A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. My pre-all-black days.
I’ve always worn a black T-shirt for as far as I can remember. Scroll back through my Instagram account and you’ll probably catch the rogue grey or white, but I’ve always leaned more toward black clothes.
I have to credit my genesis story to the series Californication. Hank Moody was a true inspiration to the budding writer that was yours truly, and so I adopted the fictional character’s wardrobe, as well as the philosophy of a personal uniform.
But then came the next level—the day I decided to wear all black. Every day.
I remember the pivotal moment exactly. I was at an event and I didn’t know anyone. I had a blazer on, which was a tad tight. I wore a button-up over a pair of jeans. Then to top it all off, I had work boots on my feet.
I felt the tightness everywhere. It was a warm venue, so my pits were getting damp. I remember feeling already overwhelmed by the social setting. Then I had to deal with the discomfort of ‘looking cool’. And after all that trouble, I impressed nobody. I also had the worst time of my life.
That was when I learned I had worse problems than my fashion sense. I was socially challenged, and I couldn’t live in the present. And I had a strong suspicion that you could’ve dressed me in Prada and I’d still fumble my way through events.
So ever since then, I vowed to dress as simply as possible, and to only wear all black. It’s been more than a year since that fated day, and here’s what I’ve learned so far.
More recent event pic. Enjoyed this one a lot. Could it be the all-black getup?
1. Through restriction comes creativity
I may not have the entire colour palette at my disposal, but I still have fabric and cutting. And I see how much difference one inch makes, or how polyester hangs off your legs differently from corduroy.
Plus, when I compare all my black clothes side by side, I start to notice the different hues of black too.
It’s almost as if restricting myself opens up new doors to self-expression. And I get as many combinations as someone with Skittles for a wardrobe.
Also, I’ve defaulted to a daily uniform—a medium-fitting tee with medium-fitting pants—and through that combination alone, I’m able to create very different fits. Sometimes I wear a cap, a necklace, a hoodie, a jacket.
And just like writing, when you challenge yourself to work with less, you sometimes get much, much more in return.
With the lovely Augustman team. Almost similar clothes as the previous pic.
2. Simplicity bears its joys
You’d think that owning a lot of the same clothes would be a lot more boring, but there are many benefits that make me enjoy this lifestyle.
First is the straightforward laundry. No need to separate my clothes by colour here. The downside is that my favourite black shirt can sometimes turn into a needle that I’d have to find in the haystack that is my unsorted laundry.
Then again, it’s somewhat calming to open my drawer and find stacks of the same t-shirt. I’m looking to do the same with my underwear and socks, but those take a backseat now that I have a daughter.
Does anyone else feel the same way? Or am I the only weirdo here? And speaking of weirdness, here’s another one for you.
Out on a photoshoot recce.
3. I like to think I’m part of a secret clique
Once you go all black, you start noticing others who do too. And you keep tabs on them. When they wear black all week, you file them under the list of ‘my people’. You both don’t speak about it, like in Fight Club. Every time they look at you, you imagine them giving you a secret nod. One that’s shared between the society of closet goths.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Working at a rooftop photoshoot
4. Routine is good
I used to enjoy a routine before my daughter came into my life. Work before the pandemic was filled with routine, full-time at the office and all. Then the pandemic hit, and my routine became more rigid, because what else could you do when you couldn’t leave the house?
These days, I’m lucky to have the same bedtime. And get this: my office schedule rotates. Every. Week. Will I be busy next Wednesday? I don’t know. Do I have time to write? Depends on how much my daughter sleeps. I feel like a gazelle in the savannahs of Africa, in a constant state of reaction the moment I wake up.
But a black wardrobe anchors me somewhat. I know that no matter how hectic life gets, I’d still leave the house wearing all black. And I take comfort in that. Sometimes, in the absence of big wins, you gotta relish the small ones.
Or am I just being weird again?
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk. Also, different shades of black.
5. People don’t really care much about you
I know it’s cliche to say this, but they really don’t. I first chose the colour black because I thought it’d help me blend in with the crowd. If I don’t wear anything vibrant, maybe nobody would look at me.
And yes, being fashionably boring has helped me skirt unnoticed along the sidelines—even acquaintances don’t see me sometimes. But one bigger takeaway I’ve gotten from wearing all black is that people are too busy worrying about themselves to spend their time judging you.
And that’s a pretty empowering realisation on my part, especially as a socially awkward turtle. It’s good to know that I can blurt out the wrong name or bump into a waiter and still go incognito as far as the crowd is concerned.
So, has dressing up this way helped me grow my social skills? That’s still a work in progress. But I must say, I’ve never felt more comfortable in any other experiment I’ve tried. That comfort gives me confidence. And I guess confidence ain’t a bad thing to wear either.
Your Friendly Malaysian Writer 
Black washes me out pretty badly, so I don’t wear a lot of black. You might find me wearing various shades of all blue at least once a week. I appreciate all the potentially different black shades, though. Also, as a communication instructor, I have to say that you should go with whatever makes you feel more confident or comfortable when interacting with others.
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Another good one. And did you really give a Ted Talk? That seems… uuhhmm…
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There are lots of people who only wear all-black. I’ve known quite a few of them, and I don’t think there’s anything weird about it. It’s one less thing you have to think about, coordinating outfits and whatnot. And as you said, sticking to a single color still allows you plenty of options; it’s just that you start thinking about what you’re actually wearing in a different way.
However, I’ve never really believed in the “limitation breeds creativity” concept. In my view, limitations simply make you more resourceful. Of course, such resourcefulness can lead to creativity, but I believe it’s more of an indirect relationship than people realize. What some people call enforced “limitations” or “restrictions” are more akin to “streamlining” and simplification of certain processes, which allows you to spend more ENERGY and FOCUS on being creative. So yes, I suppose you could say that limitations and restrictions help creativity, but it’s a bit of an oversimplification of a much more nuanced concept :) In any case, you’ve found what works for you and that’s great!
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Love how comments can take a different tangent and give me more to think about. This is why I adore WordPress. I like your take on limitation breeds creativity, and it’s apparent you’ve already thought about this subject matter a lot. I don’t have a hard stance on it so I thank you for your perspective! Giving you heart signs in my black clothes :P
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I used to wear a lot of black too. I see the simplicity in wearing that. Still I got so bored of it, so now I sort of refuse to buy black clothes if I can have my say. The more color the better!
Thanks for sharing!
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Love how we go through our phases, whatever that may be. Who knows? Maybe next time you’ll go greyscale? Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
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You’re welcome!
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I’d say you are ‘weird but in a good way.’ 😂 You May be surprised by the number of people who have a ‘uniform’ wardrobe. I’ve never liked shopping for clothes. I keep to a very simple colour palette black or white or both. Occasionally I add a splash of colour and if I do I make it count. Hot pink is my go to. I’m an extrovert so I don’t work at being invisible. It’s more of a decision fatigue thing. How clothes feel is paramount for me. If it’s tight or scratchy or uncomfortable in any way it doesn’t belong in my wardrobe. Life is too short.
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‘Weird in a good way’ is amazing and I’ll take that compliment :P
Oh yeah and I totally get that hate for scratchy clothes. There’s this jacket whose collar keeps tugging at my hair. It’s doubly annoying when I drive. Gah. Comfortable clothes for life.
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This was a fun read but in the end had a very good point to make. I am almost tempted to try it. The simplicity leaves the road open to deeper thinking.
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Part of me feels like I embark on these experiments just because. Which is why I’m encouraging you to try it too, if you’re feeling that curiosity, lol. Always great to learn more about ourselves!
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You’re the second person I’m noticing that has tried this. The first is a YouTuber named Matt D’Avella.
Seems like something I’d like to try with Beige, or one of the B-colours. Glad you enjoyed the experience!
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Yeah, I think that’s the upside of being in the creative field. We get to dictate our wardrobe, at least, lol. I’d love to hear your experience if you do try it. Anyway, I appreciate your email you sent a while back. Sorry I haven’t gotten back to it!
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I’m more of a lotsa color person with clothes, but I feel you on the comfort. I’ve been in many socially uncomfortable situations. Then I’ve gone and worn something I thought made me look fashionable, even though it’s too tight or itchy or keeps falling off my shoulder, which only exacerbates my social anxiety. (Is it warm in here??) Now, especially when delving into the potentially socially awkward, I prioritize physical comfort. ‘Guess a lot of us have had to learn this the hard way.
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I mean, I used to be uncomfortable a lot in the clubs when I was younger. I thought that was par for the course. Turns out, comfort doesn’t mean dressing down. I definitely had to learn that the hard way. After all, personal style is not trends, amirite? Thanks so much for your lovely thoughts, April!
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Exactly. There is a sweet spot where physical comfort meets personal style — a nice place to be.
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Not weird at all! In a similar way, I’m a little of the same when it comes to gym wear. Many gym-goers will try to drape themselves in expensive performance clothing as if it’ll make them lift heavier or lose fat faster. I go with one company of super cheap stuff. It mostly looks the same, but it’s one thing that i don’t have to put much thought into. The workout takes priority.
I applaud you, sir!
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Haha. We have a Decathlon here, and it costs like USD 8 per pair of running shorts or tees. I still have a mish-mash of my old gym clothes, but I’m very tempted to start over with seven pairs of the same shorts, socks, and shirts! In fact, I might do that next week! Thanks for the spark, Brad :P
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Welcome to the secret society of all black wearers!
I throw in other neutrals (some denim, navy, and gray), but I share your experience. Sticking to a signature look streamlines the shopping experience, makes you more creative within your limits, and adds ease to your day to day interactions because you can focus on the people around you and not how you look in your clothes.
Loved this post. And you look pretty snazzy in your suits!
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You really hit the nail on the head there. Focusing on others because we can forget how we look in our clothes is the ultimate benefit to having a personal uniform. I already know how I look—not experimenting with anything new—and that assurance really does free up the mind. Love your comment, and thanks for the compliment!
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I swear. In a stressful social situation, uncomfortable clothing is the last thing I need. So I always choose comfort over looks. I don’t worry about colors much, because of my blindness. Though I always like to have a confirmation that whatever I am wearing is looking good. Because people are already judging me for my disability. I don’t want them to judge me on my clothes too.
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I can always count on you for interesting takes on the topic at hand. You always provide a much needed perspective. And yeah, ties get tighter and jackets get warmer whenever we’re in tough social situations, ain’t it? Ain’t nobody got time to doubt ourselves. Comfortable clothes for life!
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Whatever helps us feel more confident is a win. I don’t have much fashion sense, but black is my primary color too. My philosophy is simple: if I feel good, I’m more likely to put out a positive, friendly vibe.
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Hey Pete! Aw yeah, I must admit, I’ve forsaken my personal comfort to wear what I think others would think looks good, and that’s such a terrible way to go about life. Black is always the safest colour for sure. So great to be able to chat with you again, amidst all this busy-ness.
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I hope married life is going well for you. We’ve got our first grandchild on the way in about five weeks.
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I went through a stage of wearing mainly black, back in my younger years, these days I blend the dark in with lighter colours, though for some reason I’m drawn to people that wear all black. They actually stand out for me so go figure! Really enjoyed reading your post. 😌
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Aw yis, it’s great to know that I’d stand out to some, so your comment makes my day, Miriam! And I’m lovin your Sapa post!
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I’ve been wearing all black almost all my life. When I was four years old, I told my mother I wanted a black turtle-neck sweater for Christmas. Believe it or not, stationed in Germany, she found one. Today, Thursday, March 28, 2024, since Easter Sunday is on the 31st, I broke my black-only rule and I’m wearing a white dress with pearls and cloisonne Easter egg earrings to work. Gotta look festive! But after that, it’s back to black.
Black is great because if you drop something on it, it doesn’t show. The only issue is cleaning with black clothes if you use bleach. Believe me, I have few things that are house-only that sadly met the fate of bleach.
Happy holidays to you. I do so enjoy reading your articles.
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Haha, gotta admit, the stain resistance is one of the reasons why I chose black, though brown would suit that purpose better. After having a baby, however, I’ve realised that black is the worst colour to wear when dealing with stale formula and baby puke lol. I appreciate your appreciation. It means a lot!
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I was all black back in high school, I loved it, my goth days were sad and stylish, now I try to be more of a hippie. The other day I wore all black to school, it was ACT testing day, I got so much attention that I realized I can’t wear black. People love me even more, it can be a problem lol
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Hahaha, I can see how it’d be a problem if too many people love you. Thankfully, that won’t be the case for me. Thanks for stopping by!
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Throughout my tenure in the fire department, my daily attire oscillated between the formality of my dress uniform and the imperative necessity of protective gear, a routine that, despite its monotony, provided a sense of uniformity and purpose.
The notion that men might find ease in the repetitiveness of their wardrobe, wearing the same ensemble day in and day out, is one I can understand, even if it’s a simplicity I find myself envying at times. Every day, I embark on a journey, one that can consume ten minutes (sometimes longer), as I look through my wardrobe.
My wife, on the other hand, approaches her wardrobe in a way I find intriguing. For her, the day’s forecast is the compass by which she plots her wardrobe choices, an approach that speaks to her practical nature.
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I love anything repetitive. Routines, wardrobes, menus. Hmm, you’ve helped me figure out something new about myself. And yeah, ten minutes is quite some time to stare at your wardrobe indeed. But that’s not wrong at all! I myself would love to be able to close my eyes and still pick out my clothes for the day, lol. Maybe I’m ratchet like that.
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