To think there’s something wrong with dressing all in black???

[YourDreamyHare]

The other day, I was on a day off. I was wearing a black jumper dress, with a little bit of cream stitching, black tights, black boots and a black and white bag.

Although I was off work, I had to pop into the office to collect something. My colleague asked “where are you off to?” whilst looking at my outfit. I thought I was reading too much into this, so just answered with my plans for the day… shopping etc. But I did definitely notice the glances up and down at my outfit.

Later that same day, I had to drop my son off for a Halloween party, and a friend said “love that you’re dressed for Halloween”. I said that it wasn’t planned, and laughed it off.

It’s left me feeling a bit self conscious. Is wearing black head to toe a no-no?? I probably don’t do it often, but I really like that jumper dress and feel like I wouldn’t know how to wear it otherwise. I could keep it just for work, but I do want to be able to wear it at weekends and on days off. Is there some fashion rule that I’m completely unaware of? Is it because black is for funerals?

help!

I don’t wear black and don’t own any black items but it doesn’t bother me what other people wear.

That’s absolutely none of my business!

So bloody rude! I often wear all black, nothing wrong with it.

are you someone who doesn’t suit black? I noticed when a colleague was all in black the day after the late Queen died, but I realised I’d walked past two other colleagues in head to toe black and hadn’t really clocked it, until I realised it was that the two other colleagues look good in black and often wear it anyway, but the colleague I noticed does not look good in black (really drains her), rarely wears it and so looked a bit odd/stood out.

(I’d missed that most people would wear black to work after the Queen died, thankfully I was in very dark navy so didn’t look too disrespectful!)

I wore all black today, do at least once a week. Didn't give it a second thought 🤷‍♀️

if you're going to wear head to toe anything, then black is probably the most common colour to do so. Really normal. If you wanted to switch it up a bit it would be very easy to add a splash of colour to that outfit - nude or less opaque tights rather than thick black, or a different colour sock over the tights just above the boot, or a coloured handbag, scarf or jewellery, different coloured coat, etc. But it's hardly an issue. It's probably just because it's out of your normal style.

I recently read a psychiatrist's letter to my GP, sent after a consultation with me, who saw fit to mention that I was dressed completely in black.

I’ve been out and about today in black leggings, black t shirt, black trainers and a black coat feeling very slim and pleased with myself for picking such an excellently coordinated outfit!

Mentioning it isn't the same as pathologising it. I read medical notes for work and summaries of mental health appointments always include a summary of appearance/demeanor which might well include a description of clothing.

People wore black when the queen died!!?

How odd. That would have got precisely no reaction in Manchester. All black normal.

Do you have massive norks and were wearing a shin tight dress? More likely to draw glances.

I only wear black, green or blue. It’s not majorly intentional, that just seems to be what suits me.

My mum would never, ever allow black clothes as a child & only wore black as an adult if she was going to a funeral. Some people are strange.

Is it possible that they've just never seen you in all black before?

I don’t wear black very often but loads of people do, it’s an odd thing for anyone to notice or comment on!

I guess if you are like me and usually dress in brighter colours, it might result in a comment but dressing in all black is hardly unusual.

@AmyDuPlantier- they did! It hadn’t occurred to me to do so (I don’t work in the government or media or anything like that), but luckily I’d put on a dark navy dress that morning and dark shoes so I wasn’t looking disrespectfully colourful. (Lots of colleagues did the queue as well.)

F

Yes, it looks mórbid. Colour is better.

I live in all black. It is my safe colour. I dont care what other people think.

Only if you like colour! Black isn't morbid, it's just black. Some people might associate it with morbid topics, but that's their own personal interpretation.

Why wouldn't you like colour?
To dress in all black is mórbid and depressing, associate with death.

I dont associate black with death. It is my safe colour. I feel happy and comfortable in it. I have tried colour and I feel awful in it but I am ND so that has an influence.

I used to get bullied for wearing black. But I am happy in it so who cares.

@Netcurtainnelly Does grey count as a colour?! I like colour, just not on me. Black is calming, simple, and pleasing to me, not at all depressing. Isn't it great that we're all different?

A psychiatrist reading anything more into the wearing of a black dress when it's a fact that black frocks are the most common ones available if you detest ditzy florals and don't want to wear a bright sundress with straps, flounces and/or frills to work in October needs assessing themselves, IMO.

It became a standard business clothing hive for women , though things seem more relaxed now. Used to suit me with a jewel or red shirt, but I find it too harsh as I’ve aged.

I bumped into a senior colleague on my way out of the building once at lunchtime and he laughed and said ‘ Woo, all in black - off to a funeral ? Ha ha ha! ‘

‘Yes, I am’

Brought the reception area to a standstill- he was with important clients who knew me, plus a very senior colleague, who all looked aghast.

Oik.

My favourite outfits are all black. I almost always wear black. I love it. No-one has once commented on its appropriateness.

I had a MH report that said about me wearing black too. But they would also describe any clothing and colour I was wearing. It does not matter. It is just something they make a note of.