What’s black and white and chic all over?
Photos: Neil Mackenzie Matthews
The combination of black and white is simple, striking and perennially chic. The perfect duo. And, there is mileage in monochrome. The Gabrielle Chanel exhibition at the V&A, last year, displayed numerous two-tone outfits from the 20th century, some almost 100-years old and still very modern and wearable, today.
Monochrome makes for an ideal summer pairing, but if you’re looking for autumn inspiration, I give you Vogue España’s latest cover with another perfect duo: Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. The actors appear in Pedro Almodovar’s latest film The Room Next Door (winner of the Golden Lion award at Venice Film Festival). They play Ingrid (Julianne Moore) and Martha (Tilda Swinton), old journalist friends who have reconnected after many years and come together to deal with Martha’s terminal cancer.
Tilda y Julianne.
The best way to wear black and white and look chic all over is to stick to straight-forward silhouettes and a pared-back look. Team a favourite pair of black trousers with a silk blouse and low heels. Combine a white cotton skirt and easy top. Try a black dress and white trainers. Go for effortless simplicity, Julianne Moore-style with a black blazer, white jeans and Birkentocks. Monochrome dressing is year-round, timeless and trend-proof. Not to mention very demure, very mindful.
Mix and match existing monochrome favourites with a little newness
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STYLE NOTES
I’m wearing the French Sleeve T-shirt from Muji and the Tina gathered midi skirt, on loan from Elwin Studio. My old Birkenstock Eva sandals and an even older cuff from Jaeger.
Discussion (14 Comments)
Roby says:
I love black and white. When in doubt it is my go to combination. A tide pen is great for stains on white, also letting white clothes dry in the sun helps brighten them, too.
corinne clemson says:
I do love a white shirt and black trousers but worry that I’ll be mistaken for the waiting staff, any advice to avoid this confusion?
Hi Corinne, Accessories will help to avoid confusion. Also, look for interesting details eg outstanding cuffs, collars or buttons. Try a slinky silk blouse or more relaxed/ less formal top to loosen things up.
Mrs Tonia says:
I agree with Corinne above about not wanting to look too much like waiting staff. The solution not plain white tops with black bottom rather a black and white striped top or a black gingham top. That’s a good go to look for me. I like that amount of pattern.
Getting out my autumn clothes now. Plenty of black trousers, blazers and jackets including leather to wear when weather cools. Plus many black shoes and handbags found in shopping my wardrobe in preparation for new season.SuD says:
Love the combination on others, not so much on me. Pure black and white are too stark for my coloring. I would need to make adjustments with a lower neckline or an off white and black combo. And I’m a high contrast summer type.
Sartorissima says:
Sorry Alison, black and white makes me yawn. Just too formulaic and predictable. Agreed, it makes an effective uniform where the denial of individuality is indeed the intention.
Dayna says:
I always wear black and white. I don’t own anything else apart from indigo jeans, grey sweatshirt and rust cashmere scarf. It is the little details that make the difference, a double cuff on a white shirt, side splits in black wide leg trousers. Loved this article.
Susanna says:
Brilliant, Alyson! Such an easy and effective combination that I so often forget. Not today: Uniqlo boxy black T shirt and wide white denim crops from Everlane, black strappy Josef Siebel sandals , just the ticket for sunny early Fall in San Francisco. Fall dressing here is so hard: the light has changed and yet it’s still warm right through October. This combo in various iterations will see me through.
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Yes, I love a monochrome look. You look fab and IMO the details are important in making it work so well, including that cuff and your nail varnish. Personally my favourite monochrome combo is white and grey e.g. yesterday white raw edge jeans with an oversized grey sleeveless wool jumper and white Birkenstock clogs. A white and grey combo can be glammed up a bit with silver jewellery and/or metallic footwear. Alas I am rather messy, so my white clothes don’t stay perfectly white forever and eventually get stains. I need to look into matching-tone embroidery to cover stains.