Your clothing choices say something about you—that’s not controversial. But the idea that they might correlate with intelligence? That sounds like the kind of claim that belongs in a clickbait horoscope, not a psychology journal.
Except there’s actually some research here.
Color psychology and personality studies have found consistent patterns linking certain color preferences to cognitive traits. And one color in particular keeps showing up among people who test higher on measures of intelligence.
That color is black.
The black-intelligence connection
Studies on color preference and personality have found that people who consistently wear black tend to score higher on measures of analytical intelligence. They’re more likely to value precision, efficiency, and substance over flash.
Why might this be? Several theories. First, intelligent people often have low tolerance for trivial decisions. Black matches everything, requires no thought to coordinate, and eliminates the cognitive load of choosing outfits. It’s the color of decision fatigue prevention.
Second, black is associated with sophistication and depth. People who value ideas over appearances often gravitate toward aesthetics that signal seriousness rather than playfulness. Black says “I have better things to think about than my clothes”—and for high-intelligence individuals, that’s often literally true.
The efficiency factor
Think about the famously intelligent people who’ve adopted black uniforms. Steve Jobs in his black turtleneck. Architects and designers in their all-black everything. Writers, academics, and tech leaders who default to dark, simple wardrobes.
This isn’t coincidence. Cognitive psychology research shows that decision fatigue is real—every choice depletes mental resources. Intelligent people often recognize this intuitively and eliminate unnecessary decisions wherever possible.
Black is the ultimate cognitive shortcut. You never have to wonder if it’s appropriate, if it matches, if it’s too loud for the occasion. It just works. And that efficiency appeals to minds that want to spend their energy on more interesting problems.
Black and the comfort with complexity
People who wear a lot of black also tend to be comfortable with ambiguity and complexity. Black isn’t cheerful or simple—it’s layered, sophisticated, and open to interpretation. It can be elegant or rebellious, professional or artistic, warm or cold depending on context.
Research on tolerance for ambiguity shows this trait correlates with both intelligence and creativity. People who like clear, simple categories often prefer clear, simple colors. People comfortable with nuance gravitate toward colors that carry multiple meanings.
Black is semantically rich in a way that, say, khaki isn’t. Wearing it suggests a mind that appreciates complexity rather than avoiding it.
Navy blue shows similar patterns
If black is the primary color of above-average intelligence, navy blue is a close second. Navy shares many of black’s properties—versatility, sophistication, depth—while being slightly less stark.
Navy-wearers tend to score high on measures of thoughtfulness and reliability. They’re often planners and deep thinkers, people who consider consequences and prefer strategy over impulse.
The blue-intelligence connection also relates to blue’s association with calm and focus. Intelligent people often need environments and aesthetics that don’t overstimulate—and navy provides visual quiet without the severity of pure black.
What about bright colors?
This doesn’t mean bright colors indicate lower intelligence. The research shows correlations, not causations, and plenty of brilliant people wear every color imaginable.
What the data suggests is that consistently choosing muted, sophisticated colors—particularly black—correlates with certain cognitive traits: analytical thinking, efficiency-seeking, comfort with complexity, and preference for substance over surface.
Bright colors tend to correlate more with extroversion, emotional expressiveness, and social energy. These are valuable traits too—just different ones. The person in bright orange might be a social genius while the person in black might be analytically gifted. Neither is universally “better.”
Green is also interesting
Research shows that people who prefer green—especially deep, natural greens—tend to score high on creative intelligence. They’re systems thinkers who see connections others miss.
Green-lovers are often interested in growth, patterns, and understanding how things work. They might be more likely to work in fields that require synthesizing complex information—ecology, design thinking, strategic planning.
The green-intelligence connection is less studied than black’s, but it shows up consistently enough to be worth noting.
Read more: Your Favorite Color Says More About You Than You Think, Says Psychology
The confidence factor
One more thing about black-wearers: they tend to have the self-assurance to opt out of trends. Following fashion requires tracking what’s current and adapting accordingly. Wearing black regardless of trends suggests confidence in your own judgment over external validation.
Research on self-directed behavior shows this independence of mind correlates with certain kinds of intelligence—particularly the ability to think critically rather than accepting received wisdom.
Intelligent people often get there by questioning default assumptions. A wardrobe that ignores trends is a small expression of that same disposition.
Should you rush to buy a black wardrobe to boost your IQ? Obviously not. Color preference doesn’t cause intelligence, and changing your clothes won’t change your cognitive abilities.
But if you already wear a lot of black and have wondered whether it means something, here’s some validation. Your brain might be drawn to black precisely because of how it works—seeking efficiency, appreciating complexity, preferring depth over decoration.
That’s not a bad thing to have in common with some of history’s most interesting minds.
