We've all done it. You walk into a store on one of those days. Hair behaving, skin glowing, a good night's sleep behind you. You try something on, and the mirror says yes. You leave with a bag and a smile.
Then the next morning happens.
That's exactly what happened to Penny, our co-founder. And because we believe the best style lessons come from real mistakes, she agreed to let us tell you about it.
Penny's black top
Penny was having a great day. Makeup on point, curls cooperating, energy high. She spotted a beautiful black top, clean lines, very chic. In the fitting room, it looked great.
The next day, she put it on at home. No makeup yet, a bit tired, grey morning light through the window. And there it was: her face looked paler, her features more tired, the shadows under her eyes suddenly the main character.
In Penny's words: "It felt too hard and too cold for me. Like the top was wearing me."
Why this happens: undertone
Penny has a warm undertone. Her skin has golden, peachy hints, and she lights up in colours that share that warmth.
Pure black is a cool, intense, maximum-depth colour. Next to a warm, low-contrast face (soft hair, soft features, like Penny's), it creates two problems:
- It drains warmth. Black reflects nothing back onto your skin. Warm skin needs a little warmth bouncing back to look alive.
- It overpowers. Black is the strongest contrast there is. On a soft, low-contrast colouring, the outfit gets louder than the person.
The real trap: your best day lies to you
Here's the part we sometimes miss. On a good day, your glow, your makeup and your mood compensate for a colour that isn't working. Blush adds the warmth black takes away. Confidence makes everything look better. So the colour gets the credit that your good day deserves.
That's why we always say: choose clothes for your everyday face, not your best-day face.
How to avoid the trap
- Test near your face, in daylight. Hold the piece under your chin by a window. Store lighting is flattering on purpose.
- Look at your skin, not the garment. Does your skin look even and fresh? Or do you suddenly notice redness, shadows or a grey tone?
- Imagine your Monday morning. Would you still love this on a tired day with no makeup? If the answer is "only with full makeup", it's not your colour.
- Compare side by side. Hold the black piece, then a chocolate brown or olive version. The difference is often instant.
- Sleep on it. A piece you still want tomorrow is a piece you'll actually wear.
Warm alternatives to black
Love the depth and elegance of black? Good news: warm types have beautiful dark neutrals too.
- Chocolate or espresso brown – the closest swap for black, just softer and warmer
- Deep olive or khaki – grounded, chic, perfect for autumn
- Navy – a softer dark that still feels polished
- Bordeaux or deep rust – rich colour with the same "serious" energy
- Camel – the warm type's best friend, light but always elegant
This season, those colours are everywhere in our rails. It's the perfect time to experiment.
Can't live without black? You don't have to
Rules are tips, not laws. If black makes you feel powerful, wear it. Just be smart about where:
- Wear black away from your face: trousers, skirts, boots, bags, belts
- Add a warm buffer near your face: a camel scarf, a cream collar, a caramel coat
- Choose gold jewellery over silver to bring warmth back
- Pick textures that soften black: suede, brushed wool, a knit with some depth, instead of flat, shiny black
What Penny learned
Penny didn't throw the sweater away. She now wears it with a camel coat and gold earrings, and it works. But she hasn't bought anything black for near her face since.
The lesson isn't "never wear black". It's this: know your colours, so your clothes work for you on every day, not just the good ones.