Too many black/grey clothes, really need some colour in my life!

[Trickymoments]

I've been through my wardrobe & got rid of quite a bit of old unworn items. When I look at it now it's pretty much all black, grey & navy. I seem to be drawn to buying things in those colours but having tried on a couple of coloured tops in Oasis yesterday it made me realise those colours are doing nothing for me at all, in fact they make me look really tired & pale.

I had my colours dome years ago
& was told I was an Autumn. Some of those colours I like but they tend to be the more dull ones khaki, browns etc. One of my colours is a kind of mustard yellow but when I've tried it on it makes my skin look yellow!

I really want to buy a few bits
of colour in the sales to improve my depressing wardrobe but it's almost like I'm afraid to wear brighter colours. One of my colours is tomato red & it really suits me & livens me up but I feel self conscious wearing it.

Does anyone have any advice please?

[MaybeDoctor]

I don't wear any black at all - apart from a couple of nightdresses. My wardrobe goes like this:

Brown-tan footwear & bag
Dark denim jeans for winter
Summer trousers in light neutral
Coloured or patterned tops with a white background
Dresses in my colours
Cardigans in ivory/neutral

So ivory/cream and tan leather are used where most people use black.

[Sleeperandthespindle]

I am an HoC winter. But only wear black, navy and grey. I just never like anything I see in any other colour!

[DameSquashalot]

Grey clothes are like a magnet for me. Even after I banned myself from buying more, I would still find them in my hands in clothes shops.

[Trickymoments]

I'm the same, I seem to be drawn to grey!

[Kennington]

Don't do it. You sound chic.
This palette works for Italians!
I think house of colour results in some pretty grim outfits.
If you need colour in your cheeks wear some blush.

[Oblomov16]

I had my colours done. I need to dig out that material swash thingy she gave me and try and remember to buy those colours.

[paulapantsdown]

I need to stop buying grey and black. I'd say it makes up 90% of my stuff. The remaining 10% being leopard print. I just don't like the colours or patterns I see in the shops.

[RoganJosh]

Do you like teal and bottle green at all? Or cream? They should suit you and you could wear them with your existing black and grey. They're also not too bright and so a slightly gentler foray into colour.

[girlelephant]

If your scared of colour can you accessorise with your colours while still wearing your own clothes? So nice scarves, chunky costume jewellery and maybe a nice blazer in a statement red or mustard colour? That may get you feeling more confident.

[coolpotato]

What about scarves? You could try adding some rich plumy/pinks, electric blues or greens in to break up the dark colours. That way you can see what colours might suit you before buying a top/dress etc.

Also echo pp who said blusher. I steered clear of blusher for years as it terrified me (think make up counter salesgirls slashes of bright pink on cheeks!) but I tried some earlier this year and realised it made me look much healthier and there are loads more choice out there. Bourjois powder Blushers are lovely, as are Superdrug's MUA powder ones (only £1) although apply sparingly as they are quite strong,and build up

[ChishandFips33]

What about a mustard skirt with one of your grey or black tops/jumper and a scarf to tie the two together/brighten the top half

I have a mustard coat and it looks great with teal, brown, burgundy/plum and green (not all together!)

Add the colour in little bits, so scarves, jewellery, shoes, cardigan until you normalise it and people get used to seeing you in it - and if you feel enlivened you'll want to wear it again - sometimes it's about how you feel as much as how you look

[MaryChalloner]

If you're an autumn you shouldn't be wearing black or grey should you? I'm a winter and can wear those colours, but try to wear some different shades too like purple, navy, white.

I remember when I had my colours done, I was really self conscious wearing brighter colours but I always got compliments when I did. Now I don't feel self conscious at all

[GirlsonFilm]

I wear grey and navy and add colour with accessories and a bright red coat. It works well for me (I'm HOC autumn too).

[Floisme]

Black, navy and grey only look chic if they suit you. I used to wear head to toe black until I saw some photos and realised I didn't look cool and chic at all but drawn and washed out.

I started off buying a couple of tops in dark colours that would still look ok with black e.g. aubergine. After that I got more confident but it still took about ten years to wean myself off.

And it's perfectly possible to wear colour without looking like a paintbox! I still have quite a limited palette: about three quarters of my clothes are plum, dark green and grey. That wasn't a conscious decision - they're just the colous I think suit me best - and sometimes I wish I was more adventurous but it means most of my wardrobe goes with something else.

[Softkitty2]

What i do is pop colour into an outfit.. Example, if i wear a black leggings, black long sleeves top, i will wear my structured pink blazer, with possibly a statement necklace?

Or if i am wearing a long sleeve top that is black or grey, i will wear a textured skirt with some colour and black tights..

[CaraAspen]

Black is classic, though. My wardrobe is full of it. It looks professional and chic.

[CaraAspen]

Navy, grey and camel - ditto.
Camel coats are very stylish and effortless.

[FrustratedFrugal]

I often team an all gray outfit (I live in Scandinavia, gray is mandatory, even for children) with bright lipstick. In your case, obviously tomato red! It makes a huge difference.

[Floisme]

I've nothing at all against blusher or lipstick but why wear something that needs the addition of make up to lift your face over a colour that will do that all on its own?

Black, navy, camel, grey .... whatever - all stylish if they suit you. If they don't, they can make you look, as my mum would have put it, like death warmed up.

[burnishedsilver]

Are you sure you're an Autumn if you're not drawn to those colours and mustard makes you look yellow?

[Dulcimena]

My wardrobe is basically black, grey and various greens (eg bottle, khaki, grass). I like interesting shapes and textures, so having a limited palette helps it all work together.

[Sadik]

I absolutely struggle with this particularly for more dressy outfits - I always end up buying more black / grey clothes. I do have the odd brighter coloured item that helps a bit - generally red, like you (my go-to-solution when I look too funereal is a deep red suede fitted waistcoat), but I'd love to get more brightly coloured going-out tops.

[Sadik]

I think my problem is I used to wear a lot of black when I was younger - I'm very quite small, and was always desperately trying to look a bit more grown up. Since I'm now 47, that's the least of my problems

[Joinourclub]

I'd experiment with colour through accessories- scarf, necklace, earrings etc. Then if you feel too bold half way through the day you can remove them!

[user1471545174]

Nothing wrong with black and grey; there's a reason the sale rails are so full of colour!

If you suit tomato red you can always wear it in a lipstick or a block colour scarf.