This week on Fashion on Fifth, we’re going back to black. In reality, we never really left black. The most versatile color, it’s chic, punk, and rock and roll all at once. Feminine or masculine, young or old, black is a go-to. Perhaps you grew up similar to the author bell hooks, who wrote that black is a woman’s color, and she must become a woman before she is allowed to wear it. Or you’re like me, who my parents dressed in black because it never stained during long childhood days spent mucking around outside with my pets and sisters. Regardless of your sartorial upbringing, black is a staple and a statement simultaneously.
Qui Chocho he/him
@qquichocho, first-year Parsons School of Design fashion design student
Qui tells me that “all-black is an everyday thing.” He adds dimensions to his monochrome outfit with the plaid headband and pinstripe pants. Black is his favorite because it exposes the silhouette and fit of an outfit when sometimes colors and patterns distract from them. Qui made his matching black bag himself; it’s a pleated, crossbody sack that can expand from 14 inches to 36. His silver boots remind me of the spray-on shoes from Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and they’re a welcomed shiny touch to his chic and monochromatic outfit.
Frank Tao he/him & Yang Yu he/him
@frank._.tao, third-year Mannes School of Music clarinet student and @yang_yu03, second-year Mannes oboe student
Frank and Yang were a giggly duo. I suspected it wasn’t typical for them to wear a suit to school, and I was right. They had a recital to attend, Frank with his clarinet and Yang with his oboe. On non-performance days, the pair usually opt for “super colorful” clothing. Yang jokes that Frank wears rainbow shirts all the time, and Franked laughed, never denying it. For these two, black transforms them into their musical alter egos because other than for recitals, they never wear it. I hope these two killed their performance, but even if they didn’t sound good, they definitely looked good.
Lily Henry she/her
@lilyjhenry, second-year Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts culture and media student
All roads lead Lily to black. Even when she tries to switch up her color palette for spring, she continues to reach for the classic color, because it’s “flattering and cool.” Her leather jacket, baggy cargos, and black Nike Air Forces are perfectly boyish, with the rhinestone “COSMIC” across her chest as the sparkly cherry on top. Lily always opts for a monochromatic outfit, her second favorite color to dress in being navy blue. Black is the color of New Yorkers, allowing Lily to fit right into the art and culture of the city.
Haokun Su he/him
@ezio.su, Parsons fashion management master’s student
Many may disagree, but I don’t think black matches everything. It’s too harsh next to pastels, and with jewel tones it’s too vampy. Don’t even think about pairing it with orange or purple, otherwise you’ll look like a witch or a jack-o-lantern. But Haokun chose another neutral, the perfect camel colored puffer, to accessorize the otherwise monochrome outfit. Not only did he match the vest to the buttons on his workwear shirt, but he matched his iced coffee too. Did he do it on purpose? I’d like to believe so.
Anqi Wang she/they
@ughhhf.cu, second-year Parsons illustration student
With her iced coffee and headphones blasting K-pop, Anqi is making her way through Monday morning. As hinted by her pink lanyard and colorful plush keychains, she usually wears pastels and pinks, but today she opted for the all black look. When she wears something layered she tries to match everything to each other. On a chilly Monday morning with final exams looming, black most easily matches more black.
While some students choose black on their minimal-effort mornings, others wear it for formal occasions like musical performances. Incorporating one bold color or grayscale patterns can turn a plain outfit into something a little more thoughtful. In the wise words of Yohji Yamamoto, “black is modest and arrogant at the same time.” Truly, it’s everything all at once.