Black, when used in the right proportions and places, can work wonders for any fashionable ensemble. The greatest strength of this dye is the ability to make all other colors appear brighter and draw the eye towards them. Unfortunately, that strength is also its Achilles' heel. The darkest colors will sometimes reveal subtleties in undyeable areas normally not noticeable. Half the time, those other colors don't match or blend together very well. (It's something I often see in LOTRO's major hubs where unprecedented numbers of players have dyed their clothing black.) This is why I avoid making outfits more than seventy-five percent black. However, I thought I'd make a simple one for this week....and besides, this a great way to kick off the upcoming Harvestmath season!
The primarily black outfits I've worn in the past or have displayed here have heavily drawn on the T2 Tower of Orthanc gear. Those are my fallback clothing choices, as each bartered piece is an undyeable black and features both an inherent balance of colors (crimson and/or white) and design. There's not a whole lot you can do with them cosmetically, but they have a unique style and make it easy to mix and match within the class armor sets. Working outside of them is slightly more challenging. I'm glad I finally found a use for the Shoulders Pads of Thelin, one of my two favorite Orthanc pieces (the LM robe being my other).
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| Sometimes I wish my characters weren't so pale in bright sunlight... |
In late July or early August, someone from Withywindle asked me for cosmetic advice on a partially completed outfit. Specifically, that advice was for a Mirkwood elf who, in character, wore mostly black with silvery accents. She already had a few pieces set in stone--a delightful mix from Barad Guldur and Othanc--but wasn't sure what else she could use while restricting herself to a light/medium appearance. I spent some time sifting through what I had available and offered several alternatives. In the process, I inadvertently created this ensemble. I actually suggested the shoulders here, provided she had a minstrel with a high enough level to barter for them, and ultimately used them as the base for my own.
Head: Balladeer's Hat (Black, Moria light armor medallion vendor)
Shoulders: Shoulder Pads of Thelan (Default, Ox-clan Camp Minstrel vendor T2 set)
Chest: Reveller's Gilded Party Dress (Black, LOTRO Store or Lalia's Market)
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