No doubt bout it, black is a safe solid choice in so many areas related to fashion. Not sure what to wear to a cocktail party, how about a basic black dress for the ladies or button down for men. Debating over which color of shoes to buy, black is always the safe go to. And of course, black reading glass frames can be a good choice for most everyone given that you select the proper style for your face shape. Today I want to encourage everyone to step away from this safe option and explore color.

Where to begin when stepping away from basic black. If you need to, start slowly. Begin with other great neutrals like charcoal, graphite or chocolate. These colors are softer than black but still nice and dark having a similar minimizing effect. Once you've gotten used to these alternative neutrals lighten it up a bit trying khakis, tans and camels. The only trick to keep in mind here is to make certain the lighter neutral isn't the same shade as your skin tone or it might wash you out, always go a little darker or a little darker for contrast.

Warm weather is a perfect opportunity to experiment with white. Many people shy away from white as they fear it is too hard to keep clean or might make them look larger than they wish to appear. These concerns are unfounded. Given the slew of oxi clean and similar type products on the market today stains should no longer be a concern. And as far as size/appearance are concerned nothing looks more polished than a pair of crisp cotton pants or shorts paired with a bright top in the summer time.

Post labor day lends the opportunity to transition over to creams or winter whites. Such neutrals allow you to achieve the same pure effect as white without offending those Emily Post-ers who might still believe white is only a seasonal option.