How to Wear the Black and White Color Combinations Successfully

Do you remember the black and white look of the 50's and 60's? The glamour and style that was associated with Lauren Bacall and her zebra print tops, white skirts and black pumps. Or the hip, happening look of Diana Ross and her 'party girl' black and white striped jumpsuit. And of course, no one will ever forget the little girl innocence of Marilyn Monroe and her white pants and black baby doll tops. Black and white is the epitome of sexiness. Today a lot of women avoid wearing black and white because they feel it's boring, unimaginative and shows no sense of style. How wrong they are.

The black and white color combination is fast making a comeback and can be seen on the runways of such big names as, Diane Von Furstenberg and Calvin Klein. Designers have chosen the color combination this season for many different reasons. They realize that nothing draws the eye to their creations like the black and white color combination. Its strong imprint is stylish and doesn't take much to pull together. The combination grabs peoples attention and is very easy to accessorize. Shoes and bags of every color work with the black and white combination. And the best part for travelers is that if you base your wardrobe around this color, it's very easy to pack for a trip. As you know we all aren't built like models, but we still want to look beautiful. Black and white is an excellent way to hide those figure flaws we all have. Black works as an excellent concealer and white is very revealing. So of course wide horizontal stripes won't do anything to hide those figure flaws at their widest point, such as the hips and thighs. However, black side panels at the waist will make you look smaller, creating a curvier illusion. Narrow stripes can also make you look smaller when contrasted with wider ones. Use different patterns of black and white to your advantage. Balance wide hips with a print on top. If you are short you can create the illusion of height with vertical lines. The black and white combination has recently been seen on some of the biggest names in Hollywood, such as Lucy Liu and America Ferrera.

A big ticket item on the runways of Calvin Klein is his famous Cotton sateen dress. This is a strapless dress that is just perfect for keeping you cool during those hot summer months. It's great for an afternoon luncheon or a night spent on the town. Its design is made to be form fitting and flattering to your figure. And you can buy it at Macys for $118.00. Add a pair of patent leather pumps, black and white enamel bangle, stylish straw and patent black and white bag to complete a look that is stylish and sophisticated while still being fun. Another wonderful black and white look would be to add the new Silk white top by Madison Marcus to a pair of black shorts. And to accessorize, a black and white chunky necklace and bracelet set with white flat sandals and white clutch bag. This look is perfect for a fun afternoon at the movies or going out for a summer lunch. And to switch to a dressier look for nighttime, add a silk skirt in a black and white pattern with black patent leather pumps.

When wearing the black and white combination, you can aim for a dressy look or go casual. It all depends on how you choose to accessorize. Shoes and jewelry can make or break the black and white look. Don't wear to much jewelry or overdo your hair. Sleek and simple is always best when it comes to black and white. And if you absolutely must add some color to the black and white look you are going for you can always color coordinate your shoes and jewelry in a bright, vivid shade of red or pink. This creates an interesting and unusual look that will leave you with a unique, fresh style that's entirely you. For other ideas on how to wear black and white visit www.instyle.com.