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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think a crowd of people all wearing black coats is depressing and dreary?

177 replies

PurpleParrotfish · 12/12/2022 14:11

School Christmas concert this morning. Kids all in cheery Christmas jumpers. Parents looked like a funeral.
Why, nowadays does almost everyone wear black winter coats? It’s dreary enough in the dark days of winter, there’s no law against having a bit of colour.
In the row of 23 adults in front of me, I counted one cream / light beige coat, one brown, one emerald green, one dark khaki - and the rest all black, maybe with the odd dark navy among them. No cheery coloured scarves or anything like that.
Anyone else agree that it makes winter more depressing when commuters or even Christmas shopping crowds are wall to wall black (with occasional navy/dark grey if you’re lucky) and wish colourful coats were fashionable again?
Yes, I know, first world problems, bigger things to worry about etc…

OP posts:
Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 15:16

I was a teenager in the 90s and there was a lot of black. I don’t agree with you at all no. I wear a lot of black and I never look dismal but then I’m a cheerful person. They probably look dismal as a lot of people have a lot on their minds atm
Splash out on a new coat, after 13 years you are due one. Never mind you being sick of seeing dark coats, everyone will be sick looking at you in that! I have got loads of great coats in charity shops for ten quid ish

Catspyjamas17 · 12/12/2022 15:17

I have a mustard coloured down coat and a camel coat- drivers can see you much better in lighter colours. Pretty hard to see a pedestrian in the road in dark colours when the light fades in the afternoon, or early in the morning.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 12/12/2022 15:19

I fucking love my black coat.

And my black trainers.

And the black hoodie I'm wearing right now.

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 15:21

@sidking I work in a professional role in an office so it wouldn’t be suitable for me - I need to have a coat that’s appropriate to meet clients, etc if I needed to and it’s important to make a professional impression. Also going out at night I wouldn’t wear a casual jacket like that unless I was going to a sporting event or something along those lines. Really I would only wear a jacket like that for walks and maybe running errands, etc at the weekend, most of my friends would be the same no matter what their job

KirstenBlest · 12/12/2022 15:22

I have a light olive one - probably nearer sage in colour

Janieread · 12/12/2022 15:24

Red coats are fine if you work at Butlins.

SirenSays · 12/12/2022 15:24

Completely agree, it looks really depressing. Especially on the highstreet. I'm not sure why people are taking it so personally. I've been on the hunt for the perfect red coat and struggling to find anything I like.

BeggyMitchell · 12/12/2022 15:25

Janieread · 12/12/2022 15:24

Red coats are fine if you work at Butlins.

Oof 😂

Forgotthebins · 12/12/2022 15:26

Why do you wear black tights and boots and in so doing, add to the sum of human dreariness?

Sidking · 12/12/2022 15:29

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 15:21

@sidking I work in a professional role in an office so it wouldn’t be suitable for me - I need to have a coat that’s appropriate to meet clients, etc if I needed to and it’s important to make a professional impression. Also going out at night I wouldn’t wear a casual jacket like that unless I was going to a sporting event or something along those lines. Really I would only wear a jacket like that for walks and maybe running errands, etc at the weekend, most of my friends would be the same no matter what their job

Well that's a societal norm (apparently) that has completely gone over my head 😅 I would never think to judge (or that I would be judged on) someone's coat. If I was meeting someone to hire for literally anything a funky coat would absolutely go in their favour and the conversation would 100% start with 'omg I LOVE your coat!' 😂

FrightfullyFreezy · 12/12/2022 15:29

My big coat is purple. I look like the big purple people eater. It's warm and was, at one point many years ago, waterproof.

Itsoktogiveup · 12/12/2022 15:32

I used to wear white / lilac coats but these days, at least once a week, a stranger’s filthy dog will run over and jump up at me. Black hids the dirt best :(

Maybe it’s a post-covid thing: so many people bought a dog they didn’t know how to train during lockdowns and now the country is full of untrained dogs - and muddy black coats.

Sidking · 12/12/2022 15:34

Though I suppose no I probably wouldn't wear it if I was all dolled up for a posh restaurant and wearing a dress. Hell will freeze over before I wear a dress though so depending on where we were going I would - clubs with a cloakroom yes, clubs without a coatroom - wouldn't take a coat because I'll leave it somewhere 😂

Im never in those situations though, so I suppose it's the perfect coat for me 😁

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 15:34

@sidking I find it difficult to believe that you don’t understand about professional dress codes and what their purpose is. I didn’t say anything about judging anyone on coats. I said it’s important to create a professional image - that is that the person relying on your professional advice has faith you are a serious person, who wants a wild and wacky accountant with a cool coat???

jtaeapa · 12/12/2022 15:35

Black is easy. Prevalent, goes with everything. If I have the choice, I always go for black.

NOACF · 12/12/2022 15:39

It must have been a very boring concert if you had time to count and make a note if all those coat colours!

CuddlyRita · 12/12/2022 15:40

I can only afford one winter coat (and that was second hand) so obviously I went with one that goes with whatever else I'm wearing.

TheLittlestLightOnTheXmasTree · 12/12/2022 15:41

@CuddlyRita

Don't worry, most people on RL won't be judging you for it. Wear your black coat with pride

My uniform coat is black we have no choice but to wear it

Not much I can do there

StaunchMomma · 12/12/2022 15:41

What a strange thought to have.

I wear a lot of black because it's classic. I absolutely wouldn't buy a brightly coloured coat. It wouldn't go with everything.

Sidking · 12/12/2022 15:43

Eyerollcentral · 12/12/2022 15:34

@sidking I find it difficult to believe that you don’t understand about professional dress codes and what their purpose is. I didn’t say anything about judging anyone on coats. I said it’s important to create a professional image - that is that the person relying on your professional advice has faith you are a serious person, who wants a wild and wacky accountant with a cool coat???

Oh I get that it's a thing, for me though it genuinely wouldn't be 'unprofessional', if I was hiring a lawyer and they turned up in a funky coat and a nutty pair of dungarees I would honestly be overjoyed 😂 and 10x more comfortable in the conversation because I find that person relatable.

I know it's definitely a thing with clothes, like I would dress smart for a job interview, but I would still wear this coat. I'm going to take it off as soon as I'm in the door 🤷

NeverDropYourMooncup · 12/12/2022 15:46

Not everybody has the money to spunk on multiple coats for different occasions or moods these days. Black covers all eventualities, so works out cheaper.

SallyWD · 12/12/2022 15:46

I love my black coat. It goes with everything, doesn't look grubby so quickly, is more slimming on me than light colours and it lets me blend in to the crowd - I don't like to stand out!

Comtesse · 12/12/2022 15:49

En masse it looks like a funeral when everyone is wearing dark coats. Used to be very noticeable when commuting, less now because everyone is more dressed down. I do like a nice coloured coat. I now have a camel one (2nd hand from ebay), a long black one and a beige raincoat. Always have a coloured or animal print scarf. Too boring otherwise!

Sidking · 12/12/2022 15:51

Sidking · 12/12/2022 15:43

Oh I get that it's a thing, for me though it genuinely wouldn't be 'unprofessional', if I was hiring a lawyer and they turned up in a funky coat and a nutty pair of dungarees I would honestly be overjoyed 😂 and 10x more comfortable in the conversation because I find that person relatable.

I know it's definitely a thing with clothes, like I would dress smart for a job interview, but I would still wear this coat. I'm going to take it off as soon as I'm in the door 🤷

Show quote history

Btw I am fully aware that this is why I'm not a 'professional' 😂😂 self employment suits me, my ADHD and love of colour and patterns much better than the corporate world ever will 😂

ivykaty44 · 12/12/2022 15:52

I had an Omani student come stay with me some 15 years ago and she asked me why we have such dreary clothing. In her mind we are free to choose what we wear outside the home and she was amazed we don't wear bright colours.

Her outfits were very colourful and she wore yellow, orange etc all coordinated, at home she can wear the colours to be seen at home but when she steps outside then the black comes out to cover her clothing