What Wearing All Black Says About You, and What It Does Not

First published September 20, 2018.

Wearing only black does not reveal a fixed personality type. Popular articles claim that people who dress in black are powerful, secretive, anxious or especially trustworthy, but there is no solid research showing that clothing colour can diagnose character. What studies do suggest is narrower and more interesting: black changes how other people perceive you, and sometimes how you feel while wearing it.

This guide looks at where the claims come from, what colour psychology has actually found, the many practical and cultural reasons people choose black, and how to use it well if it is your colour.

What people assume about someone who always wears black

Ask friends what an all-black wardrobe says and you will hear a familiar list: confident, serious, artistic, private, a little intimidating, maybe moody. Fashion writers often add ambition and sophistication. These associations are real in the sense that many people share them, but they describe the observer's expectations rather than the wearer's inner life.

Viral posts go further, claiming that black-wearers are emotionally guarded, easily overwhelmed, or secretly want to be “more than they are”. Some even suggest that a person in black can be trusted with your savings. None of these claims is backed by personality research, and judging honesty or money matters by someone's clothes is a bad idea.

What colour psychology research actually says

Colour psychology is a real field, but its findings are smaller and more context-dependent than internet quizzes imply. Some well-known early results have failed to replicate, and reviews stress that colour effects vary between cultures and individuals.

The most famous study on black clothing comes from sport. In 1988 psychologists Mark Frank and Thomas Gilovich of Cornell University found that NFL and NHL teams wearing black uniforms were penalised more than other teams between 1970 and the mid-1980s. When the Pittsburgh Penguins switched to black mid-season in 1979–80, their penalty minutes rose noticeably. Laboratory experiments suggested two causes: referees judged the same play as more aggressive when the players wore black, and people dressed in black chose slightly more aggressive behaviour.

Notice what this does and does not show. It is about perception and situation, not about aggressive people choosing black. Other studies on red clothing in combat sports and dating have found similar perception effects, and research on “enclothed cognition” has explored whether clothes change how wearers think, though those findings are still debated.

What researchers have not found is a reliable link between a preference for black clothes and personality traits such as the widely used “Big Five” (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism).

Practical reasons people choose black

For most people, the reasons are refreshingly ordinary:

• It matches everything. A wardrobe built on one colour means fewer decisions each morning, a habit sometimes linked to reducing “decision fatigue”.
• It hides stains and wear, which is why chefs, stagehands and hospitality staff often wear it.
• It is required. Waiters, musicians in orchestras, theatre crews and many retail staff wear black uniforms.
• It flatters shape and texture. Dark colours reduce visual contrast, and designers use black to show off cut, fabric and silhouette.
• It feels comfortable. Some people simply like not drawing attention, or feel more put-together in a single colour.

Any one of these can explain an all-black wardrobe without saying anything about a person's emotions.

A short history of black in fashion and culture

Black has carried very different meanings over the centuries. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, deep black dye was expensive, so black clothing signalled wealth and status at royal courts, particularly in Spain. Later, Victorian Britain made black the colour of mourning, with strict rules about how long widows should wear it.

In 1926 American Vogue published a simple black dress by Coco Chanel and compared it to Ford's Model T, a design anyone could own. The “little black dress” went on to become a staple. In the 1980s Japanese designers Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto made all-black collections a mark of the avant-garde, and black became the unofficial uniform of artists, creatives and city professionals.

Meanings also differ by culture. In many Western countries black suits funerals and formal evenings, while in parts of East and South Asia white is the traditional colour of mourning. A colour's message always depends on where, when and by whom it is worn.

Common myths about wearing black

Myth: wearing black means you are depressed. Mood does sometimes influence clothing choices, but plenty of cheerful people live in black. If someone you know seems low, look at changes in behaviour, sleep or contact with friends rather than their wardrobe, and encourage them to talk to a doctor if worried.

Myth: black is always the most attractive colour. Some studies suggest red clothing increases perceived attractiveness in certain settings, and what looks best depends heavily on skin tone, lighting and fit.

Myth: black makes you look more trustworthy. Black can look formal and authoritative, which some people read as competent. That is an impression, not evidence of honesty.

How to wear all black well

If black is your signature, a few simple choices keep it from looking flat. Mix textures such as wool, leather, denim, silk and knitwear so that the outfit has depth. Pay attention to fit, because black emphasises outline. Add contrast with jewellery, a watch, glasses or shoes, and keep blacks from different fabrics close in tone so faded pieces do not look tired next to new ones.

Above all, wear it because you like it. Your clothes can say something about your taste, your job or your mood that day, but they do not decide who you are, and they are not a test that other people can use to read your mind.

Sources: Wikipedia: Color psychology; Frank & Gilovich (1988), Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, via SUNY Research Connect; Psychology Today: Do uniform colors matter in sports?.