Black is the new black

Every year a different hue gets dubbed the new black. This year the new black is black. In the words of Karl Lagerfeld, “One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress.”

I ran into three San Diego women who used black as a palette to individualize their looks.

At UTC Mall, Grace Francais used accessories to add a unique personal flair to a basic black dress.

"I'm a big fan of basics. I'm wearing a black tank dress from Brass Plum. I wear it all the time. I just add things to it."

The day I ran into Francais, she dressed up her black tank dress with a denim vest, leopard-print tights and gold toned jewelry.

The 22-year-old works at Brass Plum in Nordstrom. She wore a Marc Jacobs gold watch, Aldo tights, and a Brandy Melville necklace. Her lace-up combat boots are Steve Madden Troopas.

In Mission Valley I found Shalhom Love wearing statement jewelry paired with a simple black tank and shorts.

“That’s my really name,’ she assured me. “[When I took my husband’s last name] my family joked that I now have a stripper name.” Love told me with a laugh.

Love purchased her necklace from Forever 21. “I’m a bargain shopper,” she told me.

Just about every wardrobe item she purchases is from discounters like TJ Maxx and Nordstrom Rack.

The 26-year-old nurse was in town vacationing for the week from Idaho while her husband interviewed for a job in SD.

At Fashion Valley Mall I found Leah Hartnett. Hartnett wore black leggings and a black tee with a military jacket, brown ankle boots, and a chunky statement necklace.

The 22-year-old Nordstrom employee's favorite wardrobe items are her collection of ankle boots because they go with everything.