Is anyone else feeling this way about black and grey?

Angie

I *cannot* buy anything else black or grey. Have been feeling this way for many months. Stores are FULL of black and grey.

Of course, I wear my existing black and grey wardrobe items because I love them. Nothing will stop me from wearing my black turtlenecks and boots

That's why I have been into J. Crew this season. They have my colours at the moment and I am stocking up.

14 years ago

Shopping

46 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I tend to buy mostly bright colors anyway, so I could probably do with some black or grey neutrals to balance things out. *g*

14 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I must be late - this last year was the first time in a long time I went back to black and embraced grey in general at all! I have been leaving brown behind after a good decade of it.

14 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I definitely cannot buy any more black. I could do with a heather gray cardigan to tone down my bright orange and citron tops. And if the right gray boots come along, that's another thing altogether. But generally, yes, I do want more color!

14 years ago

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Black and grey are my dark neutrals of choice, but I am not purchasing any mroe on those ahdes beyond a suit. I always want lots of colur anyway.

14 years ago

sarah

Veteran

How funny, Angie - I recently returned a gray sweater to AT and purchased a wine-colored sequin tank and a tealy green blazer with an aqua silk tank to try out for the holidays. And I really want more shoes, but not black! I too wear black all the time (my BR Martins, my black skinnies, two pairs of black boots), but am really craving color in my wardrobe these days. I have bought some black layering pieces recently (including the INC t-neck), but other than that, it's been color for me. I've been attributing it to my new-found color bravery more than a reaction to what's in the stores, though.

14 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I've been liking grey with black and white this year but also mixing in a bright skirt or top. I decided to not buy any more black dresses for a while. I would like some bright navy but haven't seen much around.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I definitely feel this way, Angie. I have actually been buying a bit of grey, because I hadn't bought clothes in so long and it is a good neutral for me. So I figure it doesn't hurt to have a skirt in grey and a dress in grey. But I would also like to have the choice of some colour.

I feel this way especially about tops, jackets, and outerwear. WHY, with our grey and/or LONG winters, would we want to wear nothing but black or grey? Colour is so uplifting to the mood. That is why I went for a red winter coat.

Like you, I will keep wearing the black pieces I have (I, too, love the look of a black turtleneck and I also love my LBD and black skirt). And I'll wear my few new grey pieces. But I would love to see more options in the stores.

14 years ago

Anonymous

I am feeling that way about black. I will wear the black I have, but am purposing not to buy any new black clothing (footwwear excepted). Come to think of it, I may not need any more grey either.

14 years ago

Anonymous

I can't... just abut everything in my closet is black and grey... I have been trying more colors though, since pretty much anything mixes into the sea of black and grey...

14 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Dianthus, I like bright navy also and always look for it. I've found a few sweaters in navy, but not much else. I'm hoping we'll see more of it in the spring and summer.

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

I"m shocked when I look in my closet and see how much black there is. I think that is partly what fueled my recent "I've got to find a red jacket NOW" episode. I'm also determined not to add any more black (I don't really wear grey) to my wardrobe for a very long time.

14 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

Angie, you look so great in your clear brights. They only make me look jaundiced and bring out every redness, shadow and flaw in my skin tone. I look good in black and warm grays along with muted tones, so no, I am not avoiding new items in black and gray.

14 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ana and Mo, that makes sense!

(Just want to reiterate: I LOVE black and grey and wear it all the time - like right now. My style would not function without black because I *love it* with white and cream. Just can't buy anything else black and grey for a while apart from hose and socks).

Rae, Sarah and Michelle - great strategy.

Dianthus, I am not touching another LBD until I don't know when!

Claudia, that makes sense too. Have you tried earth tones and muted shades of colour?

Suz, I hear you. I'm glad that you have a gorgeous red coat! I look at all the fab designer stuff that I am willing to splurge on - but am so put off the fact that it's all black and grey.

I am very into ink blue at the moment. And I do treat bright white as a bright.

14 years ago

Claudia

Veteran

I look best in the Deep Autumn color palette, and those are what I gravitate to. I save my brights for accessories.

14 years ago

Tina

Veteran

I love black and I have the wardrobe to prove it! I am drawn to it for several reasons:
1. I know that black is a good color on me.
2. It is low maintenance.
3. I can pick out if something works on other people (color mixing) but I have a harder time putting colors and patterns together on my own. Black is a very safe color, you can wear it with almost any other color so that is another reason for the sea of black that is my closet.
Shopping B&M stores is one of my favorite things to do and I will always notice the black items. I have to lecture myself constantly while browsing, step away from the black.

14 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Funny enough, I was very drawn to black this summer (both purchasing and wearing it.) Now, I'm not so much - I want color. I think for me it's very much a reflection of the season - as we are experiencing less daylight every day, and I'm approaching the time of year where my mood can bottom out, I want to see brightness and light around me.
I'm also very, very drawn to lush seaosnal shades - spicy orange, mustard, muted rusty scarlet, and cognac.

14 years ago

Classically Casual

Veteran

This fall/winter I've been intentionally moving my neutral wardrobe colors to gray & blue.
Black is too harsh next to my face these days. I'm trying to treat it as an accent color.
Plus, I really do love to see bright colors on others during the darkest days of the year.

14 years ago

nancylee

Veteran

I've just about eliminated grey from my wardrobe. Since I look best in mid-tone and warm colors, grey is just not that flattering on me. I have one grey Eileen Fisher cascading cardigan and I hardly ever wear it.

I have also been backing away from black. It's still a good go-to basic for shirts and underlayers...and I do own several variations on the LBD for different occasions...but I tend to soften my black garments now with a scarf or jewelry. The starkness of pure black looks harsher against my skin now that I'm a little older, so it is definitely playing more of a supporting (rather than starring ) role in my wardrobe.

14 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Man, do I ever!! I too love the grey and black items in my closet, but over here the grey and black overload has been going on for many many cold weather seasons. It's almost impossible to find jackets, coats, skirts, dresses, blouses and knitwear in brighter/more unusual colours and it drives me insane!

HOW I would love a pencil skirt and a jacket in a gorgeous unique colour (patterned or solid)...

At least we have ink blue!

14 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

I have waaaaayyyyy too much grey in my wardrobe right now. And it's the first color after blue I keep picking up (then putting down) in stores.

14 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

Yes, I have tons of both, and I love both...but I am *so* loving all of the brights and colorful patterns available right now.

14 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

I do get it. I'm trying to back away from black slightly, at least right near my face, because I wonder if it's become a tad aging for me. I'll still wear it, but I'm experimenting with some other colors. (Angie? Did you just faint?)

However - I've been on the hunt for the perfect grey boots for a while. When I find them I will snatch them right up!

14 years ago

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

I'm not craving much grey and black myself right now, either. The thing that really strikes me about this over-reliance on grey and black is that it feels so old-fashioned, kind of "pre-internet" and all that that implies.

in 1984 black felt kind of fresh, and like a new way of streamlining your wardrobe. Over 25 years later, it's easy for black especially to seem like a lazy default choice if not handled creatively. With all this new technology and connectivity you would think that designers and retailers would be excited to find ways to develop more original and flattering color schemes that work together easily and feel modern.

Computers and the internet should also make educating clients about how these type of color schemes could work in their wardrobes so much easier and personalized than in the past. I'm sure there's a million practical reasons why this isn't happening, but it sure feels like a huge lag - almost like the fashion industry is caught in a time warp behind the rest of society. It's funny how these ideas can be 'in the air', though beats me where they come from! Fun topic, steph

14 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

Currently I am experiencing a desire to wear black, white and gray again so I am enjoying it while I can.:)

14 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

The greyer the weather, the less I can stand black and grey. I NEED color right now

14 years ago

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Huh. I love color and since I joined YLF have been staying away from black and neutrals. But now I am actually getting back into the black and grey again. My most recent purchases have included a black cashmere mockneck sweater, black/white melange sweaterdress and a black/grey/beige ombre panel dress. Very neutral!

14 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

That's funny -- after Angie's "wearing gray with bright jeans" blog post, I got a fab gray blazer at the Nordie's sale. It comes back from the tailor tomorrow (sleeve length -- the bane of my existence!) and I can't wait to take it out for a spin!

And 8 finally found the perfect black leather jacket at a consignment store in Santa Barbara a week or two ago -- ditto the tailor, ditto sleeve length, double ditto can't wait to take it out for a spin!

14 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I have a ton of black and grey, but don't seem to be tiring of it...YET! I am trying to add more colour though to go with the black and grey.

14 years ago

shipskitty

Veteran

I'm definitely with you on moving away from black - it has been my go to colour for years (nearly all my shoes, bags and belts were that colour for years). I'm trying to move my wardrobe neutrals to more blue/grey so I'm still buying grey. but I'm also trying to add in more colour in tops and accessories especially. Lusting after a pair of vivid shoes...maybe in a hot turquoise...

14 years ago

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