Quick question. Have to "practice pack" this weekend for next week's Christmas trip to Germany, Austria and Italy. I've usually taken basic black but I'm considering using brown as my base color this year. Will I stick out in brown/gold/red? Or should I stick to black as a basic color in December? I'm so tired of black. What do you think?

Well.. have you seen anyone else on your travels wear something other than black? Did you think ill of them?
I can't imagine anyone is going to care much, except yourself, who will feel a new charge at wearing something different.

I'll give you my opinion after spending three weeks last January in Germany, the Netherlands and France. You won't stick out, I actually saw a lot more color than I expected. Especially scarves. Do you feel comfortable in brown? Myself, I am deathly sick of black and would love to switch, but it is unfortunately my best color. So when I switch, I end up unhappy. And when I pack for a winter trip to Europe, I try to wear everything several times! So I need to feel comfortable in what I have with me.

Maybe stick with your black but plan on punching it up with colorful scarves?

I'd never really worn a lot of brown until recently and I find I really like it. I'm comfortable with it, I've bought high-heel and low-heel shoes and (waterproof)boots in brown and lots of pants, lately. I just don't want to be a brownie in a crowd of blackies

Hi Lady, I have a lot of women friends in Italy that use various shades of brown as their basic colors. And brown leather shoes in Italy is probably one of the most desirable colors as are the purses. Black is always good but brown and the various variations of it is also. It sounds like you suddenly feel "good" in brown..so that is what you should pack for your trip. I have always been one to wear black but suddenly I have a craving for more brown colors also. You can mix and match and it is such a warm color and yet such a basic color that goes so beautiful with other colors. I understand your being tired of black. Me too!

You don't want to be a brownie in a crowd of blackies? Why not? As long as you look good and feel good in brown, wear it. Step away from the crowd and be noticed (in a good way).

Besides, you will see people in other colors than black in Europe.

Brown is definitely in style. Leather boots (brown or black)are too.

Sounds like you'll look divine.

Wonderful! Three questions: Do you want attention? Are you independent? Is safety of any concern? Attention to tourists, even in a closed event is momentary. You should wear clothing to please your companions and yourself. Please note some of the latest, 'me too', bits: no shave, no necktie and jeans and boots.

Here speaks the native:

Wear whatever you want!!!

Black, brown, blue, red, green - it does not matter. Jeans are perfectly fine, neckties too.

Black is only mandatory, if
(1) you are an architect,
(2) you are a copywriter,
(3) you try to be acknowledged as an artist.

Forget any concerns about safety. In any German, Austrian and Italian city you will be much safer than in Chicago, New York or San Francisco. And everybody here is happy to meet people from America.

Just one little point:

Do leave your shorts and flip-flops at home. Not because they are not adequate. It will simply be too cold, even in Southern Italy.

"Hi. You look like Helen Brown".

"You don't look so good yourself".

I think it is hugh time you had your colours done. I paid a nice lady to analyse my skin tone, hair etc and she then gave me a colour book. Everything goes and it all goes with me.

ok it is not very butch but we men need help

I take basic brown and black pants but spice it up with cashmere blended sweaters in pumpkin, red and sage green. They are thin enough to be layered under heavier sweaters or coats.

I LOVE the combination of black and dark chocolate brown! In fact, my new leather handbag is duo coloured & looks very elegant ... IMHO.

Brown IS the new black.

In Paris and London last week, what wasn't black was grey or plum

I don't wear much black at all. My travel clothes are always based on Brown/Ivory/Rust. I've never felt out of place, but I've never felt the need to look like everyone else, either. You'll be just fine!

~Liz

Having just returned from a month-long trip (Greece, Croatia, Venice, Paris)in which I packed a lot of black, I am feeling as if I look like a crow-in-mourning in so many of my photos. Even though I brought along accent pieces in other colors, I almost always had on black pants and a black jacket, which, because it was COLD, I rarely left unbuttoned, so I am in ALL BLACK in most of the photos. Probably not ever again ...

OK, I'm going with the brown. I don't want to look like everyone else, but neither do I want to stick out like a sore thumb and I'm now convinced I won't.

I love the thought of not being covered in black (even though I've always worn brighter colors with it). I'm just TIRED of black, and since I got my dark brown hair streaked almost blonde, I do look good in brown. But I do remember on my first trip to Europe I took a bright green top (that I wore with black pants) and already felt out of place. Then someone (another American) even made a comment at St. Peter's about being glad she wasn't the only one in bright green. Eeeoowwww. I guess it was the way she said it that, years later, I'm self-conscious about wearing things that are brighly colored in Europe.

Yeah, I know brown isn't bright. I'm just (camera)shy.

speaking of camera, non-black is much easier to photograph. Having used brown as my "base color" the past few years, I went back to black on my most recent trip. Though my new black coat looked fabulous and got lots of compliments, it fooled our cameras into over-exposing many pictures (washed-out skies and walls).

Good, still another good reason to wear brown! Thanks, Fifi.