# Businessy dress Q: What would you wear a black pin-striped shirt with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 10, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792 "2006-11-10T00:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/1 "2006-11-10T00:42:48Z")
What color pants? I’m thinking solid pants, as pin-striped pants would be clowny with a matching shirt. Dark grey pants combined with the shirt look way too Peter Murphy for the office. I’m thinking a lighter grey? Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/2 "2006-11-10T00:54:51Z")
Well, I would wear it with black, myself. And yah, skip the pin striped pants. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/3 "2006-11-10T01:18:04Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] What color pants? I’m thinking solid pants, as pin-striped pants would be clowny with a matching shirt. Dark grey pants combined with the shirt look way too Peter Murphy for the office. I’m thinking a lighter grey? Thoughts? [/QUOTE] I wear a black pinstriped shirt with black trousers. I also wear it with white pants in the summer. VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/4 "2006-11-10T04:39:11Z")
Boxer shorts and slippers. I’m retired. I don’t give a fuck. Just kidding! No slippers. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/5 "2006-11-10T05:02:20Z")
A black, pinstriped 3-piece suit, a fedora, a silver tie, and a violin case… ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/6 "2006-11-10T05:07:30Z")
Plain pants, of a black or grey variety. Gotta be careful to not mix patterns badly. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/7 "2006-11-10T15:22:53Z")
What business are you in? I can’t say I would think of that kind of shirt in any conservative setting. Do you wear ties? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/8 "2006-11-10T15:26:04Z")
Black pants. I wouldn’t wear white pants with it even if it was summer, but that’s me. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/9 "2006-11-10T17:38:42Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Black pants. I wouldn’t wear white pants with it even if it was summer, but that’s me. [/QUOTE] I am unaware of the sex of the OP; I’m a female and I wear the white pants 😃 I also wear it with a white skirt. VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/10 "2006-11-10T19:14:06Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] A black, pinstriped 3-piece suit, a fedora, a silver tie, and a violin case… [/QUOTE] What he said. And don’t be surprised if people give you a wide berth. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/11 "2006-11-10T19:19:15Z")
[QUOTE=Veuve\_ClicquotNJ] I am unaware of the sex of the OP; I’m a female and I wear the white pants 😃 I also wear it with a white skirt. [/QUOTE] I have a pair of “bone” coloured pants that I wear in the summer as well, but I don’t know if I would wear them with a black pinstriped shirt - doesn’t the shirt show through when you tuck it into the pants? (I’m assuming it’s a button down shirt, which I only wear tucked in 'cus I hate the way they look untucked.) Also, white (or bone) coloured pants are one of those things that you have **NO** wiggle room in - they have to fit perfectly, otherwise the results are **NOT** pretty. Stay-puff Marshmellow Man anybody? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/12 "2006-11-10T22:02:52Z")
I’d wear it with solid black or gray pants. If you’re wearing a tie (you said “businessy”), keep it solid color, too - white or a shade of gray that doesn’t match the pants. ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/13 "2006-11-10T22:03:37Z")
[QUOTE=alice\_in\_wonderland] I have a pair of “bone” coloured pants that I wear in the summer as well, but I don’t know if I would wear them with a black pinstriped shirt - doesn’t the shirt show through when you tuck it into the pants? (I’m assuming it’s a button down shirt, which I only wear tucked in 'cus I hate the way they look untucked.) Also, white (or bone) coloured pants are one of those things that you have **NO** wiggle room in - they have to fit perfectly, otherwise the results are **NOT** pretty. Stay-puff Marshmellow Man anybody? 😃 [/QUOTE] The shirt in question isn’t “tuckable”. It’s a fitted poly/spandex top (it sounds cheesy - but it definitely is not). It ends about the top of my hip & is fitted with 3/4 sleeves that end in a cuff. The white pants are white cotton “jeans”; jeans styling, but not denim. The skirt is white denim. I don’t tuck in either situation; the shirt hits just enough to cover the waistband. I agree re: the fitting of white/bone pants & skirts. I also feel strongly they should be lined. VCNJ~ ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businessy-dress-q-what-would-you-wear-a-black-pin-striped-shirt-with/379792/14 "2006-11-10T22:11:23Z")
[QUOTE=Veuve\_ClicquotNJ] I am unaware of the sex of the OP; I’m a female and I wear the white pants 😃 I also wear it with a white skirt. VCNJ~ [/QUOTE] I’m female and “I’d” do it but “I” wouldn’t do it if I was a guy. Sorry for the confusion. It just works better on women.