Why so gloomy? Maybe it's all the black clothes

The Advertiser

17-07-2025

This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to theechidna.com.au
A cheerless winter morning in Sydney. Grey, cold and drab, muted further by the leaden sky above.
And on the ground, the army of early morning walkers, wearing the oppressive winter uniform of black puffer jacket, black pants or leggings, black top, amplify the dreariness. It's a scene drained almost entirely of colour.
Except, of course, for the bright, safety yellow parka I'm wearing.
The stares it attracts suggest I've broken the city's strict winter dress code, which decrees only The North Face, Kathmandu and Helly Hansen may be worn between the months of May and October. In regulation black or, at a pinch, dark navy blue. It's as if the ghost of Henry Ford - "Any colour as long as it's black" - haunts the garment industry.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for practicality and staying warm in winter.
I understand that while a puffer coat might make the wearer look like the Michelin man it will keep them toasty.
But must it always be black or dark blue? What is it that compels folk in a liberal democracy to dress in the 21st century's version of the 1960s Mao suit? And why am I feeling momentarily self-conscious in my bright outerwear on this crushingly dreary morning?
It all comes down to the very human urge to conform, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Conformity helps build social cohesion. Psychologists believe humans are hardwired to fit in. This is generally a good thing. Conforming to social norms of behaviour binds a society. It's the glue that keeps it together.
Conformity can also be a yoke, crushing individuality and justifying terrible behaviour. History is strewn with examples where fitting in has had terrible consequences. Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, North Korea, China come to mind.
And when it comes to winter clothing, fitting in brings its own form of oppression. It always has.
Revered Australian painter John Brack captured it in his iconic 1955 artwork, 'Collins St., 5pm'. It depicts an army of office workers, uniformly dressed, making their way home in grim determination. They look like automatons in a monotone cityscape. It could be Soviet Russia but it's Melbourne.
Brack may have later apologised for the painting's condescending portrayal of the crowd but I think he nailed the drabness we impose on ourselves in winter. His overcoats and hats have been replaced by puffer jackets, hoodies and headphones but the sense of monotony is the same.
When I first set eyes on my yellow parka, it didn't occur to me that wearing it would constitute a small act of rebellion. The kangaroos, magpies and occasional wombat I normally encounter on my walks at home certainly couldn't care less. I could don a clown suit and they'd take no notice.
But here in the city, it was a different matter. Furtive glances, fixed stares, the occasional wry smile from the black clad people sharing the footpath made me question for just a moment my fashion choice.
Then I twigged. Apologies to The Temptations, but I had sunshine on a cloudy day. Not only because of my girl, who was walking beside me, but thanks also to the bright yellow parka standing out in all the gloom.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Has the black puffer jacket become the winter uniform where you live? Would brighter clothing bring a little cheer and warmth to the gloomy cold months? Are you comfortable standing out from the crowd or do you prefer to fit in? Email us: [e-mail]
SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has defended the exchange of thousands of sordid texts with his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews who has accused him of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
- Investigators haven't given up hope that the body of a man slain in the Australian outback will be found, despite notorious killer Bradley John Murdoch taking the location's secret to the grave.
- Australia has been warned against being too "heavy-handed" in the government's response to proposals for cracking down on anti-Semitism.
THEY SAID IT: "Your attitude is like a box of crayons that colour your world. Constantly colour your picture grey, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colours to the picture by including humour, and your picture begins to lighten up." - Allen Klein
YOU SAID IT: Solar power is having its moment in the sun, with the energy source adding the equivalent generation of one new coal-fired power station every 15 hours.
Linda writes: "Interesting to read all those statistics on Australia and other countries using solar energy. We put 17 solar panels on our house a few years back and enjoyed lower electricity costs. Yesterday we signed up for a battery (with government rebate), and replacement of gas water heater and gas stove. We will then be fully electric, and we can sell excess solar energy directly back to the grid without the need for our current provider."
"There is an imperative to go all out, stamping out emissions," writes Graeme. "The crushing issue, now raised, is whether civilisation is up to the recycling in being all electric, especially since the units, nuts and bolts, for renewable solar power, seem to have such short lives."
Vernon has reservations about solar power: "While I support the use of renewable energy I find the quality of the debate poor and incomplete. We live in rural Victoria and our district is changed, mostly for the worse, by the constant arrival of more and more wind farms. The power lines are horrendous. Is it any wonder there is such resentment by so many? As for the domestic batteries, great idea till they burst into flames as happens to a number. Please install them safely and have a fireproof wall between them and your house at the very least."
Michele writes: "We have solar and have updated it since our original installation. We also have a Tesla battery. During the summer we have no electricity account as our battery stores sufficient power for our usage not to require any from the grid. However, we are heavy users of electricity and during the winter we are paying for the supply from the grid. Compared to previous usage, it is still way lower than if we did not have the solar and battery connection."
"We love our solar," writes Bill. "Like all in inland southern Australia, we have -7 degree frosts. Our heating is gas, encouraged by governments when gas was a much cheaper and safer alternative to wood, coal and oil. Now it is not, and you can't trust governments. Our cooling is evaporative, and to install A/C heating/cooling is now beyond us, so gas is it. Our earnings from solar reduce our gas costs by about 25 per cent, so yes, we love solar, with no charge for electricity. But that generous deal expires in seven years, and that creates financial stress if we want to stay in Canberra in our retirement."
This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to theechidna.com.au
A cheerless winter morning in Sydney. Grey, cold and drab, muted further by the leaden sky above.
And on the ground, the army of early morning walkers, wearing the oppressive winter uniform of black puffer jacket, black pants or leggings, black top, amplify the dreariness. It's a scene drained almost entirely of colour.
Except, of course, for the bright, safety yellow parka I'm wearing.
The stares it attracts suggest I've broken the city's strict winter dress code, which decrees only The North Face, Kathmandu and Helly Hansen may be worn between the months of May and October. In regulation black or, at a pinch, dark navy blue. It's as if the ghost of Henry Ford - "Any colour as long as it's black" - haunts the garment industry.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for practicality and staying warm in winter.
I understand that while a puffer coat might make the wearer look like the Michelin man it will keep them toasty.
But must it always be black or dark blue? What is it that compels folk in a liberal democracy to dress in the 21st century's version of the 1960s Mao suit? And why am I feeling momentarily self-conscious in my bright outerwear on this crushingly dreary morning?
It all comes down to the very human urge to conform, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Conformity helps build social cohesion. Psychologists believe humans are hardwired to fit in. This is generally a good thing. Conforming to social norms of behaviour binds a society. It's the glue that keeps it together.
Conformity can also be a yoke, crushing individuality and justifying terrible behaviour. History is strewn with examples where fitting in has had terrible consequences. Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, North Korea, China come to mind.
And when it comes to winter clothing, fitting in brings its own form of oppression. It always has.
Revered Australian painter John Brack captured it in his iconic 1955 artwork, 'Collins St., 5pm'. It depicts an army of office workers, uniformly dressed, making their way home in grim determination. They look like automatons in a monotone cityscape. It could be Soviet Russia but it's Melbourne.
Brack may have later apologised for the painting's condescending portrayal of the crowd but I think he nailed the drabness we impose on ourselves in winter. His overcoats and hats have been replaced by puffer jackets, hoodies and headphones but the sense of monotony is the same.
When I first set eyes on my yellow parka, it didn't occur to me that wearing it would constitute a small act of rebellion. The kangaroos, magpies and occasional wombat I normally encounter on my walks at home certainly couldn't care less. I could don a clown suit and they'd take no notice.
But here in the city, it was a different matter. Furtive glances, fixed stares, the occasional wry smile from the black clad people sharing the footpath made me question for just a moment my fashion choice.
Then I twigged. Apologies to The Temptations, but I had sunshine on a cloudy day. Not only because of my girl, who was walking beside me, but thanks also to the bright yellow parka standing out in all the gloom.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Has the black puffer jacket become the winter uniform where you live? Would brighter clothing bring a little cheer and warmth to the gloomy cold months? Are you comfortable standing out from the crowd or do you prefer to fit in? Email us: [e-mail]
SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has defended the exchange of thousands of sordid texts with his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews who has accused him of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
- Investigators haven't given up hope that the body of a man slain in the Australian outback will be found, despite notorious killer Bradley John Murdoch taking the location's secret to the grave.
- Australia has been warned against being too "heavy-handed" in the government's response to proposals for cracking down on anti-Semitism.
THEY SAID IT: "Your attitude is like a box of crayons that colour your world. Constantly colour your picture grey, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colours to the picture by including humour, and your picture begins to lighten up." - Allen Klein
YOU SAID IT: Solar power is having its moment in the sun, with the energy source adding the equivalent generation of one new coal-fired power station every 15 hours.
Linda writes: "Interesting to read all those statistics on Australia and other countries using solar energy. We put 17 solar panels on our house a few years back and enjoyed lower electricity costs. Yesterday we signed up for a battery (with government rebate), and replacement of gas water heater and gas stove. We will then be fully electric, and we can sell excess solar energy directly back to the grid without the need for our current provider."
"There is an imperative to go all out, stamping out emissions," writes Graeme. "The crushing issue, now raised, is whether civilisation is up to the recycling in being all electric, especially since the units, nuts and bolts, for renewable solar power, seem to have such short lives."
Vernon has reservations about solar power: "While I support the use of renewable energy I find the quality of the debate poor and incomplete. We live in rural Victoria and our district is changed, mostly for the worse, by the constant arrival of more and more wind farms. The power lines are horrendous. Is it any wonder there is such resentment by so many? As for the domestic batteries, great idea till they burst into flames as happens to a number. Please install them safely and have a fireproof wall between them and your house at the very least."
Michele writes: "We have solar and have updated it since our original installation. We also have a Tesla battery. During the summer we have no electricity account as our battery stores sufficient power for our usage not to require any from the grid. However, we are heavy users of electricity and during the winter we are paying for the supply from the grid. Compared to previous usage, it is still way lower than if we did not have the solar and battery connection."
"We love our solar," writes Bill. "Like all in inland southern Australia, we have -7 degree frosts. Our heating is gas, encouraged by governments when gas was a much cheaper and safer alternative to wood, coal and oil. Now it is not, and you can't trust governments. Our cooling is evaporative, and to install A/C heating/cooling is now beyond us, so gas is it. Our earnings from solar reduce our gas costs by about 25 per cent, so yes, we love solar, with no charge for electricity. But that generous deal expires in seven years, and that creates financial stress if we want to stay in Canberra in our retirement."
This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to theechidna.com.au
A cheerless winter morning in Sydney. Grey, cold and drab, muted further by the leaden sky above.
And on the ground, the army of early morning walkers, wearing the oppressive winter uniform of black puffer jacket, black pants or leggings, black top, amplify the dreariness. It's a scene drained almost entirely of colour.
Except, of course, for the bright, safety yellow parka I'm wearing.
The stares it attracts suggest I've broken the city's strict winter dress code, which decrees only The North Face, Kathmandu and Helly Hansen may be worn between the months of May and October. In regulation black or, at a pinch, dark navy blue. It's as if the ghost of Henry Ford - "Any colour as long as it's black" - haunts the garment industry.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for practicality and staying warm in winter.
I understand that while a puffer coat might make the wearer look like the Michelin man it will keep them toasty.
But must it always be black or dark blue? What is it that compels folk in a liberal democracy to dress in the 21st century's version of the 1960s Mao suit? And why am I feeling momentarily self-conscious in my bright outerwear on this crushingly dreary morning?
It all comes down to the very human urge to conform, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Conformity helps build social cohesion. Psychologists believe humans are hardwired to fit in. This is generally a good thing. Conforming to social norms of behaviour binds a society. It's the glue that keeps it together.
Conformity can also be a yoke, crushing individuality and justifying terrible behaviour. History is strewn with examples where fitting in has had terrible consequences. Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, North Korea, China come to mind.
And when it comes to winter clothing, fitting in brings its own form of oppression. It always has.
Revered Australian painter John Brack captured it in his iconic 1955 artwork, 'Collins St., 5pm'. It depicts an army of office workers, uniformly dressed, making their way home in grim determination. They look like automatons in a monotone cityscape. It could be Soviet Russia but it's Melbourne.
Brack may have later apologised for the painting's condescending portrayal of the crowd but I think he nailed the drabness we impose on ourselves in winter. His overcoats and hats have been replaced by puffer jackets, hoodies and headphones but the sense of monotony is the same.
When I first set eyes on my yellow parka, it didn't occur to me that wearing it would constitute a small act of rebellion. The kangaroos, magpies and occasional wombat I normally encounter on my walks at home certainly couldn't care less. I could don a clown suit and they'd take no notice.
But here in the city, it was a different matter. Furtive glances, fixed stares, the occasional wry smile from the black clad people sharing the footpath made me question for just a moment my fashion choice.
Then I twigged. Apologies to The Temptations, but I had sunshine on a cloudy day. Not only because of my girl, who was walking beside me, but thanks also to the bright yellow parka standing out in all the gloom.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Has the black puffer jacket become the winter uniform where you live? Would brighter clothing bring a little cheer and warmth to the gloomy cold months? Are you comfortable standing out from the crowd or do you prefer to fit in? Email us: [e-mail]
SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has defended the exchange of thousands of sordid texts with his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews who has accused him of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
- Investigators haven't given up hope that the body of a man slain in the Australian outback will be found, despite notorious killer Bradley John Murdoch taking the location's secret to the grave.
- Australia has been warned against being too "heavy-handed" in the government's response to proposals for cracking down on anti-Semitism.
THEY SAID IT: "Your attitude is like a box of crayons that colour your world. Constantly colour your picture grey, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colours to the picture by including humour, and your picture begins to lighten up." - Allen Klein
YOU SAID IT: Solar power is having its moment in the sun, with the energy source adding the equivalent generation of one new coal-fired power station every 15 hours.
Linda writes: "Interesting to read all those statistics on Australia and other countries using solar energy. We put 17 solar panels on our house a few years back and enjoyed lower electricity costs. Yesterday we signed up for a battery (with government rebate), and replacement of gas water heater and gas stove. We will then be fully electric, and we can sell excess solar energy directly back to the grid without the need for our current provider."
"There is an imperative to go all out, stamping out emissions," writes Graeme. "The crushing issue, now raised, is whether civilisation is up to the recycling in being all electric, especially since the units, nuts and bolts, for renewable solar power, seem to have such short lives."
Vernon has reservations about solar power: "While I support the use of renewable energy I find the quality of the debate poor and incomplete. We live in rural Victoria and our district is changed, mostly for the worse, by the constant arrival of more and more wind farms. The power lines are horrendous. Is it any wonder there is such resentment by so many? As for the domestic batteries, great idea till they burst into flames as happens to a number. Please install them safely and have a fireproof wall between them and your house at the very least."
Michele writes: "We have solar and have updated it since our original installation. We also have a Tesla battery. During the summer we have no electricity account as our battery stores sufficient power for our usage not to require any from the grid. However, we are heavy users of electricity and during the winter we are paying for the supply from the grid. Compared to previous usage, it is still way lower than if we did not have the solar and battery connection."
"We love our solar," writes Bill. "Like all in inland southern Australia, we have -7 degree frosts. Our heating is gas, encouraged by governments when gas was a much cheaper and safer alternative to wood, coal and oil. Now it is not, and you can't trust governments. Our cooling is evaporative, and to install A/C heating/cooling is now beyond us, so gas is it. Our earnings from solar reduce our gas costs by about 25 per cent, so yes, we love solar, with no charge for electricity. But that generous deal expires in seven years, and that creates financial stress if we want to stay in Canberra in our retirement."
This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to theechidna.com.au
A cheerless winter morning in Sydney. Grey, cold and drab, muted further by the leaden sky above.
And on the ground, the army of early morning walkers, wearing the oppressive winter uniform of black puffer jacket, black pants or leggings, black top, amplify the dreariness. It's a scene drained almost entirely of colour.
Except, of course, for the bright, safety yellow parka I'm wearing.
The stares it attracts suggest I've broken the city's strict winter dress code, which decrees only The North Face, Kathmandu and Helly Hansen may be worn between the months of May and October. In regulation black or, at a pinch, dark navy blue. It's as if the ghost of Henry Ford - "Any colour as long as it's black" - haunts the garment industry.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for practicality and staying warm in winter.
I understand that while a puffer coat might make the wearer look like the Michelin man it will keep them toasty.
But must it always be black or dark blue? What is it that compels folk in a liberal democracy to dress in the 21st century's version of the 1960s Mao suit? And why am I feeling momentarily self-conscious in my bright outerwear on this crushingly dreary morning?
It all comes down to the very human urge to conform, which is both a blessing and a curse.
Conformity helps build social cohesion. Psychologists believe humans are hardwired to fit in. This is generally a good thing. Conforming to social norms of behaviour binds a society. It's the glue that keeps it together.
Conformity can also be a yoke, crushing individuality and justifying terrible behaviour. History is strewn with examples where fitting in has had terrible consequences. Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, North Korea, China come to mind.
And when it comes to winter clothing, fitting in brings its own form of oppression. It always has.
Revered Australian painter John Brack captured it in his iconic 1955 artwork, 'Collins St., 5pm'. It depicts an army of office workers, uniformly dressed, making their way home in grim determination. They look like automatons in a monotone cityscape. It could be Soviet Russia but it's Melbourne.
Brack may have later apologised for the painting's condescending portrayal of the crowd but I think he nailed the drabness we impose on ourselves in winter. His overcoats and hats have been replaced by puffer jackets, hoodies and headphones but the sense of monotony is the same.
When I first set eyes on my yellow parka, it didn't occur to me that wearing it would constitute a small act of rebellion. The kangaroos, magpies and occasional wombat I normally encounter on my walks at home certainly couldn't care less. I could don a clown suit and they'd take no notice.
But here in the city, it was a different matter. Furtive glances, fixed stares, the occasional wry smile from the black clad people sharing the footpath made me question for just a moment my fashion choice.
Then I twigged. Apologies to The Temptations, but I had sunshine on a cloudy day. Not only because of my girl, who was walking beside me, but thanks also to the bright yellow parka standing out in all the gloom.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Has the black puffer jacket become the winter uniform where you live? Would brighter clothing bring a little cheer and warmth to the gloomy cold months? Are you comfortable standing out from the crowd or do you prefer to fit in? Email us: [e-mail]
SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Former federal Labor leader Mark Latham has defended the exchange of thousands of sordid texts with his ex-lover Nathalie May Matthews who has accused him of a "sustained pattern" of abuse.
- Investigators haven't given up hope that the body of a man slain in the Australian outback will be found, despite notorious killer Bradley John Murdoch taking the location's secret to the grave.
- Australia has been warned against being too "heavy-handed" in the government's response to proposals for cracking down on anti-Semitism.
THEY SAID IT: "Your attitude is like a box of crayons that colour your world. Constantly colour your picture grey, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colours to the picture by including humour, and your picture begins to lighten up." - Allen Klein
YOU SAID IT: Solar power is having its moment in the sun, with the energy source adding the equivalent generation of one new coal-fired power station every 15 hours.
Linda writes: "Interesting to read all those statistics on Australia and other countries using solar energy. We put 17 solar panels on our house a few years back and enjoyed lower electricity costs. Yesterday we signed up for a battery (with government rebate), and replacement of gas water heater and gas stove. We will then be fully electric, and we can sell excess solar energy directly back to the grid without the need for our current provider."
"There is an imperative to go all out, stamping out emissions," writes Graeme. "The crushing issue, now raised, is whether civilisation is up to the recycling in being all electric, especially since the units, nuts and bolts, for renewable solar power, seem to have such short lives."
Vernon has reservations about solar power: "While I support the use of renewable energy I find the quality of the debate poor and incomplete. We live in rural Victoria and our district is changed, mostly for the worse, by the constant arrival of more and more wind farms. The power lines are horrendous. Is it any wonder there is such resentment by so many? As for the domestic batteries, great idea till they burst into flames as happens to a number. Please install them safely and have a fireproof wall between them and your house at the very least."
Michele writes: "We have solar and have updated it since our original installation. We also have a Tesla battery. During the summer we have no electricity account as our battery stores sufficient power for our usage not to require any from the grid. However, we are heavy users of electricity and during the winter we are paying for the supply from the grid. Compared to previous usage, it is still way lower than if we did not have the solar and battery connection."
"We love our solar," writes Bill. "Like all in inland southern Australia, we have -7 degree frosts. Our heating is gas, encouraged by governments when gas was a much cheaper and safer alternative to wood, coal and oil. Now it is not, and you can't trust governments. Our cooling is evaporative, and to install A/C heating/cooling is now beyond us, so gas is it. Our earnings from solar reduce our gas costs by about 25 per cent, so yes, we love solar, with no charge for electricity. But that generous deal expires in seven years, and that creates financial stress if we want to stay in Canberra in our retirement."