MONICA BELLUCCI STYLE SECRETS: CHIC IN ALL BLACK

 Today I'll share with you some all black outfit ideas inspired by Monica Bellucci.  As someone who has been always drawn to colour, black has never been my first choice. If you happen to look in my closet,  black won't be the dominating colour you'll see. I love to wear bold colours, especially so in the winter months. However, I also happen to love a nice all black styling. Sometimes the opposing styles attract or better to say- we can be attracted to styles that are almost the opposite of our own. 

Now that I think of it, I always admired how certain women wear black. It is not just that I adore Morticia Addams ( because let's face it, who doesn't?), but I do like the endless elegance a black outfit can carry. There is a reason why black is so beloved by designers and fashion people.  Black clothing is, traditionally, a very important part of Mediterranean style and culture.  Could  you even imagine Parisian chic without black items? Could you imagine any Mediterranean lady without  those essential black items? 

 I realized that while I don't own a ton of black clothing, I actually wear my black clothing items pretty often. You might say that all my black pieces have proven to be very sustainable. What are my black essentials? 

Well, let's start with coats because it's winter. I own both a short and a long black coat and I wear them very often indeed. The same goes for the three black blazers I own.  Furthermore, a chic little black dress is really a life saver (as demonstrated in this post 20 WAYS TO WEAR AN -LINE LBD). I have a couple of black dress of varying lengths in my closet (midi , maxi, mini) and I wear them all. Another black item I adore is a classical black suit (both pants and skirt version!). Finally, I do love a pair of wide black (palazzo or flared) trousers. Those would be my black style essentials. Scroll down to get you dose of black chic inspiration.

BLACK DRESSES IN LITERATURE

While it is never specified in the poem what the Lady that inspired Byron's famous poem wore when he beheld her, I always imagine it was a black dress. Byron compares her raven locks to the night, saying that what is most beautiful in light and dark meets in her aspect and her eyes (I imagine he means her dark hair, but light skin and eyes). 

Who is the lady? Well, it is said to have been Anne Wilmot- Horton. Supposedly, Byron saw her in mouring clothes (so it is a black dress!) and was so stuck with her beauty he wrote a poem. Anne was a wife of Byron's cousin and if historical portrait is to believes she was indeed a beauty.

Cited from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43844/she-walks-in-beauty

She Walks in Beauty

By Lord Byron (George Gordon)

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o’er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

Copyright Credit: George Gordon, Lord Byron. "She Walks in Beauty" from Hebrew Melodies. London: John Murray, 1832-33. Public Domain.

Speaking of literature, another iconic character that we know wore black for certain was Anna Karenina. Anna wears it that fated night when she dances with Vronsky and steals his heart, leaving Kitty heart-broken. 

Anna was not in lilac, the colour Kitty was so sure she ought to have worn, but in a low-necked black velvet dress which exposed her full shoulder and bosom that seemed carved out of old ivory, and her rounded arms with the very small hands. Her dress was richly trimmed with Venetian lace. In her black hair, all her own, she wore a little garland of pansies, and in her girdle, among the lace, a bunch of the same flowers. Her coiffure was very unobtrusive. The only noticeable things about it were the wilful ringlets that always escaped at her temples and on the nape of her neck and added to her beauty. Round her finely chiselled neck she wore a string of pearls. Kitty had been seeing Anna every day and was in love with her, and had always imagined her in lilac, but seeing her in black she felt that she had never before realized her full charm. She now saw her in a new and quite unexpected light. She now realized that Anna could not have worn lilac, and that her charm lay precisely in the fact that her personality always stood out from her dress, that her dress was never conspicuous on her. And her black velvet with rich lace was not at all conspicuous, but served only as a frame; she alone was noticeable — simple, natural, elegant and at the same time merry and animated.

COCO CHANEL ABOUT WEARING BLACK

“When I find a colour darker than black, I'll wear it. But until then, I'm wearing black!”

Post update: Monica Belluci still favours black.

IN FEBURARY 2026, MONICA BELLUCI SPOKE TO HARPER'S BAZAR ABOUT WEARING BLACK 

Monica Belluci " presented the Best Documentary category at the BAFTAs, turning to Stella McCartney for a black gown completed by a Roger Vivier clutch and Cartier jewellery, a maison she's worked with for decades. Bellucci chose two pieces from the En Équilibre Chapter II -High Jewellery collection: an 18k white gold necklace with sapphires and diamonds, with a matching ring. We caught up with her to find out how she came up with her signature look, what glamour really means today and how her Italian heritage changed the way she views the world.

Can you talk me through your BAFTAs look?

“I wore Stella McCartney because I really love her creations. The style is very feminine and sensual, but, at the same time, there’s also something very easy, simple and elegant. It makes me feel comfortable with myself. Stella and I have collaborated before; I was Mistress of Ceremonies at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, and for the press conference, I was dressed in one of her black jumpsuits. The Cartier jewellery I wore last night was very important, so I thought it was more interesting to have a very beautiful, understated dress with simple lines to make the contrast more obvious.”"

.....

What kind of fashion makes you feel your most confident?

“I like simple lines, because I have curves, and I favour black, usually. But I also like sometimes red, sometimes white, and sometimes even more elaborate details. It depends, but most of the time, I prefer simple silhouettes. For my kind of body, simple is better.”

Monica Bellucci is not my only inspiration when it comes to black chic, but I do like how she wear them. In particular, I like her more recent outfits featuring tailored black suits. I have already hacked some of Monica Bellucci's style secrets in this post.  

Two of her style secrets (according to my analysis) are based on black clothing items: one is a black suit and another a black dress or skirt.  As I wrote back then, one of the key items in Monica Bellucci's closet is a black dress. A black dress is a great piece that we can always rely on. Most of you already have a little black dress in your closet. As long as it is not too short it will be perfect for emulating Bellucci's iconic style. 

Monica doesn't wear short dresses or skirts often, instead she opts for bellow the knee or midi length. This makes her all black dress outfits look more sophisticated and lady like. You can also opt for a black maxi if that is what you prefer. The effect will be similar. The secret is in keeping the sense of mystery and not showing too much skin. Don't forget to wear heels with your black midi dress for an increased dose of femininity. 

A tailor black suit is a must have. A nice black suit is something you can wear for any occasion. With power suit trend on the rise again, a black suit look is super relevant (not that it even really goes out of style). If you don't own a black suit, perhaps it is time that you dig through your closet and see if you have a black blazer and matching skirt or pants. 

Monica Bellucci wears a lot of black. Among her black items, a key place belongs to a classical black suit. A combination of a black blazer and pants (or a skirt) is a timeless one. There is something empowering about wearing a black suit. I always enjoy wearing a black suit!

In a 2026 interview for Harper's Bazar, Monica Belluci confirmed what I wrote about her, stressing that her style essentials are a black dress, a black suit and a pair of heels!

In an answer to the following question : "What are your style essentials? Which wardrobe items could you not live without?", Monica Bellucci answered: “The little black dress and also men's suits. They’re simple and casual, but glamorous at the same time. And of course, high heels for red carpet.”*

Cited from: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/a70447287/monica-bellucci-style-interview/

I illustrated black outfits pretty often as well. Illustrations of black outfits have appeared in my 'FRIDAY FASHION ILLUSTRATION' a number of times. 

If a black outfit feels overwhelming you can always thrown in some colourful accessories. The reason why I started to wear more all black outfits last year was a sad one, but I did learn a few things. One of them is that you should feel comfortable and confident. If you don't feel confident in all black, you don't have to go for it. When it comes to all black chic, I think it's the same with everything. You just have to find what works for you. Some will enjoy experimental tailoring when they wear black while others might prefer a more conservative, classical and timeless cut.  Some will wear trendy black pieces, others will wear more classical ones. There really is something to say about the power of a polished all black outfit, even if you happen to be a lover of all colours, like myself!

MONICA BELLUCI QUOTES (CITED FROM https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000899/quotes/)

I USE EVERYTHING I HAVE

My body is so important to me . . . my face, my arms, my legs, my hands, my eyes, everything. I use everything I have.

A MOMENT OF REAL PLEASURE IS EATING WITH FRIENDS

When I eat with my friends, it is a moment of real pleasure, when I really enjoy my life.

WHEN BEAUTY IS HABITED IT IS ALIVE AND INTERESTING

Beauty becomes alive and interesting when it's habited.

BEING COMFORTABLE WITH YOURSELF DOESN'T COME FROM BEAUTY

 I feel fine and comfortable with myself, but not because I'm beautiful. I know many beautiful people and their lives are just so terrible. They feel so uncomfortable with themselves. Being comfortable is not about what you look like, but how you feel. I'm a lucky person because I've been loved a lot. I have a great family.

A DAUGHTER OF EUROPE

I live in Paris but I feel I am a daughter of Europe.

GETTING OLDER IS GETTING BETTER

In 10 years, I've done so many things. In the beginning I didn't know if I was still a model, if I was an actress. I knew I wanted to be an actress, but it was so difficult to be believed. Now things are going better and better and the proposals I have are much more interesting than five years ago. It's like getting older is getting better.

BEAUTY IS 5 MINUTES LONG IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE

I know that beauty invites a certain curiosity. But, as Oscar Wilde said, beauty is just five minutes long if you don't have anything else to sustain that curiosity. I don't think that I would have made this kind of career if I were just beautiful. Directors don't call you for your beauty but for your talent.

That would be all for today. Thank you for visiting!