The case for black dress shirts?



Fraiche said:

I know that's the most formal. It's just that the funerals I've attended, people wear black polos usually cause the weather's rather hot...Felt like it would look pretty weird being the only one going full on formal.

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That's fair enough. If everyone is super casual, going full on formal is not likely to go over well.

But, the spirit of this forum is dressing well, and dressing classically. In that spirit, I think you could do much better. If everyone is casual, just simple trousers (light grey, tropical wool), a light shirt (light blue, button down collar), and perhaps a blue blazer, with some nice shoes would be a classic, tasteful, and respectful look, while still not being too overdone.

The issue with a black dress shirt in this instance is that it has very specific connotations, none of which are appropriate for a funeral.

what do u guys think of wearing black dress shirt with khakis pants?



hermes man said:

what do u guys think of wearing black dress shirt with khakis pants?

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dont do it.



moseymosey said:

I do not have a black dress shirt. I have four. Don't ask.

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Maybe it is just my monitor but that shirt looks a dark navy. Maybe I just want it to be a dark navy as it would make the outfit make sense.



hermes man said:

what do u guys think of wearing black dress shirt with khakis pants?

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Terrible idea.

A pair of khakis and a black shirt looks good. Those colors play off each other very well. Anyone saying otherwise is merely a lemming who doesn't know why he says no but says it anyway.

cataan said:

A pair of khakis and a black shirt looks good. Those colors play off each other very well. Anyone saying otherwise is merely a lemming who doesn't know why he says no but says it anyway.

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If you want to look like Trev from the Help Desk then yeah, that combination works.

Black shirt and khaki trousers? You could be emulating the "Black and Tans" of infamous memory in Ireland!



cataan said:

A pair of khakis and a black shirt looks good.  Those colors play off each other very well.  Anyone saying otherwise is merely a lemming who doesn't know why he says no but says it anyway.

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I can't speak for everyone else on here who dislikes the look, but I know exactly why a person shouldn't wear it. It looks awful and makes the wearer look like a teenager playing dress-up, who thinks that khakis are dress pants and read somewhere that black shirts are "cool" or "in" or something similar. I don't think the colors compliment each other nearly as well as you seem to think they do. Any combination of white, light blue, pink or lilac will look much better. Navy, if you must, is far better than black and goes far better with khakis.

The best argument I've heard for the black dress shirt is that you can wear it if you're going to a club at night, and who the hell wears khakis to a club?



cataan said:

A pair of khakis and a black shirt looks good.  Those colors play off each other very well.  Anyone saying otherwise is merely a lemming who doesn't know why he says no but says it anyway.

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Black and khaki is a horrid color combination- they don't work together at all. I don't know what you're smoking, but I'd like some.

cptjeff said:

Black and khaki is a horrid color combination- they don't work together at all. I don't know what you're smoking, but I'd like some.

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No, you don't.



cataan said:

A pair of khakis and a black shirt looks good.  Those colors play off each other very well.  Anyone saying otherwise is merely a lemming who doesn't know why he says no but says it anyway.

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No, no it doesn't. Not at all, not in any way.

aravenel said:

No, no it doesn't. Not at all, not in any way.

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How old are you? Just curious if this is a generational thing.

nickrut said:

How old are you? Just curious if this is a generational thing.

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He's old enough to know better and that's all that matters.

Depending on your individual environment black dress shirts can work. My work requires me to deal with a diverse group of people from all economic backrounds for me being TOO stylish can hurt. A black shirt with a simple tie and a light grey suit is a good look for me but I can see how it isnt for everyone