Wearing black in Spring, Summer, Autumn etc.

You can always tell the Brits when abroad - they are the ones in beige cropped trousers and cheap looking baggy t shirts, men with beer bellies and polyester football tops, or no top at all. It’s a bit much criticising Parisians or Milanese who look chic and well groomed whether wearing black or not. I’ve just been to a swanky daytime event in Paris where I noticed lots of white shirts and silk scarves from a brand beginning with H,(€900) designer bags ( at least €3000), tailored wide legged trousers in a variety of colours.

DaisyAnneReturns

MartavTaurus

What is this obsession with wearing black in European cities?

I'm off to a different place for a change this Easter, (usually Paris or Nornandy ), and yet again, looking at current pictures, it's a uniform of black trousers, black sweatshirts and black jackets. Don't they realise once the sun comes out it's time to add a bit of colour?

This isn't just an older generation, it's all the younger people. And there was I thinking Boden items would look nice. So time for a rethink methinks.

Wow. If you (OP) are prepared to ridicule other countries cultures in this way why on earth do you want to holiday abroad?

Not sure she's ridiculing their culture rather - their taste in fashion!

MartavTaurus

What is this obsession with wearing black in European cities?

I'm off to a different place for a change this Easter, (usually Paris or Nornandy ), and yet again, looking at current pictures, it's a uniform of black trousers, black sweatshirts and black jackets. Don't they realise once the sun comes out it's time to add a bit of colour?

This isn't just an older generation, it's all the younger people. And there was I thinking Boden items would look nice. So time for a rethink methinks.

Wow. If you (OP) are prepared to ridicule other countries cultures in this way why on earth do you want to holiday abroad?

You can get away with cheap clothes in black, hence their popularity. A set of black trousers and jumper could be about £30 and won't last long but who cares. Whereas you could pay about £500 and wear them for years. Great that people have the choice.

MartavTaurus

What is this obsession with wearing black in European cities?

I'm off to a different place for a change this Easter, (usually Paris or Nornandy ), and yet again, looking at current pictures, it's a uniform of black trousers, black sweatshirts and black jackets. Don't they realise once the sun comes out it's time to add a bit of colour?

This isn't just an older generation, it's all the younger people. And there was I thinking Boden items would look nice. So time for a rethink methinks.

I would suggest wearing black t-shirts are always in trend. I buy from American Apparel Australia and those are amazing if anyone want then other can try different color too.

GillyMo

I love to see colourful clothes. When I was younger I wore a lot of black. I think it was a sub conscious way of trying ti hide from the male gaze which I detested. Now I'm older I feel more invisible and therefore more comfortable when going out so I dress how I like. I'm really keen on lemon yellow at the moment.

I've just been to town, had a look around Peacocks and it's full of lemon clothes, GillyMo, I thought of you 😀.

I think that depends whether you are talking art or science MartavTaurus

In science, white is the presence of all colours - when you combine all the wavelengths of the visible spectrum.

Black, in science is the absence of light. An object appears black because it absorbs all wavelengths and reflects none back to your eye.

In a room with zero light, everything is black because there is no "colour" to be seen.

In Art it is black that is the presence of all the colours.
If you mix paints together you end up with a sort of black. You are adding more pigment to absorb more of the light.

​White is the absence of colour - often the base (the canvas/paper colour) or a specific pigment that hasn't been "contaminated" by other hues.

polly123

I love wearing black and navy but also white. Darker colours suit me and bright colours don't. I find darker colours stylish and more elegant on me not for slimming reasons but for a more edgy look.

Darker colours suit me...

Me too.

I don't believe you can make a hard and fast rule about older women not wearing black because it makes them look gaunt/pale/washed-out/whatever. We are not just older women we are individuals and we still vary, even in our dotage.

And whatever colour is fashionable this year across Europe will be replaced next year with another which some will like and others won't.

I've seen older women looking stunning in pastel shades and others looking equally gorgeous in black.

We dress to please ourselves, to feel comfortable. Maybe we hope others like our appearance, or maybe we don't care one way or the other.

I so dislike seeing children dressed in black, like little Victorians in mourning.

I love wearing black and navy but also white. Darker colours suit me and bright colours don't. I find darker colours stylish and more elegant on me not for slimming reasons but for a more edgy look.

Useless information alert for all ....

Oh yes, and black is definitely a colour.
But did you know that white isn't?

Typo: harking back, not harping

LinkyPinky

Goodness! So judgmental! Wear what you like. Nobody cares. This isn’t the 50’s.

Oh! I think after 3 pages, you're the only person to see it as judgmental and harping back to the 50s!
It was meant to be a discussion about colours in different seasons, and against different scenery. An opportunity to encourage stepping away from the usual, and to examine how colours work with different complexions and body shapes. Or just general observations and choices.
Anyway, thanks to those who shared their colour preferences and advice on this Style & Beauty thread.

Goodness! So judgmental! Wear what you like. Nobody cares. This isn’t the 50’s.

I love to see colourful clothes. When I was younger I wore a lot of black. I think it was a sub conscious way of trying ti hide from the male gaze which I detested. Now I'm older I feel more invisible and therefore more comfortable when going out so I dress how I like. I'm really keen on lemon yellow at the moment.

Ex goth here. I lived in black when young (someone once wrote in a leaving card (what colour do you wear to funerals”) but tend to restrict it to my bottom half now. I did however buy a great top in black from Hobbs recently and it makes me feel very svelte. I might well buy a black linen dress for summer - I think black looks edgy and I still like to be a bit different, even if the general consensus is that older women should avoid it.

ViceVersa

I tend to wear mostly black - because I like it, flattering or not. Most of my band t-shirts are black, but I do throw in the odd bit of leopard print from time to time. Granny goth, that's my look.

I have always liked black and have been wearing it since I was thirteen. Frequently, a black top with white trousers or jeans and I'm now 84.

Due to peer pressure, I've tried different colours, and the only one that suits is dark blue - anything ese just does not suit me, and even my friends agree.

So I'm wearing black regardless.

Wyllow3

Beige and related colours.......*why*!!! Even with a nice scarf.

All those "influencers" in 50 Shades of Beige. Whose houses are decorated in the same colours, whose children are forced into the same colour palate for both clothes and toys.

shrugs in black leather jacket, metal t-shirt and blue jeans. Or at least I will when Mother Nature finally decides it's spring.

Black and navy all the way for me. They suit me. Sometimes I wear a top of pink or leopard print with black.

I wear whatever I fancy when I get up.

The only black items I have apart from shoes are a pair of velvet trousers and a black trench coat I purchased last year for a funeral for which the dress code was strictly black.

I look awful in black, it’s aging for me. I prefer navy and find that much easier to style. This winter I’ve worn a mix of navy/blue jeans and good quality athleisure joggers with cotton or cashmere jumpers in brighter colours. In spring I’ll exchange those for pretty modern blouses or short sleeve tops with a cardigan for chillier days.

Someone said to me recently that I was a ‘colourful person’ and I took it to be a compliment. I’m lucky enough to just have a smattering of grey in my hair and I try to make the most of its chestnut colouring.

Hardly ever wear black myself as just doesn’t suit my colouring at all .

90% of people will wear black as a staple colour yet 90% of people don't look good at all in black. It is very difficult to find shoes, bags and trousers that are not in black. It is a colour I never wear

Having been in catering for a long time I loath black and just think people look like waiters.