[m@t]

quote:Originally posted by Snuppi

What is actually wrong with wearing black in general?

It seems that a lot of people mean that for occasions other than formal events (as a dinner jacket or tailcoat) or funerals (as a part of a black suit)? Is itanything other than black being associated with people from the "lower classes" trying to dress up or certain categories of workers (waiters etc.)?

As far as I have understood, black was the most important color in gentleman's dress through the 19th century and until the 1920's. After that, grey and navy dominated; while black continued to be used for evening wear. Black always seems to have been an important color in fashion.

I really cannot see why it is too "somber" a look to go to work wearing black wool pants, a grey sweater and a white shirt?
In my opionion, going out for dinner to a posh restaurant wearing a black suit, a nice tie (or even a bow tie) and a white shirt is a really sharp look. You feel that you are dressed more festively than if you were dressed in one of your usual everyday suits, yet you might feel that you were overdressed if wearing a dinner jacket.

In addition, I personally feel that black completes my natural look in a great way. My skin color is rather bright, while I have almost black hair. Thus, I often find myself on the street several times a week wearing the same outerwear: a black overcoat, black fedora, burgundy cashmere scarf, black (or grey) pants and black shoes.
There is no item in my wardrobe that I wear more frequently than my black pants. They can be used with almost any of the shirts I own, and many of the ties, too.

I like this look - and I love to see other people wearing a nice suit with an appropriate shirt and tie, regardless of the suit is grey, navy or blue.
People may disagree; but there are also people that mean, that I am far too young and should wait 40 years before I wear fedoras and bow ties.

to save certain people retyping what they have already been through once today, have a look at the sister thread on SF....covers off the history and the reasons for antiblack...

https://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=29708

 

[Rich]

quote:Originally posted by familyman

Look around next time you're out, see how many men have to wear black pants as part of their uniform at work. Then look and see how many people wear them because they like them. I draw my conclusions about black pants from what I see in the world around me, not by any notions I may have about 'the rules'.

Spot on, familyman. The point is that black trousers are usually part of a uniform of some kind. Being neutral, they play down the individual identity of the wearer and focus on his function, which they do very well. Formal wear is a special case, though even here black has a similar function - the convention is that the men shall look the same and the women shall all look different. The black-and-white man acts as a backdrop for his dazzlingly colourful lady. Also, black formal attire is made of rich materials and is finely finished to look particularly good in artificial light.

Another problem with black trousers is the sharp contrast they make with everything else - they don't blend.

So all in all it's better to wear one of any number of dark to medium greys (and there are blue greys, brown greys, and green greys) maybe with a faint stripe or even a faint window pane check to go with your jacket, tie, shirt or sweater. Much more interesting and individual.

 

[MrRogers]

Keep in mind also that not all black pants are created equal....you certainly do not look like a bussboy in a nicely tailored pair of black pants with a nice belt and shoes.......

The thing that bugs me about this thread is that there are so many things far worse than black pants that have probably never been brought to light....here are a few examples to chew on..

pleated pants
black shoes
mock turtlenecks



MrR

"Give me the luxuries in life and I'll gladly go without the necessities"

 

[16128]

This has been a very interesting thread.

Just to note - black pants (and skirts and suits)are a major female wardrobe staple, especially for work. The reason is that they are thought to be slimming and go with nearly everything. I never feel like a waiter, gangster or member of the clergy in black pants. Though I don't really like wearing a white shirt with black pants or a black skirt because I used to wear this "uniform" when I was in a school choir.

My husband has one pair of black odd trousers, which I don't think have seen the light of day since he was 24. They'll probably be going to Goodwill soon.

"Buy the best, and you will only cry once." - Chinese proverb

 

[xcubbies]

"Brioni, Borrelli, and Kiton"

Am I missing something here?

 

[Rich]

quote:Originally posted by VS

This has been a very interesting thread.

Just to note - black pants (and skirts and suits)are a major female wardrobe staple, especially for work. The reason is that they are thought to be slimming and go with nearly everything. I never feel like a waiter, gangster or member of the clergy in black pants.

Ah, but ladies are different...

 

[16128]

quote:Originally posted by Rich

quote:Originally posted by VS

This has been a very interesting thread.

Just to note - black pants (and skirts and suits)are a major female wardrobe staple, especially for work. The reason is that they are thought to be slimming and go with nearly everything. I never feel like a waiter, gangster or member of the clergy in black pants.

Ah, but ladies are different...

Oh most definitely.

I do think black cords look fine on men, though.

 

[maxnharry]

quote:Originally posted by xcubbies

"Brioni, Borrelli, and Kiton"

Am I missing something here?

It's Sophistication's mantra

 

[Mike Petrik]

I am sympathetic to guitone's post.
Indeed, I am today wearing black trousers (wool, pleated, cuffed and held in place by braided black leather braces) with a royal blue shirt. With the right sportcoat (blue and black miniature checks) and tie (Brooks blue and white stripe on red) the look is quite attractive if I do say so myself. Black AE Fairfaxes provide the perfect complement and no doubt help explain the frequent compliment.
Merry Christmas to all....

 

[Frank aka The Minotaur]

My boss is wearing black pleated slacks and a blue and white striped buttondown shirt (not the pale blue stripes, but more intense), and he looks fantastic.

 

[16412]

I think black has a lot (and as far as that goes- all colors) to do with your personality. At SF I was reading what Manton says about black- it is a powerful color. If it is powerful, then it usually takes another powerful color to go with it. The only exception I can think of at the moment is a personlatity that goes with it. It seems that some people there personality, or complection, zapps the power from black.

Personally Black is much better than gray. Grey is so boring and dead. Grey- how much deader can you get? At lest Black has life in it. Although, if you are going to wear weak colored shirts, then a grey coat or pants can comes in handy. But why not buy stronger colored shirts and ties? And, never forget your eye color when buying clothes. I do like contrast, other wise things get mundane, banal, stale, and etc. And those wearing black at furnerals, at least it shows that they are alive- if you are wearing gray, then perhapes the wrong person is in the coffin.

 

[Howard]

Black is considered a power color for me.

 

[guitone]

quote:Originally posted by Sophistication

Black works as:

Black is for sophisticated, sleek, sexual men.
If you want to look like a limp, stuffy old man stick to your ASEXUAL Saville Row trad Box shoes and suits outside of work and at night; and I'll tell you who the ladies prefer and go home with, the neapolitian, italians, and venturesome black wearers (black has no relation to nea.)

Ah, so this is why I like it so much[8D]

guit

 

[Soph]

Well, according to Manton if you wear black other than as a tuxedo with white shirt or red, then a man looks "fem or costumey"

If find that a bit theatrical at best. Now here is a pic of a gentlemen with both totally different looks and in a black suit. And I don't think he looks fem or costumey in his black suit, on the contrary, sophisticated and smart. I think the second look is great also, and has its place for the proper occassion.

*** Elegance - a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste *** To achieve a dashing with panache persona

 

[FlatSix]

"Sophistication" -

Do you really think you are convincing anyone here with your lists of what you think looks good?

If you are comfortable wearing all sorts of black clothes, more power to you... but I think you will find that you are decidedly in the minority among men who pay attention to style and clothing.

Black is inappropriate in the daytime, and it rarely looks good at night. The fact that traditional dinner jackets are black has nothing to do with you prancing around in some Jersey-mall-trash-circa-1992-outfit that makes you look like you have BIlly Idol posters at home. You cannot convince me that most of the decidedly regrettable outfits you have discussed so far in this thread would ever pass muster among even vaguely civilized human beings. You've been responsible for half the post traffic on this thread.

Just let it go.

I never cease to be amazed at the people who post here trying to whip up support for their fashion perversions. It always goes something like this:

[)] HELLO EVERYONE WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WEARING BIRKENSTOCKS WITH A THONG TO MEET THE QUEEN.

I wouldn't if I were you.
[] Same here.
[:0] Are you sure you're on the right forum?

[)] WTF IS THE MATTER WITH U PEOPLE U THINK U ARE ELEET EST MY UNCLE DRESSES LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME AND HE OWNS HIS OWN STREET THEATER COMPANY SO THERE.

[] Okay then.
If you must.
[:0] Thanks for visiting.

[)] WAIT I M NOT DONE YET UNTIL I CONVINCE YOU ALL TO DRESS JUST LIKE ME. HERE'S A LINK FROM A WEBSITE I WROTE ABOUT HOW GREAT THONGS R

As has been mentioned before, nobody on this forum can stop you from wearing all sorts of hideous black outfits. And your eternal soul is not endangered by doing so. But expecting people to throw away decades of experience and follow your Cult Of The Black Trou* is too much.

* obscure CDC joke, ha ha.

----------------------

"When you wear something like spats, I think you might as well wear your favorite players jersey bc what youre saying is I want to be powerful like the bear and Im wearing its hide to tap into its power." - Film Noir Buff

"First sense of what "normal" good clothes looked like came from my dad, of course, and from Babar books." - Concordia

" I have a related problem in that I often have to chase people. Leather soles are no good for this kind of work." - Patrick06790

 

[Vecsus]

Today I wore black pants with a grey shirt and grey camelhair sportcoat. While standing alongside the curb outside my office waiting for a friend to cross the street, someone handed me their car keys and told me not to scratch it. We don't even have valet parking!

Seriously though, I wear black pants often. Not as often as I used to but about once per week, maybe a little less. Sometimes it's fun to dress like Travolta in Pulp Fiction. Show up at a serious meeting wearing black and white and people will wonder what secret government agency you work for.

 

[maxnharry]

quote:Originally posted by FlatSix

"Sophistication" -

Do you really think you are convincing anyone here with your lists of what you think looks good?

If you are comfortable wearing all sorts of black clothes, more power to you... but I think you will find that you are decidedly in the minority among men who pay attention to style and clothing.

Black is inappropriate in the daytime, and it rarely looks good at night. The fact that traditional dinner jackets are black has nothing to do with you prancing around in some Jersey-mall-trash-circa-1992-outfit that makes you look like you have BIlly Idol posters at home. You cannot convince me that most of the decidedly regrettable outfits you have discussed so far in this thread would ever pass muster among even vaguely civilized human beings. You've been responsible for half the post traffic on this thread.

Just let it go.

I never cease to be amazed at the people who post here trying to whip up support for their fashion perversions. It always goes something like this:

[)] HELLO EVERYONE WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WEARING BIRKENSTOCKS WITH A THONG TO MEET THE QUEEN.

I wouldn't if I were you.
[] Same here.
[:0] Are you sure you're on the right forum?

[)] WTF IS THE MATTER WITH U PEOPLE U THINK U ARE ELEET EST MY UNCLE DRESSES LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME AND HE OWNS HIS OWN STREET THEATER COMPANY SO THERE.

[] Okay then.
If you must.
[:0] Thanks for visiting.

[)] WAIT I M NOT DONE YET UNTIL I CONVINCE YOU ALL TO DRESS JUST LIKE ME. HERE'S A LINK FROM A WEBSITE I WROTE ABOUT HOW GREAT THONGS R

As has been mentioned before, nobody on this forum can stop you from wearing all sorts of hideous black outfits. And your eternal soul is not endangered by doing so. But expecting people to throw away decades of experience and follow your Cult Of The Black Trou* is too much.

* obscure CDC joke, ha ha.

----------------------

"When you wear something like spats, I think you might as well wear your favorite players jersey bc what youre saying is I want to be powerful like the bear and Im wearing its hide to tap into its power." - Film Noir Buff

"First sense of what "normal" good clothes looked like came from my dad, of course, and from Babar books." - Concordia

" I have a related problem in that I often have to chase people. Leather soles are no good for this kind of work." - Patrick06790

LOL!!!!

 

[Soph]

Originally posted by FlatSix

"Sophistication" -

Do you really think you are convincing anyone here with your lists of what you think looks good?

If you are comfortable wearing all sorts of black clothes, more power to you... but I think you will find that you are decidedly in the minority among men who pay attention to style and clothing.

Black is inappropriate in the daytime, and it rarely looks good at night. The fact that traditional dinner jackets are black has nothing to do with you prancing around in some Jersey-mall-trash-circa-1992-outfit that makes you look like you have BIlly Idol posters at home. You cannot convince me that most of the decidedly regrettable outfits you have discussed so far in this thread would ever pass muster among even vaguely civilized human beings. You've been responsible for half the post traffic on this thread.

Just let it go.

I never cease to be amazed at the people who post here trying to whip up support for their fashion perversions. It always goes something like this:

[)] HELLO EVERYONE WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WEARING BIRKENSTOCKS WITH A THONG TO MEET THE QUEEN.

I wouldn't if I were you.
[] Same here.
[:0] Are you sure you're on the right forum?

[)] WTF IS THE MATTER WITH U PEOPLE U THINK U ARE ELEET EST MY UNCLE DRESSES LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME AND HE OWNS HIS OWN STREET THEATER COMPANY SO THERE.

[] Okay then.
If you must.
[:0] Thanks for visiting.

[)] WAIT I M NOT DONE YET UNTIL I CONVINCE YOU ALL TO DRESS JUST LIKE ME. HERE'S A LINK FROM A WEBSITE I WROTE ABOUT HOW GREAT THONGS R

As has been mentioned before, nobody on this forum can stop you from wearing all sorts of hideous black outfits. And your eternal soul is not endangered by doing so. But expecting people to throw away decades of experience and follow your Cult Of The Black Trou* is too much.

* obscure CDC joke, ha ha.

----------------------

1. I do not wear all sorts of black clothes. For example today I wore a Borrelli Navy suit with classic pinstripes, Borrelli Blue Shirt with Borrelli tie, Black Cap toe Vass Shoes, Brioni Socks, etc. etc. If I am in the minority wearing Borrellli then more power to me.

2. I am not in the minority of anything or whatever assumptions you are in error about me. And you obviously have the maturity of a pre teen, it is clear by reading your ridiculous, immature, childish and unintelligent rants that you really have alot of growing up to do.[}]
Cult of black? This kid assumes because I think black has a place in menswear other than a tuxedo, oh nevermind, who let the kids into Ask Andy? Don't we have an age limit and educational requirement???

Eternal soul, over use of emoticons, poor grammar and sentence structure, over exaggeration, extremenish....Sounds like delusional, fanatical teen angst. LOL!

Tommorow is Classic Charcoal Borrelli. And a white shirt with Borrelli tie. Me and my cult of blackness ROFL@

You obviously don't know me kid, as I am the biggest proponate of Brown shoes by day, and shades of camel you'll ever meet. I love charcoal, and navy even more. And yes I like black upon certain situations, you have no idea who you are addressing. I stand by the Navy blazer in both summer and one with cashmere by winter. Grey flannels are simply fantastic. Now please try to control yourself or go to an aol chat and rant like a lunatic, not here.
[}]


*** Elegance - a refined quality of gracefulness and good taste *** To achieve a dashing with panache persona

 

[FlatSix]

Soph, learn to use the quote function correctly. Here's an example:

quote:Originally posted by Sophistication
Eternal soul, over use of emoticons, poor grammar and sentence structure, over exaggeration, extremenish....Sounds like delusional, fanatical teen angst. LOL!

For the record, the above sentence, where the writer complains about "poor grammar and sentence structure" while creating entirely new and useless words (highlighted with bold) and ending with the always-grammatical-and-structural "LOL!", is known as a self-deconstructive statement.

quote:Tommorow is Classic Charcoal Borrelli. And a white shirt with Borrelli tie. Me and my cult of blackness ROFL@

Tell the truth. You're not a single individual, you're a group of chimps in the local zoo pounding on a keyboard that has "Borrelli" predefined as Alt-Shift-B.

----------------------

"When you wear something like spats, I think you might as well wear your favorite players jersey bc what youre saying is I want to be powerful like the bear and Im wearing its hide to tap into its power." - Film Noir Buff

"First sense of what "normal" good clothes looked like came from my dad, of course, and from Babar books." - Concordia

" I have a related problem in that I often have to chase people. Leather soles are no good for this kind of work." - Patrick06790

 

[16412]

What are the rules?

Rules are Rules! Aren't you suppose to wear a codpiece in front of the Queen? After all, who has the right to have changed the rules? Maybe you have been hood winked into believing the rules have change and codpieces are not proper clothing anymore. Get with it! The rules are rock solid! You must be wearing a youngsters fad if your not wearing a codpiece. Maybe you should be taken out to the wood shed for a whipping for not wearing proper clothing.

When black was the rule... when the king or Queen died the people were finally free- no wonder they didn't want to wear black, so it in itself became a rule with those people.

But we don't live back then! We didn't live in the oppression when black was the rule and glade to be rid of it. We don't carry that baggge. Were not even in the same century, or two. Were not bound by an outdated rules. And some rules need to change from time to time, so to say, to clear the air. Yes! The old goats that wanted the old rules always resisted, but they didn't win did they? How long have these latest rules been around? They don't last forever, as history proves. What is around the corner nobody knows.