Winter is the season of black and white. Dark nights, snowy mornings, black coats, pasty white skin. All one sees in these dreary months are the extremes, the harsh colors of the winter wardrobe repelling the harsher winds of January. In NYC, it’s even worse. The tall buildings block out what little sun there is in the afternoon, and the wind funnels down the avenues creating tunnels of misery. So we respond with layers upon layers of black jackets, gloves, scarves, and hats. Perhaps it’s because black absorbs the sun and keeps us warm? No, that can’t be it…there’s no sun on the streets of Manhattan. Perhaps it’s because we are morning for the passing of the lovelier months and the love they bring to us, be it sunny summer afternoon, runs through the park, or rooftop drinks with good friends. Or perhaps it’s because we think we look good in black. It’s ’slimming’ and hides a lot of our wintery selves, which we inevitably ‘let go’ due to the desire to hibernate instead of track to the gym.

A good friend of mine says that all girls in NYC are, at any one time in the day, wearing two of the following three things:
1. Boots
2. Jeans
3. Something black
I would say that it’s more like all of those things at all points of the day. And it’s not just true of females here, I myself don’t own a black jacket, but I do wear boots and jeans very often. So does everyone, it only makes sense.

But a look at this article may sway you. Apparently, 4 out of 5 of us look old and sad in our black outfits, not slim and sexy like we thought. I’ve been saying since the beginning that breaking up the monotony and depression of winter with brightly colored clothes is not only good style sense but also good for your psyche. Throw on a camel coat and a tartan scarf! Mix some patterned scarves and red gloves in with that dark coat! Wear those white pants with your heavy jacket!

You’ll feel better and add a little bit of pizzazz to the world.

Oh, and Happy New Year.