# Is there a male equivalent of the little black dress? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 25, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-male-equivalent-of-the-little-black-dress/645075 "2012-12-25T00:20:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-male-equivalent-of-the-little-black-dress/645075/41 "2013-01-03T00:37:39Z")
I have a go-to black Utilikilt. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-male-equivalent-of-the-little-black-dress/645075/42 "2013-01-03T00:44:59Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > A nice, dark fitted suit. I defy you to find a man who does not look good in a fitted suit. You mean _tailored_, don’t you? _Fitted_ pretty much means slim cut, and there are lots of us who can’t hack slim cut clothing. I agree, btw, about the dark suit as LBD equivalent. What people are missing is that it’s the equivalent _level of formality._ It might be socially accepted for a man to dress a level or two less formal than a woman, but I sense a double standard in that. I like to dress “up” to a woman. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-male-equivalent-of-the-little-black-dress/645075/43 "2013-01-03T00:55:24Z")
Another thought: ties. Once they were essential with a suit, but now you’re seeing suits without them. A man has to be careful when and where he wears a tie today. If it’s not expected, it can imply you’re stuffy or pretentious. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-male-equivalent-of-the-little-black-dress/645075/44 "2013-01-03T04:48:28Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > I agree, btw, about the dark suit as LBD equivalent. What people are missing is that it’s the equivalent _level of formality._ It might be socially accepted for a man to dress a level or two less formal than a woman, but I sense a double standard in that. I like to dress “up” to a woman. Agree. The dark suit/white shirt a la Clooney looks fab, but a less “dressy” option would be the black slacks/black jeans with black cashmere V-neck. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-male-equivalent-of-the-little-black-dress/645075/45 "2013-01-03T04:49:59Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Another thought: ties. Once they were essential with a suit, but now you’re seeing suits without them. A man has to be careful when and where he wears a tie today. If it’s not expected, it can imply you’re stuffy or pretentious. That’s part of what makes a suit the male equivalent of an LBD – it can be made more formal with appropriate accessories. Unless the occasion is so formal that it’s black- or white-tie only, a man will probably be fine in a dark suit and tie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-male-equivalent-of-the-little-black-dress/645075.md?page=2)