In response to our Video Blog Wearing Black: Is that really the best you can do?, one of our wonderful writers, Rick Juliusson, had this to add:

What’s with this obsession with wearing black? Of all the happy, fun, beautiful colors in the world, why choose the absence of color?

In a recent video posting, Carrie and Danielle speak well about our over-reliance on black, how it’s often just the easy fallback and doesn’t work for everyone. But there’s another issue I think they missed—the message we’re sending to the world, and the influence we’re having on it.

I think of this every rainy downtown day when an ocean of black umbrellas multiplies the gloom of the day. Why not a rainbow umbrella, or bright yellow happy faces, or the turtle umbrella that lights up my boy’s face? Each person on that block had the opportunity to make the street a little brighter or a little darker when they chose their umbrella—why did they choose to remind people of the rain clouds instead of the sun that’s behind it and the rainbow that will come after?

Choose Color, Chose Joy

A restaurant or opera hall or party full of black clothes, it doesn’t feel visually happy—it feels dark, heavy, somber. We’ve come for a good time and instead find an absence of color and Joy and creativity. If any of these people were excited about this event, they’re sure doing a good job of disguising it with their clothing choices.

What’s wrong with red at the opera, purple pants with dinner, or the Miami-Vice royal blue tuxedo I wore at my university grad banquet? I shone at that event, added flair, and was in full expression of my personality and style statement.

My grandmother’s word for this penchant for bright and unusual clothing is “arrogant.” That by not following the fashion norm I am being too proud, and also just trying to draw attention to myself. She’s right that if the motivation is to be in the spotlight, then it’s not a healthy choice, and would just make me look like the fool wearing tie-dye at the wedding.

But when we are fully in our power, in our identity, and making a bold confident style statement with our clothing choices, it works! We’ve all seen that woman at the party who’s put together some stunning combination of clothes and accessories that uniquely works for her, and admired how she shines. And here’s the point of this article—we’ve enjoyed her energy and appreciated what she’s added.

Brighten Up the World

Yes, black can look beautiful and sexy and powerful on the right people. It does so when it’s the right choice for them, consistent with their personality and style statement. But a person with that integrity and confidence could also easily add a color accent, a dash of excitement, a splash of newness to brighten up the room, the day, the atmosphere. Why pass on the opportunity to brighten up the world visually as well as energetically?

“With great power comes great responsibility.” For Spiderman this means fighting the bad guys. For people with strong identity, confidence and integrity, I issue the challenge to embrace the opportunity to brighten the world. To be aware that we have the power to not only feel good in ourselves, but also to make others feel good. Let’s add a new energy and vibrancy and COLOR to a world badly in need of repainting.

. . . . . . .

Photo courtesy of kennymatic