Josh Brolin, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in Men In Black III
As far back as anyone can remember, black has been fashion’s colour of choice, sure each season may put another shade in the spotlight, but black is always in there somewhere, beloved of designers and fashion editors, one of those rare but satisfying sartorial choices where the simplest option is also the chicest one.
Spring/Summer 12, however, has looked pretty sparse on the dark side of things, what with pastels and prints and patterns of every colour dominating the catwalks. But for those of who break out into a cold sweat at the sight of baby pink or leopard print relief is never far away, and as Summer kicks off, good old black has managed to wriggle its way into the headlines once more.
Carine Roitfeld
This week sees the release of
Men In Black III, a film of which the basic idea is that not only do Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones (and in this case Josh Brolin, who plays the latter’s younger self) run around the galaxy taking care of the ‘worst scum of the universe’, but that they do it looking awesome in sharp black suits and shades.
And news dropped a couple of days ago about Carine Roitfeld’s plans to curate a fashion show of all black outfits (from the likes of
Christopher Kane,
Givenchy,
Dior, Louis Vuitton and Chanel) at this year’s Cannes, to take place on May 24th.
So in celebration of a colour that is not only easy to wear, but also effortlessly cool, we thought we’d round up our favourite black-wearing style icons.
Here they are…
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
Literally known as ‘The Man in Black’, by the late Seventies, Cash was known for performing dressed all in black, often wearing a long black knee-length coat. Since this was the era of Elton John and David Bowie, not to mention all the rhinestone encrusted, cowboy boot wearing country stars in Cash’s own genre, this was quite a striking choice. The singer of classics like
Ring Of Fire and
I Walk The Line even wrote a song explaining his attire, singing in
Man In Black ‘We're doing mighty fine I do suppose / In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes / But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back / Up front there ought to be a man in black.’
Morticia Addams
Anjelica Huston as Morticia Addams
With her goth-light figure hugging
dresses and penchant for black lace, Morticia could arguably be a sartorial role model for Carine Roitfeld, who can often been seen wearing a slightly more cosmopolitan version of the Addams family matriarch’s look.
James Bond
Sean Connery as James Bond
The English spy has always supposed to have been the very pinnacle in sharp, suave dressing and that’s why, going back over his wardrobe in the back catalogue of Bond films, he spends most of his time wearing an immaculately cut suit or tuxedo. And always a black one, anything else would just seem tacky or uncouth.
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Audrey Hepburn at Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's
Probably the most famous little black dress there ever was (and it was
Givenchy, if you’re wondering), Holly Golightly’s morning trip to the New York jewellery store just wouldn’t have been the same had she trotted down in a pink or red dress, it would have been less moving and poignant, not to mention far too try-hard with all those jewels balanced upon her tiny frame.
Hedi Silmane
Former Dior Homme designer Hedi Slimane (soon to be at Yves Saint Laurent womenswear!)
Well, not his personal style exactly, but Slimane was the one who created the
Dior Homme look that re-defined menswear in 2000, all skinny fits and angular lines and most importantly, a dark, brooding palette that gave the wearer the look of a tortured, but inherently stylish artist.