I Want to Stop Wearing Black

Anything. Everything. I've never worn black.

Dark brown. But it's not a good color for spring and summer, when you should go with true Navy.

If you have fair skin and brown (not black) hair, wearing black is never flattering. Neutral lighter colors are best. Browns, whites.

As an example of how to expand your palette, look to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, who, despite her bleached hair, was a classic brunette with fair skin. She wore black almost exclusively for years, then incorporated brown, white, cream, and even orangey red. It is all about how washed out colors in your clothes make your face look.

Lilac, Coral, Chartreuse

Really dark grey.

Another vote for grey but not just dark grey. Grey also looks good with every other color.

Navy, of course.

Did you own a company called Theranos?

Fuchsia

Everyone knows eggplant is the new neutral!

I couldn't live without black, sorry.

Florals?

Try chartreuse.

It can be difficult to find casual clothes in "true navy." You could do what I do. I wear black, but add a layer of something in a rich jewel tone near my pale face. (Not scarves.) It's not the coolest thing to do, in the summer, but it's the best I can do. I feel as exposed as a newborn baby without my cloak of darkness.

Aqua

OP, are you a male or female?

Orange

Mauve

Teal. It's very fashionable with plaids.

Mama, my colors are blush and bashful.

I find it boring how common black clothing is.

Personally, I hate brown.

It's impossible to give up black 100%. You can still wear black with the following colors: white (shirt), khaki, navy blue, dark gray. From there, you can branch out.

Lime green.

No brown - signals you are depressed. If you must wear dark colors, navy or gray. I like to change it up between seasons - light khaki or white for spring/summer, navy/gray for fall/winter.

R16, I am female and thoroughly, thoroughly sick of my black clothes. I have my clothes hung up grouped by color, and black takes up a whole rod by itself. Let the quips begin!

Fuck you then OP because you let 24 posters give you advice thinking you were a guy.

And double fuck you because you came here thinking "Oh, I'll ask the gays what to do. They ALL know fashion. I ask my Jewish friends about money, my black friends about dancing, my Irish friends about booze and my WASP friends about table settings, so I'll ask the gays about fashion!"

I come here for the wit and wisdom of DL, not to be cudgeled by your hate, R26.

Wear

Earrings

Wear

caftans!!

Calm down 26.

Best to wean yourself off slowly. I suggest these polkad ot pans.

Never wear mauve to a ball.

R26 sounds worldly and delightful.

R30, I love those pants. I'd wear them with a white shirt or t-shirt.

As they say in the Starburst candy commercials "Believe in the Rainbow" why in the world would you want to wear one color.

R27/OP thinks she can cherry pick the DL for her own gratification. I'm dying, my sides!!!!!

This lez sez: buy a burlap bag to cover the delusion and buy a subscription to those makeover shows. This isn't a fucking salon.

We love you, OP. I was hoping you were a woman because there are many more options for clothing.

If you could see me in person you'd never ask me for fashion advice but I'd still happily dispense it. Be warned that I wear Birkenstocks with fuzzy socks, sometimes while wearing a kilt, and sometimes while working on my project car.

Orange.....orange is the new black OP.

I love that look R36!

Gee, R26. I can't imagine how you enjoy with such asinine, angry thinking.

Apologies, OP, I assumed you were a man. Here you go--let the sun shine in!

A good cudgeling is part of the deal, hon. You'll take it and you'll like it.

Shop here.

OP - I know what you mean. I went to a client's office and visited their cafeteria. All these women in identical black pantsuits - they looked like crows.

If you own that much black already - you need to slowly incorporate other colors into your wardrobe. I suggest

* White, off-white, camel and cream - as tops, blazers, jeans, sweaters, easy to pair with your black pieces

* Blue velvet - oh yeah! evening shoes or bags to go with one of many LBDs you probably own. A long blue velvet scarf can go with coats, black suits, etc. Sweaters with blue velvet detailing, etc.

* A red skirt suit - you can pair it with your black accessories and tops and wear each piece separately to mix and match.

* Printed flair mid-calf skirts - if they look good on you and can be paired w/what you already own.

* Printed blouses - see above.

* A variety of shell tops or jumpers in happy colors - yellow, pink, whatever look good. `

Then branch out into other colors for investment pieces - camel, cream, grey, navy (Prussian blue), & red.

I hope ^ is a woman otherwise r43 is way too much into fashion.

DEEP PURPLE!!!!!

That's not fashion advice I just wanted to type it.

White. Especially after Labor Day.

Pink stripes and purple polka dots

Too many people (usually women) think they look realy smart in ALL black. Imho, it's awful! It just shows off all the cat hair!

Don't do it, OP!

Sorry but once you go black you never go back plus it's very slimming and practical.

Navy & cream looks so wealthy. Try it. It gets respect.

White.

Thank you for the helpful suggestions and encouragement. I love this site. I've been coming here for years and have learned so much from so many of you about politics, history, social issues (sexual and non), grammar and punctuation, skin care, diets and exercise, dealing with wacky neighbors, the BRF, you name it. So much intelligence and great humor. Thank you.

Fuck off OP.

OP, no need for a new wardrobe.

Get yourself a Deluxe Bedazzler and Sparkle, Neely, Sparkle!

Trust me. Put on a tan suit and you will be noticed.

But what if you have to attend a funeral?

I am a 52 year old man and I don't think I own any black clothing except an overcoat and a tuxedo. It's really not flattering, and IMO, makes women look much older in the face than they actually are. It also signals low creativity and lack of confidence.

OP is a fat frau. An interloper on a gay site

I just did a survey of the females near my office and not one is wearing black. Range in age from 23 - mid-50s. Two gals are wearing very pretty flower-print shirts, one with pink pants, the other with kind of an army green pants. The shirts would look ok with black pants, too, I think. One lady wearing a white button down and a grayish blue skirt, big chunky necklace. Older lady wearing an eggplant colored cardigan over a white shirt and gray pants.

Sounds like you're in a serious wardrobe rut, OP! See what's on sale and incorporate some color into your life.

Go with what suits your skin tones. Lots of bright colors if you're a POC. Lots of beige if you're a colorless people.

OP, I would check with Mother Superior before making a drastic change.

Thanks for telling us what the gals and females and ladies were wearing in your neck of the woods, R60. And what were you wearing?

OP = Tom Ford, Fragrant Vegan Vampire

Black clothes are so boring.

r44 -I am a woman and I am into fashion, not as much as my sister, though.

[quote] Navy & cream looks so wealthy. Try it. It gets respect.

r51-- very true. Just a warning - let it be a modern cut otherwise it may look dowdy -unfair IMO.

r60 -- you are correct - black is so 90s early 00s. Only older women still wear the black pantsuits.

r53 (OP) You are welcome. I, too, also owned too much black - just ordered a beautiful navy cross-body bag for everyday wear. You may need to start slowly, depending on your budget.

[quote] Black clothes are so boring.

r65 - Especially on men. Knew an idiot who wore black suits AS A UNIFORM -- looked like a much-older coroner . Strange thing, he had large blue eyes - he could have worn a navy suits and looked much better.

Dark Navy or Dark Grey. Not brown.

I just wish I had more time to seek out the dark forces and join their hellish crusade.

Brown

OP, don’t buy a thing without doing Color Me Beautiful first!

If you live in NYC, you have to wear black. It's our official uniform

Not anymore, r71. Take a look around you.