If Carole Jackson had her way, you`d never see a blond or a redhead wearing black. Or anyone with sun-kissed freckles or naturally rosy cheeks.
If Carole Jackson had her way, the only women you`d ever see in black would be brunets, especially such brunets as Liz Taylor or Diana Ross, Jackie Onassis or Audrey Hepburn, Cher or Jaclyn Smith–brunets whom Jackson has christened ”winters.”
Carole Jackson is the ”Color Me Beautiful” author who categorizes women and men into seasons, depending on their natural coloring; their seasons, in turn, determine which colors they can and can`t wear. According to Jackson`s theories, black is just dandy–but only on the raven-haired.
Not so, counters designer Carolyne Roehm. ”Every woman can wear black. I`ve never seen a woman in black who didn`t look great in it.”
Bill Blass, the designer who knows a thing or two about looking smashing, says, ”It is the one color that is always chic. A woman can never have enough black in her wardrobe.”
Blass, who has been turning out smart and sometimes sassy little black dresses for a few decades, and Roehm, whose very first collection under her own label is currently rating raves, are among designers from around the world who`ve put the little black dress back in the fashion spotlight. Not since the `50s, when basic black with pearls became an after-five uniform, has black enjoyed such a surge of popularity.
Though some of this season`s little numbers are understated, many more are zingers that show shape and shimmer and bare some skin as well. Roehm calls such dresses ”more gangbusters than your staple blacks. A little flirtier, a little sexier. When one of these walks through the door, it sort of spices things up.”
But be they pared-down or entrancemakers, fashions in black are back to being woman`s best friend.
No wonder.
”There is something intangible about black,” says Roehm. ”Whatever that something is, it makes a woman feel trim and wonderful.”
”It gives her a sense of assurance,” maintains Blass. ”A sense of security that no other color can quite live up to. My advice: When in doubt, reach for black.”
The little black dress can be very little when it`s short, shirred and strapless. It can be quite fancy when its hem is flounced and its straps are bowed. It can be quite soigne when it`s draped, and it can be absolutely smashing when it`s as simple as a slip. —
