Why Do So Many People Wear All Black? - The New York Times

A reader struggles to see the allure of wearing black clothing. Our fashion critic offers an explanation for its popularity. By Vanessa Friedman In August, a middle school in El Paso, Texas, sent out a missive to families announcing that students were no longer allowed to wear black from top to bottom. The thinking was that black was more associated with “depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn.” The decision, not surprisingly, produced such an outcry that it was quickly put on hold to allow for community discussion. And while it does seem somewhat extreme and not entirely realistic, reflecting a very limited understanding of black clothing’s role in the public psyche, it also demonstrates the very real power of wearing all black. More than any other color, it is replete with associations and symbolism, which may mean one thing to a wearer and another to an observer — and which changes depending on the context. After all, b

A reader struggles to see the allure of wearing black clothing. Our fashion critic offers an explanation for its popularity. By Vanessa Friedman In August, a middle school in El Paso, Texas, sent out a missive to families announcing that students were no longer allowed to wear black from top to bottom. The thinking was that black was more associated with “depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn.” The decision, not surprisingly, produced such an outcry that it was quickly put on hold to allow for community discussion. And while it d