Coming from the side who used to sit at the goth/drama/art table, I have to say it never put me off. (Though I never partook in the all black myself.)
Anywho, it did put
some people off, yes. And it will always put
some people off. Sometimes that's the point. Sometimes that's not at all the point.
It's usually a bit off-putting to people who would want to stop and wonder "
Why is that person wearing all black?" Whereas they wouldn't stop and wonder at a person who is wearing khakis.
I always found
that to be odd.
I guess I put it into a category of what style is appropriate to where I am. I wouldn't wear hoochie clubbing clothes to work. I wouldn't wear a bathrobe out shopping. (Although I did have a friend in high school who wore a bathrobe over his clothing for a year...)
If I'm out on my own, doing my thing, I get to wear what I want.
However, better than any clothing is a smile. Brief eye contact, and a sincere smile works wonders.
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All that being said, there's
nothing wrong with change. And wanting to change your style for any reason your heart desires is fine!
If you've already decided to add in a bit of color for fun, do it one piece at a time. Keep the black pants and shoes, but buy a top that comes in your favorite color. Or start buying some pieces of jewelry with bits of color. Or a purse. Start small, and over time you'll build up more confidence with pairing colors.
As an example: My general rule for professional environments is wear 1 bright or eyecatching piece, and keep the rest of the outfit subdued.
PS - Having a full-length mirror will help so you can see the overall outfit.