I just finished replying to Suz's incredibly thought provoking thread on comfort zone. Brilliant question Suz, but my head is spinning! Your question took my thoughts in a really interesting direction. It not only got me thinking about why things were in or out of my comfort zone but I felt this brought up the question of what are we trying to convey through our wardrobe choices? How do we want people to see us? This was my reply on Suz's thread: I think preferences in style and comfort zone are a lot like friendships. I know many lovely women, very pleasant, but on some basic level I don't connect with them. I call it the "cosmic click." You know immediately when you meet a truly kindred spirit, they just "get" you and you "get" them. I think it's the same with art, literature, clothing (after all it's wearable art!). I think that connection is actually a recognition of "self." This is me, this gets me, on an almost primal level. I don't think it's irrational so much as inarticulate. Like the romantic poets notion that poems are "emotion recollected in tranquility." We find it difficult to verbalize about things that create strong emotions, we can only verbalize once we distance ourselves from the emotions they engender. Why does black sing the sirens song for me? I think I could write a book about that! Black "gets" me on so many levels - not just flattering my complexion, but on emotional levels which express my message. Black provides the negative space that I can fill. It embodies the qualities of mystery, quietness, intelligence, formality, and simplicity. It is powerful and can be conservative, edgy, avant garde or elegant in turn. These qualities are the message I wish to convey - these things are me. Brights would not convey the same message. Those pieces, patterns, colors, textures that convey my message become me, what conveys an alternate message would be "outside my comfort zone" because there would be a disconnect between self and "the message", they would not convey "me." Do you consciously try and convey a message, an emotion, a feeling with your clothes and outfit? Do you wear what is flattering, trendy or what is truly a reflection of you? If you do, what is your message and how do you try and convey it?