Oh wow (or oh dear) so much of my clothing is black

[MartinRohdesBellybuttonFluff]

I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing but I am just checking out my stack of ironing and so much of it is black.

I've always loved wearing black but it has a nasty habit of being my first choice/go to/ safe/will get more wear out of it/will match more colour (or non-colour).

Am I alone? I can't afford to replace my clothes and will have to be inventive so I don't look like I'm on my way to a funeral every day. I think my problem with it is that I associate black with being sad.

Is anyone else in the same predicament. Could anyone who loves their black clothing make me feel like I am not continuously making bad choices?

[PawWavingCat]

Me too. I don't think it's a problem!

I tend to choose black items with different textures or cuts these days (in my 40s), so although much of my wardrobe is black, I like to think that there is variety.

And I look good in black

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Someone will come along and tell you to get your colours done . It'll cost you the same as a designer coat.

If you like wearing black, then don't worry. You could buy a couple of patterned scarves or a brightly coloured bag to liven things up.

[burnishedsilver]

Me to. I'm not letting myself buy anymore black. I have enough. I've been trying to mix in a bit of grey, navy and burgundy to break it up a bit.

[BumbleNova]

you know its funny, i'd struggle to find more than two pieces of black clothing. my go - to basics are navy and grey.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

I used to wear a lot of black until if finally dawned on me that it didn't really suit me. Navy is my neutral now.

[BagelGoesWalking]

I have mostly navy and grey clothes, I look very pale/tired/dead in black.

What about dark bottle green, aubergine or purple as alternatives?

[botemp]

I get what you mean, black was always a staple in my wardrobe but then I attended way more funerals than a person in their twenties should in a relatively short period of time and I started associating it with sadness and grief.

I did find that injecting a bit of leather (in darker hues, cognac/tan, and some black) into my wardrobe really transformed it into something else. Playing with texture is often overlooked in favour of colour (matching) but there's something interesting about all black that no other colour really seems to achieve.

I still don't gravitate to it as much preferring navy, dark grey, and taupes, they work well with black without having to rely on that to be the base colour. Burgundy/maroon and emerald green are all over the place this year and though it's matched primarily with navy in the shops it would work well with black to give it some life without pushing you too far out of your comfort zone.

[SilentlyScreamingAgain]

I think black looks fantastic, properly chic and Parisian. Now that I'm old black seems to bring out the blue in my eyebags so I'm having to wear navy or grey instead. Enjoy it while you can.

[Floisme]

That was me: head to toe black till I was in my early 40s, saw a photo of myself and thought, 'Hell I look like shit.'

It took best part of 10 years to wean myself off it and work out what else to wear. I haven't had my colours done but I avoid black, white plus anything too bright or too pale next to my face. About 3/4 of my clothes now are plums/purples/deep pinks, various shades of dark green and grey. They're kind of my neutrals.

Course you might look great in black but your skin tone does change so it's worth keeping an eye on.

[MaybeDoctor]

I reduced my black clothing gradually over a few years, then got rid of every last scrap of black from my daytime wardrobe in my early thirties. I have never looked back!

Things 'go' so much better with tan, brown, ivory, or navy. Plus you never have that horrible situation of the faded black that is starting to look greenish or different blacks not quite matching.

[Stormwhale]

My version of adventurous is grey or navy. I am always wearing black!

[0phelia]

Haa this is so me.
I have to very consciously NOT buy another black top or another black pair of jeans.
Literally, like Floisme I had to wean myself off black over a long time to make different choices!

I have dark hair, and still love a little black leather but I try to mix it up with reds, magentas, blues now.

Being a goth in my youth has not helped my adult wardrobe!

[0phelia]

It is possible but you need to make conscious effort to avoid black. I managed it. I actually own a deep pink coat which I love and suits me, but I almost bought the black version. It was a close call.

[taggies]

I love black. I am conscious of it, however. I tend to wear black skinnies and try and jazz the rest of my outfit up, but occasionally I end up in all black. Always with accessories, though.

[RebelandaStunner]

I wear lots of Black for bottom half clothes- skirts, jeans, jeggings, boots and so on. Have to be careful regarding top half nowadays some black tops still work others make me look like a walking corpse and I find other colours such as blues, greys and taupes much more flattering.

[BagelGoesWalking]

black seems to bring out the blue in my eyebags

[timelytess]

Black is fabulous. I have clothes in other colours but I only want to wear black.

[BeMorePanda]

I was determined to stop buying all these black clothes. Then I ended up with a wardrobe of grey clothes

[BestIsWest]

It suited me much better when I was younger and blonder. Now I have gone back to my natural dareker colour, it seems much harsher on me and I tend towards Navy, grey, plum and taupe with some greens thrown in.

[Kennington]

Love it! You just need a re think.
Think 80s architects, 80s YSL and 80s fashion editors!
I jazz mine up with jewellery and accessories.
I really love black and feel much chicer in it.

[usernumber007]

I love black but feel a bit conscious of wearing all black so I have some navy, grey and burgundy too. If you love black and feel happy in all black then stay as you are. If your not sure start with some other dark colours or dark greys

[dudsville]

Don't worry if you like it! But I understand the need to think it through. I used to wear a lot of black. I stopped when 1) I realised I was wearing it because I thought of it as safe, but then realised that safe is whatever neutral looks best on me and black wasn't it, and 2) I began to see it as either juvenile (it isn't - this is just where my head went) and frumpy on me. I ditched by black things and slipped into a bit of a wild phase re colour. Now safely middle aged I wear about 5 colours, (grey is my safe neutral, navy, a kind of red, a kind of green, v little white, very little black). So I'm still quite toned down but the colours are gentler on my face!

[phoolani]

I'm the same but with grey, but I love grey and it suits me so I don't see a problem. Though if I buy another grey sweater any time soon, I'm going to give myself a stiff talking to because it's getting ridiculous..

[neveradullmoment99]

I was thinking the same thing about my wardrobe but i suit it. Its strange because i love colours too but with winter coming in, i just don't feel like colours right now. Black is my revival atm.

[neveradullmoment99]

Mind you, i did by a pale grey coat but then i have ordered the black one to try!!! Its so practical and stylish. I like monochrome.