How Useful is a Black Suit?

[12345Michael54321]



The problem with black is it is worn mostly by folks who dont know or care about proper fits.

As opposed to every other color, which are also mostly worn by folks who don't know or care about proper fit.

 

[lwmarti]

I realize that black suits are definitely a SF no-no, but I've also noticed that lots of women seem to prefer black suits on men. I have a black suit (Cornelliani, with subtle orange pin stripes), and it's the only one that I have that has led to women stopping their cars and rolling down their windows to tell me how nice I looked. So it seems to come down to who you're trying to impress: women or other men. I personally care more about what women think. YMMV.

 

[NefariousSabatour]

Most women* can't even dress themselves, much less anyone else.

*this applies to men as well.

 

[archibaldleach]

A black suit can be fine for younger men wearing it out to parties and social events in the evening, but I don't think men generally need suits for nightlife. If you own something (including a black suit), you can surely find excuses to use it but I don't think the ability to find excuses to wear something matters much. The question is whether the black suit really does anything that a dark navy (even midnight blue) or charcoal suit cannot do. In most cases, the answer is no. Not only do the blue and grey suits look far better during the day, they also work with many more shirt and tie combinations. It's definitely not an essential and should be pretty far down on pretty much anyone's shopping list.

If the OP was telling us that he already owns more than enough suits to get him through the week (or however often he wears suits), has some seasonal options for cold and warm weather and was considering getting a black suit for Saturday nights because he happens to look great in black, you'd still see some anti black suit posts but more people would get it.

Frankly there are also a lot of folks on here who only see the world in their conservative vacuums and would most likely show up to the beach in a boxy navy hopsack blazer and MC hammer baggy grey flannals w/ black cap toes.

That is unjust, sir. I wear my navy blazer on the beach with cream linen trousers and brown loafers. Black cap toes without a suit...the horror...

 

[socrates]

I realize that black suits are definitely a SF no-no, but I've also noticed that lots of women seem to prefer black suits on men. I have a black suit (Cornelliani, with subtle orange pin stripes), and it's the only one that I have that has led to women stopping their cars and rolling down their windows to tell me how nice I looked. So it seems to come down to who you're trying to impress: women or other men. I personally care more about what women think. YMMV.

That is not surprising since since a scientific study by Roberts et al in Evolutionary Psychology shows that both men and women are found to be the most attractive when they wear black.

Do a google search on what the colour black represents and the word "elegant" keeps popping up again and again. In terms of marketing, people who sell high end products wear black suits. They want to appear elegant because they sell elegance. But yet when you hear SF members disdain for this colour, they must think that people have a morbid sense of buying high end products from "dreary" people. How odd.

As for the waiter comment, butlers wear tuxedos. Ignoring the elitist mentality that there is something wrong with being a "lowly" waitor, you should not wear a tux, because you do not want to appear like a lowly servant butler.

 

[archibaldleach]



That is not surprising since since a scientific study by Roberts et al in Evolutionary Psychology shows that both men and women are found to be the most attractive when they wear black.  

Do a google search on what the colour black represents and the word "elegant" keeps popping up again and again.  In terms of marketing, people who sell high end products wear black suits.  They want to appear elegant because they sell elegance.  But yet when you hear SF members disdain for this colour, they must think that people have a morbid sense of buying high end products from "dreary" people. How odd.

I suspect that the association of black with elegance may have something to do with people dressing for dinner and evening events in tuxedos and tailcoats for a fair amount of the 20th century. Black was also an acceptable color for the jackets one wore with formal and semiformal day dress. So at night people at their most elegant were wearing black or midnight blue and during the day black or very dark grey jackets. I am not sure that trying to replicate this image with a black suit (especially with some of the awful shirt and tie combinations one sees that would look better with either grey or navy) really works here. There are also plenty of people who sell high end products in navy and grey suits and plenty of people who have poor taste too.

As for the waiter  comment,  butlers wear tuxedos.  Ignoring the elitist mentality that there is something wrong with being a "lowly" waitor, you should not wear a tux, because you do not want to appear like a lowly servant butler.

It's probably best to ignore the "waiter" comments. Same thing with the "security guard" comments for a blazer and greys. In truth they are both rather silly.

At the risk of over-analyzing your butler comment, however, I'd point out that generally butlers and other servants were dressed in formal garments with some major detail wrong (black bow tie with tailcoat, etc.) that helped mark them as a servant. Dressing properly in black tie should not generate that association, even on SF.

 

[Twotone]

Black suits are only good for funerals -- whether it's yours or someone else.

 

[kulata]

Depends on the country. Black suits are perfectly normal in the UK.

 

[Balfour]

Depends on the country. Black suits are perfectly normal in the UK.

But not classical / in good taste.

 

[archibaldleach]



But not classical / in good taste.

An important distinction. Matching tie and pocket square sets are normal, for example, in the U.S., but I don't see anyone on here defending them or recommending them.

 

[kulata]



But not classical / in good taste.

Not in good taste.

 

[aph999]

-

 

[archibaldleach]



My solid black Kiton suit gets lots of compliments, mostly from well dressed women, and even--no doubt to the amazement of posters here--from men. Compliments at the office, not at funerals or weddings.

How radical.

I don't see anyone saying that it is impossible to get compliments while wearing a black suit, especially if it is from a maker like Kiton or made by a top tailor. Perhaps this anecdote would be meaningful if your black Kiton suit gets considerably more compliments than your navy or grey Kiton suits. If a black suit happens to be your best made suit, it's not shocking that it would get more compliments.

 

[Taylorstav]



I realize that black suits are definitely a SF no-no, but I've also noticed that lots of women seem to prefer black suits on men. I have a black suit (Cornelliani, with subtle orange pin stripes), and it's the only one that I have that has led to women stopping their cars and rolling down their windows to tell me how nice I looked. So it seems to come down to who you're trying to impress: women or other men. I personally care more about what women think. YMMV.

Black with orange? *rubs eyes*