WHy did I ever give up black clothing?

[PaulHollywoodsleftbollockhair]

I am currently sorting through my closet and decluttering etc.

Everything in black looks bloody lovely. I have wasted loads of money over the years trying navy, charcoal, beige etc. Nothing looks better than black frankly.

Anyone else having this dawning realisation? Have we been sold a crock for years?

Oh my, I realised too that I’m never better groomed, confident or happy than when in black.

Far from being dull I think it can be stunning.

I love black and have never left it. All other neutrals with the exception of very dark charcoal grey and very dark navy look awful on me. Beige/camel/tan etc is particularly hideous.

I lived in black until my mid-30s when I started looking like a death mask in it. It really drains my face.

Apart from a few more colourful skirts, my bottom half is still mostly black.

I just can’t wear colour. I try but I invariably end up giving it away (one or two exceptions). I tried to stop wearing black when I moved to the coastal countryside because it felt wrong but I’m gradually reverting to it (coat aside which is Navy or green tweed obvs )

I had my colours done a few years ag and navy & charcoal came up as two of my good colours, so for a while I gave up on black.

I still like navy/charcoal - glad I discovered they suit me - but when I wear black I get way more compliments! I also feel more put together and chic, somehow.

I love colour and bright prints, and I don't have that much black but I do get compliments when I wear it. Which shouldn't be right as I'm nearly 50 and pale so it should wash me out, but it works somehow.

Agree with Scandaloso that black comes with a feeling - it makes me feel cool and chic and slightly fuck-you. (No idea if that comes across or if I just look as middle-aged and stressed as ever :o)

Because Trinny and Susannah told you to back in 2003 or was that just me?

I abandoned it! Id say at least 2/3 of my wardrobe is black and I like it. I think it suits me and I’m really not very comfortable in colour.

And if it's good enough for Iris Apfel at 96 or whatever she is, I think if you like it you should embrace it!

Iris always looks bloody amazing.

I think black is incredibly boring. I dislike the way it is the option for so many classic styles. I am dark and much prefer to wear other colours. I don't think black suits that many people. It is just the safe option.

Does black work for dark skin do you think?

Ooh friendly cross post

What colour do you wear as a staple if you don't mind me asking?

When I wear black I feel sleek, sharp and 7lbs lighter. There's a very valid reason why so many fashion editors and stylists wear black, black and black.

I think it looks great with darker skin.

Friendly I disagree, I am always annoyed that when I see something I like that has colour options, I think one of them is black but on closer inspection it's often navy, which doesn't suit me at all. Grrrr.

It’s beautiful and it reduces facial redness a lot so my skin looks clearer.

navy suits me better than black but i find it too much hard work trying to tie together shades (i mix and match a lot) so tend to mainly have black with accents of teal/emerald/pink and some blue.

Amrapaali, I don't really wear a staple. I like khaki quite a lot as a boring colour. I am olive skinned with black hair.

I got put off black when my mother grew old and wore nothing else. It just seemed the opposite of stylish. Just depressing. And I have only ever embraced black wholeheartedly when I haven't been very happy with the way I looked.

I made a decision when I reached about 40, to find alternatives to jeans and wear more dresses and also more colour. Not because I thought I was too old for black and jeans, but because I wanted to be a bit more creative.

I discovered black in 1986 aged 9. I am now 41. I still wear very little else. I only buy othercolours if they’re good with black. So grey, red. Occasionally purple. Never navy.

I wear pretty much all black, with a bit of white, cream, grey and charcoal thrown in, tops mostly, and I have a couple of pairs of denim colour jeans. I'm very pale and colours just reflect on my face, plus I don't have to worry about colours not going together, which I'm no good at, because these all do. Saying that I bought a burgundy jumper last week, and I really like it.

I don't like the all beige thing. My grandad used to wear a lot of beige and it just reminds me of old men and ugly velcro shoes. And plasters. Who wants to look like a walking plaster!?

Yes all beige sounds like a disaster - that could definitely qualify as being sold a crock. I'd look dreadful. And I agree it makes me think of horrible synthetic trousers marketed at retired people in the back of the radio times.

My grandad was a bit of a walking plaster too He was very fond of his beige farah slacks and a beige cardie with leather elbow patches. Not quite the Max Mara look!

I wear black a lot too. It suits me, especially if it's a good dense, even shiny black. I'm another bright winter, if anyone's interested, but I have quite fair colouring for a winter.

Are bright winters always brunettes?

I'm actually allergic to beige, nude, fawn, camel etc. They look lovely on people with softer colouring.