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

[PurpleParrotfish]

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…

I agree, it's a bit dreary. For similar reasons – rain is dreary enough – I never have black or plain dark umbrellas; currently have a bright yellow one and a blue one with stars and moon print.

I'm also not convinced that black goes with everything or is really neutral. I find it a very strong colour and a strong statement. Neutral to me is grey or camel/beige, or animal print.

I've got a purple winter coat, a red one and a dark green one, as well as a few fake furs. Had a white one in the past, which was gorgeous but did need care and quite frequent cleaning!

I'm wearing only black, EVERYTHING. Black is my happy colour.

Pretty much my thoughts exactly.

One plain coat to cover a multitude of situations is pretty normal I would have thought. I have never bought a winter coat every year and wear them till they need replacing or if I’ve put on weight.

I did have one rude man comment on the fact I was wearing the same coat as the previous winter, during the same conversation told me about his three yearly holidays and then moved in to lecturing me about climate change! Utterly oblivious.

I wear a black puffer coat that I can wear with different coloured gloves, hat and scarf, to look coordinated. Also black doesn't show the dirt.

Had a white one too a few years back (cashmere), that plus DC/pets = never again.

I don't find black miserable or dreary - it all depends on the style for me, not the colour.

I'm wearing all black now - including fluffy slippers and big blanket scarf - I went out not so long ago and teamed it with a leopard print coat and purple hat.

I also bought a black coat last month which makes me very happy and cheery - it's fake-fur lined and has fluffy afghan-style collar and cuffs - not dreary at all.

It seems to be the fashion to wear black, a colour I dislike. I agree it's dreary but popular.

I accidentally bought every coat I have in pink (except my black puffer coat for pushing the pram). Pink raincoat, pink teddy, pink corduroy jacket… as far as I’m concerned, pink is a neutral 😂 goes with everything I wear. I wear them with a lilac beanie and a mint green scarf.

This thread made me want to buy a black coat 🤣

Sorry about the massive paragraph space in the middle of my post - it keeps doing that! I've reported it.

I was in Granada last month and I’m not kidding you every single man and woman either wore a black puffa jacket, black puffa gilet or black puffa coat (that’s where I got my inspiration as they all looked warm and cosy and I was freezing). They all wore them with blue or black jeans or black leather or normal black leggings.

Plus less chance of getting mowed down!

That’s my thoughts exactly. Not just style, but safety too.

Black isn't dreary to me. Its cosy, mysterious, full of depth like space, and easy.

I don''t think OP is spiteful. I read it as idly musing.

@BuBurgoo I have never seen/heard this quote before and I just love it, it has really made me think so thank you for that!

I've got a grey woollen one for funerals/smart events.
Black puffer with bright pink zip and lining, khaki long puffer, red parka and a teal woollen coat which gets the most compliments and it only cost £2!!
Cheap and cheerful me!

Colours are fashion led. I buy a good quality coat to last a decade, and so i don't want it to be whatever dubious shade of moss/teal/mustard/aubergine was very trendy 7 yrs ago.

Black doesn't get grubby, looks smart if I'm wearing it over work clothes etc.

Trust me, you can be a 22 stone woman wearing a day glo yellow crash helmet, fluorescent orange vest over a bright red set of leathers with white reflective strips and sitting on a frog arse green 400cc motorbike with the lights on and some fucker will say 'oh, sorry love, I didn't see you there' when you were literally stationary in the middle of the lane at the front of the big set of traffic lights so their headlights fell straight on your huge back so you were lit up like a Christmas themed acid trip in their direct line of sight.

Drivers don't see you because they don't look, not because of what you're wearing. Your yellow raincoat modelled on The Fog by Seasalt (or whatever is your colour and coat of choice) is as invisible to them as a ninja suit in an eclipse.

Black is most practical for people with young children in particular. I have a camel coat which needs dry cleaning constantly because I pick my DC up and they get mud all over it, nightmare.

I agree with Morticia Addams that 'black is such a happy colour ' and it helps that I'm Goth.I try to always wear black and when I succeed I feel so proud!

😂😂😂 Wasn’t intended to be but I see your point. Genuinely am annoyed that it’s my ‘best’ neutral though according to the people who ‘do your colours’ as I really don’t like wearing it.

All I meant by the complexion thing was a reference to that ‘colours’ thing - which colours suit you best, which will depend on your eye, hair and skin colour (and tone.) Obviously you don’t have to go for the colours that make you look better if you don’t want to.

You should try online, there’s a great selection of coloured puffer coats on eBay.

I don’t think bright colours are unprofessional, and actually I wouldn’t want to work somewhere where I can’t express myself. When I graduated, work clothes were pretty dreary and “smart casual” but I’ve definitely noticed that in the past few years, since diversity and inclusion became a thing, people are now expressing themselves however they want. My 3 most recent jobs have been at a big travel company head office, marketing agency and international bank, and we have people in the office all dressed casually with piercings/tats etc. My husband works at a big pharma company and they have people with rainbow quiffs and undercuts. I wear yellow, pink and mint green to the office and haven’t been sacked/demoted yet 😂

If you take your observation a little further, you'll notice that most cars are black, grey, silver, white. Not many coloured cars around these days either.

We've always bought fairly new but not brand new cars so there isn't quite the choice of colour. Plus some colours cost more!

I’ve got a mulberry coloured long puffa and a grey coloured smart coat. I don’t look good in head to foot black, it doesn’t suit my colouring/skin tone, makes me look older somehow.