Wearing black in Spring, Summer, Autumn etc.

With pure white hair for the last few years, my personal preference is for stronger colours- blues, a pop of scarlet or lime, white (ecru, winter white, whatever) but I also like grey as long as there is some white near my face.
I still gravitate to camel or browns as I did when my hair was a colour, but if it doesn’t “feel right” it goes back in the wardrobe en route to the charity bag !

I find it really weird that come winter most of us start wearing darker clothing when out, even at night time when we should be much more visible!!

I find any trainers with thickish ridged soles grip well. Especially on cobbled streets.
I'm wearing Rieker at the moment in various colours.

I believe some Mephisto trainers are wider. Wear well.

I’ve got some New Balance trainers from Wider Fit Shoes Allira, I think they are the only company that sells them in the UK, and they are very comfortable, as well as looking like ‘normal’ trainers!
I agree regarding pale blue and turquoise, they look better on me than the other pastel colours too - mauve and lilac is the worst.

Yellow is a difficult colour to wear when older, but I loved a yellow dress I used to wear when around 17/18 and called it my
‘Pulling dress’ 😄
I suit orange, peach, coral and any green or blue,and all go well with navy which is kinder to older skin than black.

"And where did I mock anyone, DaisyAnneReturns?" Thu 26-Mar-26 14:44:57

Where did I say that you, personally, did Allira

but so many post are performative, exaggerated, and seeking conflict.
That's rather ironic! 😁

All the world's a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts

Women too.

ViceVersa

DaisyAnneReturns

Just trying to understand why people aren't allowed to like or dislike things without being mocked for it Allira (26-Mar-26 10:33:36).

The problem doesn't seem to be differing tastes, it’s how those differences get expressed. I enjoy conversations that put forward respectful differences - they are interesting and we learn from them - but so many post are performative, exaggerated, and seeking conflict. From the OP onwards there have been posts that are not about personal preference (although there are people trying to have that conversation) they seem to be "staged" to get attention. I end up asking myself if posters would say this the same way if no one else could see it.

Which posts do you think are 'performative'?

And where did I mock anyone, DaisyAnneReturns?

I agreed with Casdon that some pale colours make us both look washed out.

Strangely, Casdon, I seem to be able to wear light blues and light turquoise (well I think they look ok!).

MartavTaurus

Would it help if I moved the OP to:
Chat
Travel
Culture
Arts

There seems to be some difficulty having a discussion here on Style!

Belongs in 'Style'.

MartavTaurus

Would it help if I moved the OP to:
Chat
Travel
Culture
Arts

There seems to be some difficulty having a discussion here on Style!

It’s definitely in the correct place 👍

MartavTaurus

Would it help if I moved the OP to:
Chat
Travel
Culture
Arts

There seems to be some difficulty having a discussion here on Style!

It belongs in Style!

As I mentioned earlier, though, I don't think it is just in European cities that black has become popular, it seems to be popular here too, or rather 50 shades of grey, mostly with younger people.

I do remember when I spent time in France as a teenager that a lot of much older women wore black all the time but assumed that was because they were widowed.

Black can be chic and I do have black trousers, a couple of black coats (not that I am or ever have been chic) but brighten them up with sweaters, scarves etc.

Would it help if I moved the OP to:
Chat
Travel
Culture
Arts

There seems to be some difficulty having a discussion here on Style!

DaisyAnneReturns

Just trying to understand why people aren't allowed to like or dislike things without being mocked for it Allira (26-Mar-26 10:33:36).

The problem doesn't seem to be differing tastes, it’s how those differences get expressed. I enjoy conversations that put forward respectful differences - they are interesting and we learn from them - but so many post are performative, exaggerated, and seeking conflict. From the OP onwards there have been posts that are not about personal preference (although there are people trying to have that conversation) they seem to be "staged" to get attention. I end up asking myself if posters would say this the same way if no one else could see it.

Which posts do you think are 'performative'?

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Casdon A lot depends on your own natural colouring I think. Nothing looks worse on me than pale pastels - lilac, yellow and pale pink make me look like a corpse, much more so than black does. I can understand why so many young people wear it, when you don’t have much money it goes with everything and can easily be dressed up.

I agree. My pale colouring is far better suited to black, navy, white. I always look smart in black or navy, every other colour mixes with black, obscures dirt. We're out in the country, it's dirty here.

Casdon I am late sixties, I refuse to wear any footwear designed for mature ladies

Fortunately I have tiny slim feet (size 3 sometimes 2) I was rather miserable when broken bones have restricted my shoe/boot choice on three occasions.

Casdon

A lot depends on your own natural colouring I think. Nothing looks worse on me than pale pastels - lilac, yellow and pale pink make me look like a corpse, much more so than black does. I can understand why so many young people wear it, when you don’t have much money it goes with everything and can easily be dressed up.

I do think that on the whole Brits are not a stylish race, particularly as we get older, so many people seem to lose their way, and opt for invisible clothes - and my pet hate, hideous shoes. My biggest online time waster is searching for footwear that accommodates my wide feet, one with a bunion, that don’t make me feel as though I’m a race apart.

lilac, yellow and pale pink
I can't wear those colours either, they make me look washed out, even with blusher!

Have you tried Widerfit Shoes, Casdon? Some styles might not be to your taste but they do have a wide selection.

DaisyAnneReturns

Poorly styled beige can look flat or uninspired. Well styled it can look extremely refined, intentional, smart, elegant,

But why is it anyone's business but the person who choses to wear it? Why the clothes police?

It's a discussion.
We are allowed to discuss anything within reason.

Why the thread police?

A lot depends on your own natural colouring I think. Nothing looks worse on me than pale pastels - lilac, yellow and pale pink make me look like a corpse, much more so than black does. I can understand why so many young people wear it, when you don’t have much money it goes with everything and can easily be dressed up.

I do think that on the whole Brits are not a stylish race, particularly as we get older, so many people seem to lose their way, and opt for invisible clothes - and my pet hate, hideous shoes. My biggest online time waster is searching for footwear that accommodates my wide feet, one with a bunion, that don’t make me feel as though I’m a race apart.

Poorly styled beige can look flat or uninspired. Well styled it can look extremely refined, intentional, smart, elegant,

But why is it anyone's business but the person who choses to wear it? Why the clothes police?

Sadly I do not think we necessarily shine as a nation when it comes to clothes.
Of course there are exceptions - present company for instance- but I am heartily sick of the black puffer jackets , skinny jeans , (or saggy baggy) baseball caps- often backwards), and big trainers I see most younger people wearing.
I can’t even say it’s just the British though, as in London on Tuesday I probably saw as many if not more tourists.

I think the key is to wear what you're happy and comfortable in. Sometimes I'm head to toe in black, sometimes multi colours, I don't even consider what everyone else is wearing.

I finish off my outfit with a coral lipstick and a smile 😀.

MartavTaurus, I hope you've packed your colourful Boden pieces. Enjoy your trip 🙂.

foxie48

I've got a couple of really lovely black tops but I wear them with a beautiful necklace or a gorgeous scarf. As long as something flattering is near my face, it looks good. The colour I really can't wear is beige.

Same. I usually dress them up with a long string of freshwater pearls, or an emerald and sapphire coloured silk scarf.

Allsorts

Whats wrong with beige or black?. It’s how you wear it, does it suit yo? If there is one item of clothes that is universal its Jeans.

Definitely agree with regards to jeans, I have just culled my stash still have over 20 pairs (black, grey varying shades of blue, skinny, straight and wide leg)

Some folks can wear anything, any price and any colour, always look fabulously put together and very stylish (I have an eighty year old friend like this)

Others can spend an absolute fortune and look like something the cats dragged in as my Granny would say.

It is a matter of personal choice what anyone wears, and I try hard not to be judgemental of their choices.

I know what suits me and what colours drain me. I wear what I am comfortable in, with one eye on current trends