Why do so many people wear all black?

Our fashion critic offers an explanation for its popularity. 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Is it a statement? Will it ever go away?” [[A woman in a black suit with a peplum jacket is seen on a cobblestone street. She is lowering her large sunglasses as she looks at the camera. Behind her are a gaggle of people, also in black. ] Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo0yt2P0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8xNi9zdHlsZS9hbGwtYmxhY2stY2xvdGhpbmcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0xOTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfdWZuXzIwMjQwOTIyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTAwMCZubD1mcm9tLXRoZS10aW1lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc4NTQyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm7Ham8GaIkhiSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Our fashion critic offers an explanation for its popularity. →](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRo0yt2P0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wOS8xNi9zdHlsZS9hbGwtYmxhY2stY2xvdGhpbmcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0xOTAmZW1jPWVkaXRfdWZuXzIwMjQwOTIyJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEzNTAwMCZubD1mcm9tLXRoZS10aW1lcyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTc4NTQyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpm7Ham8GaIkhiSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Vanessa Friedman, our chief fashion critic, delivers the latest news on what we wear.] Sign up for the Open Thread Newsletter A look from across The New York Times at the forces that shape the dress codes we share, with Vanessa Friedman as your personal shopper. 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