anything and everything under the sun!

In conclusion, one definitely agrees with Karl Lagerfeld when he once said, “One is never really underdressed or overdressed when wearing black.” Also, always remember this: black is not a sad colour. On the contrary, it is exciting, poetic, graceful and grown-up! Happy shopping in black!

Matte Laurel-Zalko is a former restaurateur and hotelier, a mother, a wife, a health and wellness aficionado, food and wine enthusiast, a dog-lover, and lifestyle columnist exclusively for Philippine Canadian Inquirer (PCI).