the new black (also, "the new neutral")

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On 12/28/06, Bapopik at aol.com <Bapopik at aol.com> wrote:
>
> Also, "X is the new neutral."
[snip cites from 1979, 1980, 1983]

Also:

Colors are the new neutrals. Find a color you like and wear it with
everything. (New York Times, Sep. 16, 1979, p. NJ16)

No one knew how to interpret all this color experimentation until one
New York observer finally blurted: "It looks like red is the new
neutral." (Toronto Globe & Mail, Nov. 24, 1981, p. F6)

Thanks, Barry. I've added an update to the Language Log post.

--Ben

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