Nyer, she knows nothing. We who live in the city wear shorts in our part of town. Sure, we dress up when on a night on the town, and when we travel to Rome or Paris, we blend right in with our buddies.

A friend of mine just told me that she was watching "Regis & Kelly" earlier this week and that a fashion consultant that was on the show said that BLACK is definitely OUT. Certain people thought that black was chic, and heavier people thought that black made them look thinner. Most people wear black because its considered a basic color that will go with everything and it doesn't obviously show dirt if you wear your clothing more than once before washing it (which most of us do while on vacation). So, coordinate your wardrobe so that you can mix and match things together, but BLACK is definitely not in season this year.

Leslie...why don't you get out more and get a life..sad creature, you. Your pronouncments are getting dreary as you are!<BR>You are not the Delphi oracale..even if you would like to be...

aa, do you have a problem? I also saw the fashion consultant on R & K, she said black is out.

If you think that a pronouncement from Regis and Kelly means that black is out--think again. Other colors come and go , but you are always safe in black. I wear black a lot anyway, but on vacation, it really works on so many levels: fashion, ease of coordination,<BR>and ability to look casual or dressy with very minor changes of top or scarf. Also needs washing less often than beige or khaki.

It is hard for Americans to disguise their national identity, period.<BR>My wife was on a trail in the Swiss Alps. The pocket on her pack was not fastened. Another hiker, not an American, came up from behind her, and without slowing down or looking back said in good English as he passed, "Your pack is unfastened." <BR><BR>What gave her nationality away? I have no idea. Posture? Hair color? (more grey than black these days) Appearance? (five nine, fair skinned, slender) Hat? (black but not on, dangling from neck) Boots? (brown Red Wings) Trousers? (black) Pack? Perhaps. He could read L.L. Bean on it.<BR>But Bean sells internationally.<BR>You tell me.

I wore light-colored pants and skirts when I lived in Boston and Springfield, and threw them in the hamper after each wearing because they got so grimy (I rode public transportation). I really don't want to do laundry while traveling, so I opt for dark colors to hide the grime. Esthetics aside, dark colors are just more practical (especially for someone who tends to spill red wine on herself - those black pants hide a lot).

Personally, I think black is the wrong choice for travel unless you are bringing lots of other clothes.<BR>It picks up dirt and lint so easily, so you always look dirty. To travel by plane, by car, by train, in black is a disaster.

Black is OUT. Colors are IN. You need to change with the times!

With all of this black in people's wardrobes, it sounds like you're all prepared to attend funerals at a drop of a hat.<BR><BR>Maybe you should all have color charts done and see how much black should actually be in your wardrobes. Seems that those that have so much black in their wardrobes are color-phobic, it must be a disease related to being color blind.

I agree with Elvira. Buy the right kind of black pants and you can wear them the entire trip - dressed up or dressed down - www.chicos.com has the best traveler's pants that don't show dirt and things don't cling to it - I have dogs so I know this.<BR><BR>I tend to spill so khaki pants would last about an hour on me. I would stick with dark bottoms and light tops.

Now I have it figured out! All the people in BLACK are tourists that don't want to show the dirt or do laundry. All the people in KHAKI are locals with access to washing machines. Bottom line: The tourists now outnumber the locals.<BR><BR>Regis? Why?

I want to add that in Provence, no one wears black as they would in Paris, because black attracts the sun and you will be hotter than in a light color.

I always wear chinos and khaki colored pants in Europe and plan to again this May. I have never had a problem with service at lunch. I do generally wear nicer pants or a skirt in the evenings for dinner. I do not wear black in hot weather.