Kim Designs: Back to Black

It's official! Thanksgiving is over and we can now allow the rapid influx of holiday cheer, Christmas carols and colorful decorations with no shame. In honor of this year's Black Friday, I've decided to honor the tried and true shade that is completely unavoidable: black. Black is a shade that has been used in art, clothing, homes and countless other mediums for centuries. It's the color of the night sky and one of the most time honored traditions in fashion: the little black dress. Black provides the base and accents for countless patterns and can tie colors together seamlessly. Black matches everything because it is truly the reflection of all colors, and can therefore be added into any setting to enhance and provide depth. Black does not have to be a depressing color, although it is the traditional color of dress for funerals. Black is also one of the colors of the fun and festive Halloween season, and is a color commonly associated with all the villains we love to hate. Black is a shade that is a constant and pervasive presence in life and I believe will continue to be for years to come.

First, a few fun and inspiring "black" pictures.

A couple black inspiration boards for the fashion savvy.

Black grounds these daring looks and draws them into a cohesive outfit.

Great fashion inspiration for winter - try a black vest, scarf, tights or blazer. Black boots and a black purse add fun touches as well.

Audrey Hepburn in the classic black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany's

A number of renditions of the LBD (Little Black Dress)

This is my favorite LBD that I found during my search - so classic yet sexy, and really flattering!

Another fantastic LBD with lace accents that have become very popular recently - this dress is also made of velvet, a great, classic fabric for winter.

I couldn't resist sharing these two pairs of Louboutins with you - SO fabulous, and the boots are super fabulous for fall!

Toile is one of my favorite classic patterns, and it traditionally is printed in black and white. It makes a great print for wallpaper, bedspread, pillow, vase and countless other home accents!

Black adds a punch of sophistication and modernity to any room - check out all these great and inspiring interior shots for great ways to use black around your home.

A black chandelier is a great touch to add drama to a room.

The contrast between these black and white rooms and the opposite-shade accents used in each room creates a lot of visual interest and is a great way to make two rooms flow into each other.