The Psychological Reason Some Women Love Wearing All Black

In color psychology, being drawn to the color black – especially in clothing – often signals a desire to reclaim one’s power. Whether that’s by trying to “shield” from certain emotions, create distance from people, or communicate a need to be respected, preferring to wear all black is usually a subconscious message to the self and others.

Colors stimulate our brains in different ways, and the way we respond to certain colors can say a lot about who we are.

People who wear all black are often highly emotional, slightly neurotic, and have a desire to deflect what they look like in favor of who they are and what they are trying to accomplish in life.

People who wear all black often are subconsciously trying to protect themselves from feelings they think they can’t control. They are usually easily over-stimulated, and perhaps struggle to ward off anxiety and stay focused on their daily tasks. Choosing monochromatic colors creates a sense of certainty and “togetherness.”

However, what’s interesting is that people who wear all black often aren’t bothered when other people wear many colors. It’s not the colors themselves that are immediately upsetting, it’s when they put the colors on themselves. It is, in a way, their identity that they are most concerned about.

Women in particular often wear all black because they are trying to be “more than what they appear.” They want to divert attention from how they look onto what they do, or who they are.

Research in color psychology shows that a preference for the color black indicates prestige and power; someone who wears black takes themselves seriously. As they are inherently ambitious, they want to shield themselves from all the potential criticism and pain that can come with chasing their dreams. People who wear all black are often driven, but sensitive.

And they’re not wrong: studies show that there are many positive attributes associated with people who are wearing black. One survey even states:

Black is the color to wear when you’re trying to impress, reassure or woo. There’s a certain trustworthiness about it on a person that would make you hand over your life savings and thank them for the privilege… Throughout all our survey, black came first or second in most ‘good’ traits (for example confidence, intelligence and sexiness) and barely figured in the ‘bad’ traits (arrogance).”

The color black is often seen as most attractive, too. One study suggests that this is because it is often seen as “serious” and “reliable,” which translates to confident. In fact, almost half of women and 64% of men agreed that black exudes self-sufficiency. Gone are the days that black on black was reserved for Halloween. As it turns out, it’s the most attractive, self-assured, confidence-exuding and calming color there is.