What's wrong with black?

[jyook]

I know the general consensus here at SF is against the black suit but why?

Personally, I've seen some great patterns and color schemes while shopping for some new clothes (For example, navy with very light blue stripes or a cool looking navy with purple stripes as well as a charcoal with brown and subtle orange)... But I would tend to think that black would be the most versatile suit for formal occasions and events...

You could wear it to a funeral with a solid black tie or you could be more festive just by changing the shirt or tie at other formal events... If I had to choose just ONE NICE suit (bespoke or otherwise) with some real nice fabric, it would be a black suit with some subtle weave pattern (herringbone)... Why is that so wrong?

I've used the search function and couldn't find a good explanation...

I'm looking at this from a practical standpoint but please fire away...

 

[Merlino]

You say that black is the colour par excellence for formal occasions. You're absolutely correct. And now for the explanation: a suit isn't formal wear. Formal wear is white tie (or black tie for semi-formal occasions). I know this isn't much of an explanation in terms of rationale but maybe it's simply a don't like wearing white socks.

I wouldn't wear a black suit to a funeral, either. I'd wear a plain charcoal suit, white shirt and a dark purple tie.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Black looks flat and lifeless in natural light. It looks fine in artificial light, which makes it appropriate for formal events, which typically take place at night.

 

[Dewey]

The black suit has been a fad of the last decade. Ten years ago, pretty much only preachers and undertakers went all the way to black. Others can better tell the history of the black suit, but suffice it to say that for at least several decades before the mid-1990s, men everywhere were pleased to stop at charcoal and leave the black for preachers and undertakers.

Women may have been the reason black suits came into popularity. Like the little black dress, the little black suit is a staple for working women. It can be both flattering and professional in the business world. That's a hard balance to strike.

The solid black suit has connotations of fad-following, of martial law, of undertakers and preachers, and of women. It looks naive, needlessly deferential to authority ("company man&quot, dreary, and/or effeminate.

Why would a man educated on this subject choose to wear a black suit?

What's wrong with charcoal? It coordinates much better with a large and diverse wardrobe.

 

[Augusto86]

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

Black looks flat and lifeless in natural light. It looks fine in artificial light, which makes it appropriate for formal events, which typically take place at night.

I would agree with the caveat that not all blacks are created equal(god, that sounds racist).

Black velvet can look great in natural light, and looks kinda tacky with pinstripes. Black-on-black brocades can be very elegant in detail pieces like waistcoats, scarves and so forth. The black leather jacket, if properly executed, is a real fashion staple and I think that black herringbone or dobby texture can look very nice.

 

[Brian278]

Black suits are appropriate for funerals, and charcoal suits are appropriate for funerals. Black suits are not always appropriate for business, especially in traditional professions. Black suits aren't ideal for weddings, charcoal is better. Black suits aren't appropriate for job interviews, but charcoal is.

Charcoal is the more versatile color. Actually, if I could only have one really nice suit, I'd choose navy, because it works in business, at funerals, and I like it better for weddings than charcoal, and it looks better with my favorite colors.

 

[Holdfast]

If you like black, wear it & enjoy.

Personally, I happen to prefer many other colours, esp. during the daytime since they appear less stark to my eye. I also think there's a good argument to say that black can appear a little cheap at times, unless the cut is excellent. Same argument as for a white shirt - unless it's a great fit, it can look a bit pedestrian.

Augusto mentioned black/black brocade - I quite like this too, though more in womens than menswear.

 

[dagenham]

i don't think it's necessarily a matter of not liking black, just the fact that a black suit has a certain use. kind of like the debate between black and brown shoes.

i personally don't like to wear black suits, except for more formal occasions or maybe (stress on the maybe) out at night once in a while. i, as the majority of SF'ers lean more toward colors other than black when it comes to a suit.

if i had to have only one suit, it would be either a solid grey or navy, not black, as i think those color choices are a lot more versatile than black...

 

[Film Noir Buff]

Nothing, until you hit message boards...

 

[Dragon]

I think black suits look good for going out to events, cocktail parties, and clubs.

 

[macuser3of5]

I think that a plain, worsted black wool 'business suit' is kind of boring. But a 1 button peak black suit during the day, is a bit different, IMO.

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by Film Noir Buff

Nothing, until you hit message boards...

So true.

 

[celery]

Nothing is wrong with black. Once again, it's people that screw it up.

When most people wear a black suit, they just default to white shirt, solid tie (usually red or black), black shoes. Blah.

 

[Film Noir Buff]

The sense I get in NYC is that so many men wear cheap, poorly fitting suits and suits are so optional that most observers are impressed that you are wearing a suit at all. Where this hierarchy of suit cloths derives from (which I have seen repeatedly on other threads) is beyond me; that birds eye is more formal or less formal than something else.

I have a very dark brown chalk stripe suit and no one can tell it's brown unless I put something charcoal or navy next to it;usually the unbelieving observer's jacket sleeve. Even an English guy thought it was a nice suit until I proved it was brown...then he hated it!

Most people call dark navy or charcoal suits "black" in NYC and I can't imagine people's monochromatic color sense gets better in other U.S. cities.

 

[dokelroth]

It is a question of propriety. Black suits are simply not correct on men and the wearing of one brings into question the class and taste of the wearer. It isn't the esthetics, it is what it says about the wearer.