Black shirt: trying too hard?

[GreyFlannelMan]

You should go with a black tie with the black shirt, for that Regis Philbin, Who Wants to be a Millionaire look.

 

[DocHolliday]

I was just thinking just yesterday that the trouble with black is that it's so obvious. Guys who don't feel comfortable dressing nicely seem to automatically reach for it. It's the Kenneth Cole shoes of the colorwheel.

I've got no trouble with black at a club. But when I see it in the daytime, I nearly always think that the guy looks like he's trying too hard. Or has no idea how else to dress. Can't clash with black, after all.

Personally, I avoid both black suits and black shirts. I'd avoid black shirts if for no other reason than they show wear so quickly. I made the mistake of buying a black polo on sale last summer and wore it once. Loved the cut but a single wash turned the edges dingy gray.

 

[luk-cha]

agree with doc it is definatly a club - going out shirt and definatly without a tie but i would mix it up with maybe white jeans and a grey suit jkt and then have fun with your pocket square maybe a red or pink!

 

[Zubberah]

You guys are so boring. I have many black shirts (mostly casual) including a Sea Island french cuff business shirt from Charles tyrrwhitt that I wear with light coloured suits (gray, olive, tan, etc) with a tie no less. And I am in the conservative field of banking. And have had nothing but compliments. I often wonder about some of you ...

 

[Edward Appleby]

Most pointless necropost ever?

 

[mattjames]

I find any sort of hate for the black shirt puzzling. It's just such a simple colour that you can't go wrong with, there is absolutely no reason why you can't have a black shirt in rotation.
I have a nice, slim-fit black shirt with concealed button closure that I enjoy wearing.

 

[gdl203]

A banker with a tan suit, black shirt and tie? ummm... what "conservative field of banking" are you in? the one where you're locked in a basement room and never put in front of a client?

 

[Zubberah]

Originally Posted by gdl203

A banker with a tan suit, black shirt and tie? ummm... what "conservative field of banking" are you in? the one where you're locked in a basement room and never put in front of a client?

Corporate and Institutional banking - clients with turnover in excess of US$500m - all the large conglomerates like Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, Constellation Brands, Diageo etc....in originations team (involving M&A, CF advisory, acquisition financing, etc). But then I am well known for my fashion and clothing expertise. I spent many years in stockbroking also as an equities analyst. My job will NOT dictate to me what I should wear. Ever.

It would be hell if I had to dress like other bankers/brokers: boring white shirts, boring blue shirts, boring striped ties, broing suits, chinos/polos on casual Fridays. Ew. Never!

 

[gdl203]

All this sounds very very unlikely... to be polite

 

[Zubberah]

That's your prerogative. Not everyone "fits" into the square.

 

[jett]

I think a black shirt looks good, but with a suit it seems like it would be very hard to pull off in a non-nightlife situation. Maybe at a funeral...

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by Zubberah

But then I am well known for my fashion and clothing expertise.

I've found that guys who wear black shirts/suits often feel this way.

 

[Cravate_Noire]

I'm not a fan of black shirts at all for dress wear.
Once a salesperson at a local haberdasher had a nice, rather casual combo, with a darker grey suit with woven stripes, black shirt and a burbery nova-check tie.
Though there was so much "darkness" in it it didn't look too "mafia-like", but maybe that had to do with the teint, face,hair etc. of the person itself.
I would be afraid that the shirt washes out quite quickly!

An accountant I know wears charcoal shirts because they are "in style" in his company...black would be not convervative enough...there are some things I don't understand.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Cravate_Noire

a darker grey suit with woven stripes, black shirt and a burbery nova-check tie.

I should have known better than to open this thread right after dinner

 

[Sator]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I've found that guys who wear black shirts/suits often feel this way.

Welcome to the style desert of Sydney folks. Gratefully, if you know where to look it has some incredible oases.