What Wearing Black Might Say About Your Personality, According To Psychology

Wearing black is one of the simplest of fashion choices that can ironically be controversial, too. There are certainly some aspects of the color psychology of black clothing to explain why some people love wearing it, but there's other aspects to consider as well. After all, there's the way that different parts of the brain control your personality, too. And the color black has both positive and negative associations, which explains why it can carry numerous types of qualities. Needless to say, the choice to wear black clothing is a highly individual one that might purposely or inadvertently create a sense of elegance, attention, apathy, rebellion, or other traits possibly linked to your personality.

While there are certainly some misconceptions about wearing black (it's not for goths only!), much of the personality connections between this clothing choice is steeped in psychology. This is similar to the strange ways the color red might affect your brain as part of color theory. Further, clothing can communicate messages and even create a certain persona. It might make you part of a group, or help you stand out from others. There's even the old stereotypes of black clothing linked with criminals as well as evil-doers. If you or someone you know has a propensity for wearing black, it's worth seeing what psychology has to say about this decision. Just know that these personality traits are variable and context-based, and that your personality can change as you age, too.

Unlike bold colors such as red and orange, black can be seen as a simplistic color. Not only does black go with essentially any other color, but wearing all black might speak to you if you disdain having to make decisions about what to wear. In psychology, such an aversion to making decisions is described as "decision fatigue." As the name suggests, some people may experience mental overwhelm and fatigue when faced with multiple decisions on a given day. It's also linked with the prefrontal cortex, an important part of the anatomy of the brain that influences cognitive processes like decision making. The American Medical Association even suggests that decision fatigue can be so overwhelming that it impacts your quality of life. If you struggle with decision fatigue, then wearing black on most days can mean one less choice you have to make in an already busy schedule.

There's also some practical aspects to consider when it comes to wearing black, alongside the simplicity you might desire. Aside from hair, dandruff, and pet fur from a large domestic cat breed or dog that sheds a lot, black clothing generally doesn't show messes. This can be ideal if you have young children, work with arts and crafts, or deal with any other potentially messy situations on a regular basis.

Black is commonly associated with not wanting to garner attention physically. It's not a stand-out or flashy hue that can make people notice you on its own, unless it's paired with noteworthy accessories. Such qualities can certainly contribute to the color black's association with mysteriousness. Wearing black can also be an intentional choice to help you blend in with the crowd, rather than standing out. Psychologically speaking, this behavior can be among many signs of an overall fear of attention, or perhaps introversion.

Not everyone who wears black may have a fear of attention, though. For some people, wearing black might mean you want to divert attention from what you're wearing to parts of your personality instead. Rather than people noticing your clothing, you might want to highlight other attributes. This trait is particularly common among artists and musicians.

In fact, if you've ever been to a choir or orchestra performance, you've likely noticed all of the participants wear black. This is a purposeful decision meant to bring harmony and uniformity to the concert, as a sort of psychological maneuver for the audience to perceive the artists as one entity.

While it's not uncommon to wear black to divert attention, wearing the color can ironically create the opposite effect. In fact, the color black is often associated with power, and many people wear it to command attention. This explains why it's common to see people wear black in business settings, formal events, and other arenas of importance where the spotlight might be on them. In more extreme cases, though, some people might wear clothing inappropriate to the setting to draw attention to themselves. One example is wearing a black dress to an outdoor wedding.

The connection between attention seeking and wearing black has roots in both psychological and historical contexts. Psychologically, black clothing is associated with many positive attributes that feels fitting for those who want to be the center of attention, such as power, elegance, and intelligence. The attention grabbing qualities of black attire also likely dates back to the color's rarity in ancient civilizations. Black clothing was not as ubiquitous during the Roman Empire, for example — high-quality black fabrics that maintained their color were particularly hard to come by — and people mostly associated the color with mourning.

Alternatively, black is also a color of rebellion. This trend has particularly been noted in western cultures in more recent decades. Black colored clothing has been coveted by members of rock, goth, and punk culture since the second part of the 20th century because of its perceived association with rebelliousness. Even if they're not a part of any particular group, some people might also be more drawn wearing black clothing if they are actively defying the fashion trends that often dominate cultural behaviors.

There's also some psychological explanations for the connection between rebellion and black clothing. One previous study published in Psychological Science noted that the color black is often linked to perceptions of immorality, and while immorality is certainly not synonymous with rebellion, the two concepts may have some overlapping elements when considering resistance to authority. Rebellion is also connected to a psychological term called reactance theory, a model that describes how a person wants to restore freedoms that they feel are being restrained, and acting against behaviors they might be coerced into. Someone experiencing reactance to society trying to get them to wear bright colors, for example, might choose to wear black instead. It's also possible for rebellious individuals to be extra concerned about how propaganda affects the brain as they question messaging in society.

Body image struggles are thought to be an increasing problem from a mental health standpoint, and social media is a large contributor. A long-term study published in 2024 in the Eating Behaviors journal looked at these disturbing connections. Here, researchers studied multiple groups of undergraduate student groups between 2015 and 2022 and found that these effects increased with the use of image-heavy social media apps, and that body positive content did little to negate them. And when it comes to the connection to color psychology and fashion, unfortunately, black clothing is sometimes connected with poor body image because of the wearer's attempt to hide behind their clothing.

There's an old adage that black is "slimming" and can hide perceived physical imperfections. While these attitudes are thankfully becoming more dated, some people who wear black might still follow them. Psychologists even point to concealment as one of the key signs of body dysmorphic disorder, which can include an obsession with wearing black colors or extremely baggy clothing in an effort to draw attention away from the body. However, this isn't to say that everyone who wears black has body image issues. 

If you need help with an eating disorder, or know someone who does, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

The color black has numerous positive attributes and associations. Nevertheless, it's also sometimes associated with negativity on both the part of the wearer of black clothing as well as those who look at others wearing black. In particular, wearing black can be connected with sadness, fear, and anger, as was revealed in a clinical review published in the Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences. This isn't to say that everyone who wears black is in a state of negativity or apathy. However, it's possible your overall mood might be a factor the next time you choose an informal black outfit, particularly if this color isn't usually a part of your normal wardrobe.

Aside from wearing black due to subconsciously negative emotions, it's also possible for others to perceive these emotions in others who wear black. It may even be associated with perceived aggression. A previous study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology tested the theory of black clothing and aggression in the sports world. They found that teams who wore black uniforms have a higher likelihood of feeling and being perceived as aggressive — or, in other words, they received markedly more penalties. Overall, psychologists believe the negative associations with the color black harkens back to its historical connections with evil and the feelings of physical death, particularly in Western culture. While often an unfair stereotype, black clothing is nonetheless associated with negativity more than any other color.