I have a hard time functioning outside my comfort zone...

[electra]

Whenever I go to buy clothes I always seem to end up getting black......dresses etc.

Anyone else have this problem?

Next time you try something on in black, go out to the shop floor and get the same item in a different colour. There is usually a selection of clours. Be brave!

I bet everyone will say how great you look in a different shade. Whats your colouring?

God yes. I am trying very hard to bring colour back into my life (used to be a daft old hippy dippy all the colours of the rainbow when younger) but black happens to suit me and I like it! I have found burgundy tyoe colours the easiest to wean myself into - and grey of course!

Yes my mum always says "Oh I see you've got black again for a change"

I have very dark eyes and hair but quite a pale complexion.

electra you would look FAB in electric blue. I have recently discovered it and love it. I have dark hair but blue eyes, and pale-ish complexion. Kew have lovely white and blue dresses. Don't know your style....

get some bright cheap tshirts

But don't wear them with black trousers...

my problem is mainly when going out....dresses etc

Well if its a formal do, I don't think you can go wrong with black. But I think grey can look very chic too, with silver accessories.

When you do break the black habit it's amazing. I used to wear loads of black, now I never wear black in the day as I feel gloomy, plain and washed out in it. I'm wearing a bright pink and floral LK Bennett dress today with tan sandals and I look and feel much better in that than some drab old black rag!
I do like a little black dress for evening sometimes though.

this looks great in blue, I think

The thing about black is you don't have to worry about stuff matching. As soon as you branch out into other colours you find you have a load of stuff that doesn't go with other stuff, and need to double the size of your wardrobe.

That's why I love dresses. they don't have to go with anything!

me too.

have a horror of being overdressed, which even living in Italy didn't cure me of. And therefore, I'm quite often underdressed, which is ok when in twenties, but I need to prink up a bit more these days.

you need a bossy friend to go with you and force you to try other stuff on.

I think black clothes need to have texture and something interesting about them for them to work as a whole outfit.

www.warehouse.co.uk/fcp/product/-/DRESSES/PLEAT-RUFFLE-PUFFBALL-DRESS/7026

This is my very favourite dress on the high street at the moment.

You simply must try colour, I used to be a black widow like you, but now I wear every shade of blue, lots of red, green and yellow, but never pink or purple!

When you find 'your colour', it's as easy to shop for as black, it just means trying on lots of things first.

And FWIW I strive to be overdressed at all times!

Ok anyone know what colours, other than black, would suit someone who is basically pink?
(sorry for hijack)

Ohh missblythe, there was I, all ready to crown you as the new queen of style on MN...and you link to that romper suit fronted puff ball.....

sputnik are you Mr Blobby?

Dammit! But's is lovely in the flesh-and would be on Electra who is very young, unlike me!

sputnik, are you Mr Greedy?

Well, on a bad night....