14 Reasons to Break Up With Black, According to Instagram Style Bloggers

1. Flare Jeans + Sneakers

Abercrombie & Fitch High Rise Vintage Flare Jeans

This is one outfit combo I wholeheartedly believe should be worn separately: flare jeans + sneakers.

New Balance 530 Sneakers

Pairing flare jeans with sneakers (especially more technical or athletic styles) truly ruins the whole ‘fit. While flare jeans are definitely more retro, sneakers have a modern feel that easily clashes. Plus, you don’t want to add more bulkiness at your ankles and make your look, well, look sloppy.

We The Free Good Luck Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans

Instead, save your flare jeans to wear with heels or tall boots, and rock your fave walking sneaks with trendier jean styles like mom jeans or barrel jeans.

2. Socks + Sandals

Doublesoul Bekah High Socks

If you know, you know. Socks and sandals can be super cool, but only really when you’re kickin’ it at the campsite. Otherwise, it can make your outfit look conflicting, because while sandals are meant to be breathable, socks add an unnecessary layer of bulk that fully defeats their purpose.

3. Denim + Denim

Mother The Loop De Loop Denim Jacket

Hear me out: denim on denim can definitely be done in a very stylish way. I love rocking a Canadian tux every once in a while, but only when I know for sure that the washes of denim I’m wearing are matching!

BDG Shelly Boxy Denim Chore Jacket

If the shades of denim you’re wearing don’t match or complement each other, your ‘fit can really lack balance, and people won't be able to tell whether you’re wearing it confidently or ironically.

4. Turtlenecks + Shorts

Quince Mongolian Cashmere Fisherman Turtleneck Sweater

This “weird” outfit combo is weather confusion at its finest. While turtlenecks give off a cozy, cold-weather vibe, shorts scream summertime. This extreme contrast can make your look very bare-bones and generally odd.

Abercrombie & Fitch Sloane Tailored Shorts

If you really want to wear these pieces together, opt for a lightweight turtleneck top to wear with tailored shorts for warmer weather – the less-bulky layers will make more sense together. Plus, you’ll be more polished.

5. Tights + Jorts

A New Day Viney Floral Tights

This throwback look has not aged well – though we used to see a ton of people wearing tights or leggings underneath their jean shorts in the early 2010s, it just looks tacky nowadays.

We The Free Tippi Denim Shorts

The combo can often look outdated and overly layered, as if you couldn't commit to wearing just shorts or just tights. It’s just confusing – opt to wear one or the other!

6. Flip Flops + Cargo Pants

Shade & Shore Palmer Square Toe Flip Flops

It’s giving Justice and Limited Too vibes… but those stores are in our past for a reason! Flip flops and cargo pants also boast a sense of confusion because while flip flops are inherently laidback and beachy, cargo pants are bulky and often made to be more functional (something flip flops are totally not).

Abercrombie & Fitch Baggy Cargo Pull-On Pants

Since cargo pants take up more room on your silhouette, they can also highlight an obvious imbalance if you’re wearing low-profile flip flops.

1. Neutral Beige

Open up TikTok, and you'll find that neutral colors, especially beige, are totally "in" among younger generations. From camel wool coats to tan accessories, these warm hues are considered classic and refined.

However, they also have the potential to make you look older than you are. Shades like beige can wash out your complexion, giving you a flat or lifeless appearance.

To avoid getting bogged down by your own clothing, try mixing beige with bolder and richer tones, like navy or deep jewel shades.

2. Too Much Gray & Black

We all know that black is generally considered the most flattering clothing color. Its darkness helps smooth out our silhouettes and hide imperfections that lighter colors, like white, would immediately call attention to.

But even though both black and gray are extremely versatile and easy to mix and match, wearing too many dark hues can create harsh contrasts and cast sharp shadows on your face that inadvertently highlight fine lines and wrinkles.

The key is to soften your outfits whenever you can by incorporating warmer tones. If you're wearing a black or gray blouse, for instance, layer a brighter cardigan or blazer on top.

Also, the type of black hue you choose does matter. Those with fairer skin tones should opt for a softer charcoal black, which results in a less jarring contrast.

3. Soft Pastels

Now that we're rounding the corner on spring, you may have plenty of pastel garments in your closet just waiting to be worn. Unfortunately, you might want to think again.

Even though pastels give off a fresh aesthetic, they're not always the best choice if you're going for a youthful look. The lighter tones can emphasize eye changes as you get older– such as pigmentation of the eyelids and a duller appearance of the sclera or the white part of your eye– and make your eyes appear sunken.

That's why it's advised that you stick with slightly deeper or richer tones to complement your complexion.

4. Monochromatic Outfits

Finally, monochromatic outfits are also back in style, but wearing the same color from head to toe might make you look more mature.

The key to appearing youthful is being thoughtful about contrast. You can still look sleek while mixing in different shades. Pairing a cream sweater with deeper tones, like a mocha skirt or boots, will add a lot more depth.

And if you ever feel like your outfits are falling flat, remember that accessories are your best friend. A bold scarf, baseball cap, fun purse, or statement necklace will instantly help your look feel more dynamic and lively.

1. "That's So True" by Gracie Abrams

The internet went absolutely crazy over "That's So True" — and posted endless edits of TV characters running during the bridge. So I'm gonna need to see Benedict and Sophie run to one another while this plays in the background, K?

Nobody throws a party like the Bridgertons, and nobody creates party music like Chappell Roan. I could totally see this song being added to Bridgerton season 4's music during a big, empowering scene...or during a more upbeat moment in the masquerade ball.

"Taste" is all about Sabrina's love — and the other woman in his life. Since Benedict is torn between Sophie and the Woman in Silver, this could be a clever way to play up Sophie's double identity! (I know what you're thinking: What about "Espresso"? Feel free to add multiple Sabrina songs, Netflix).

With the star-crossed-lovers of it all, what could be more fitting than Taylor Swift's "Love Story," which is all about a Romeo and Juliet-esque romance?

Sophie is constantly overworked and used by her step-mother, and "Messy," which essentially talks about the idea of never being good enough, is a perfect fit the moment Sophie doesn't know what to do.

I know, I know. This became one giant meme and can't be taken seriously anymore. But you can't deny this is the PERFECT party song for Bridgerton season 4.

This haunting and ethereal song has been on repeat — and I can just hear it playing while Benedict daydreams about Sophie. (Or when they finally have their first kiss 👀).

This is another emotional song that I've been obsessed with. Netflix, it's perfect for any and all montages and flashbacks, just in case you were wondering.

I love the women of Bridgerton — and when Penelope, Eloise, and Kate inevitably welcome Sophie into the family, this would make the perfect background song.

Bridgerton loves a steamy scene...and the people love Addison Rae's "Diet Pepsi." I'll leave it at that.