chi chi bella: black on black on black

the best way to spend valentine's day was with my favorite fashionable crushes during the final day of ny fashion week. 12 fabulous runway shows are better than a dozen roses any day. however, despite the veil of red that usually splatters across cities on this "romantic" day, black stole the show. as we look back on several of the collections that premiered this week, it is obvious that we will see lots of black on the shelves come fall 2013. who's not to say they don't love a little black in their wardrobe? from the mélange of pattern on the j.crew runway, to the simplicity of oscar de la renta, designers worked to incorporate this monochrome color into their key pieces, adding the occasional splash of color and neutral tone. in my opinion, they were stunningly successful. while black can be perceived as boring, and often times the easy way out to an outfit, most designers added it into their collections knowing it is a realistic color to get dressed in each morning. through their pieces, they coupled black with simple risks that even the simplest of dressers can take to feel confident and fashion savvy. so, as you stare at the bright red roses sitting on the kitchen counter, think about all of the black you will be experimenting with come fall! happy valentine's day...