The case for black dress shirts? - Page 6

Exactly the point. Some people like the look of an Italian waiter, or Yazuka mobster, or used car salesman in Jersey. So they like wearing black dress shirts.

 

 

I get that. I also get that some people like to look like pirates, or lumberjacks.

You haters can't be serious.  Do you dress to impress guys on Styleforum or to get with the laydees?

 

If it's good enough for GC it's good enough for you.

 

All of those are typical of guys who wear black shirts. Nowadays, black dress shirts are too common.

This forum will of course be subjective, but we gain knowledge from the input, suggestion and experiences of many voices. When the members here offer their thoughts they are trying to help others make wise decisions about dressing with style. Black shirts may come in and out of fashion, but classic men's style suggests that black is not a wise choice.
Just my opinion and I understand that there will be contrary opinions. The person looking for an answer will have to discern what is right for his situation.
Thats why I end most of my posts with-
Good Luck!

Ties are a bit tricky with black dress shirts. Ties work best when they are very dark in color and/or have a light to heavy black pattern on a dark navy, burgundy, olive, or brown background. The lighter the tie background, the more tricky things get and you basically need to go full costume to pull it off.

 

I think black shirts without a tie can be great way of taming really crazy sport coats or suits with very high contrast patterns or  to make a relatively sedate high contrast pattern like a black and white houndstooth into casual eveningwear. For less wild patterns, black shirts work best when the suit cloth has some surface interest such as charcoal or navy birdseye, herringbone, houndstooth, or sharkskin.

 

Black shirts look good under tan and cream suits to my eye, but only as casual summer eveningwear or daywear for semi-creative types.

 

The effect of a black shirt can be controlled or moderated with a waistcoast/vest in the case of a three piece black and white, pick and pick [sharkskin] suit or a charcoal, navy, or burgundy cardigan or v-neck sweater worn under the suit jacket of charcoal solid worsted suit.

 

Black dress shirts are tricky and fun, but definitely a casual look not suitable for business unless you are a creative type where something like a black dress shirt might be acceptable or even expected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple points:

1. You are on the wrong forum if you think that people here "dress like GQ". NO ONE on SF has that as an objective.
2. If you look like the man in the above pictures you can wear whatever the hell it is you want or what ever the art director tells you to put on for the GQ photo shoot. To assume that he is popular with the ladies because he wears black shirts or (to take the flawed logic even further) to assume that you will be popular with the ladies if you dress like he did in a photo shoot where he was paid to wear certain pieces of clothing is idiocy.
3. None of the pictures above are business casual. They are all casual going out for drinks looks.

+1, patek.

George Clooney could wear cut-off jean shorts and a ratty t-shirt and would still have success with women. Good looks, fame and money tend to help with that. The idea that a normal person should wear a black shirt because George Clooney is seen wearing one from time to time and has success with women is just absurd. Wearing George Clooney's clothes will not turn you into George Clooney. If you want to defend black shirts, fine, but the fact that someone who is probably better looking, richer and more famous than most of the people on SF gets away with it doesn't make it a good idea. You need a way better argument than "X famous celebrity does it and the ladies love him."

My GF likes the black dress shirt look, but maybe not as business casual.

I don't think I've ever seen a black dress shirt look good with a tie or under a suit or a sports coat (including on Clooney above). Or during the day. So IMHO it's pretty much out for a lot of stuff, especially any kind of business wear.

Also, black cotton is pretty awful for a dress shirt as it'll look like crap after only a few washes. IME navy holds up better and navy linen better yet, but obviously only for decidedly casual fits.

If you still want to wear a black dress shirt, maybe you could find something in a fabric that doesn't fade, like maybe a rayon shirt from Armani, wear it very casually - maybe untugged with sleeves rolled - pair it with some white linen pants, wait until the sun sets and go to ristorante La Giara overlooking the bay of Taormina. Then maybe it could work.


Or at least, that's what I thought 10 years ago


Archival footage (Click to show)

Y'know, this is a great point. People are always talking about how George Clooney, or Brad Pitt, or whoever looks good in something. That doesn't mean you do, too.

I even see this a lot in reference to famous dressers. One of the principal arguments I always see for the awful trend of wearing your watch over your sleeve is that Gianni Agnelli did it. Well, guess what, he was Gianni frikkin Agnelli and you aren't.

/rant

 

I definitely agree with this with one caveat. I do not think eccentricity is the sole domain of the rich and powerful (although it does help). The only thing is, if you are going to do something eccentric you have to totally own it. Do it because it is YOU, and not because you are copying someone famous. That being said, I never try to wear anything eccentric. lol

I agree never wear one with a tie. Especially a white one. Or one with a keyboard print. I did do a "negative" black tie once at a costume party -- black shirt, white dinner jacket, white bow tie -- on the provoking of a friend. Not my best look.

FTFY