# Mens' fashion. Can I wear a black sweater with black pants? Black shoes, too **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 3, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110 "2023-04-03T23:51:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/1 "2023-04-03T23:51:19Z")
I only wear black and grey, at least 99% of the time to work. I’m a school teacher and have reduced and simplified my wardrobe quite a bit. Anyway, instead of grey pants, is it OK to just have straight black? Black sweater, black pants? Here is the exact sweater. Notice the model in the picture is wearing black pants. > **[Amazon.com: Amazon Essentials Men's Crewneck Cable Cotton Sweater : Clothing,...](https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Essentials-Standard-Crewneck-Sweater/dp/B07NYBKF5X)** > > Amazon Essentials is focused on creating affordable, high-quality, and long-lasting everyday clothing you can rely on. Our line of men’s must-haves includes polo shirts, chino pants, classic-fit shorts, casual button-downs, and crew-neck tees. Our... ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/2 "2023-04-03T23:59:57Z")
I say yes. I do occasionally in my professional workspace. You will probably get the occasional Johnny Cash joke, but hey… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/3 "2023-04-04T00:02:31Z")
Isn’t that the whole point of black clothes, that black goes with everything? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/4 "2023-04-04T00:02:53Z")
Yes. Not all blacks match accurately, due to different fabrics or condition, but I would still deem such minor differences acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/5 "2023-04-04T00:03:06Z")
All black everything is certainly legit, but maybe it is more of an evening look? I cannot find anything authoritative. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/6 "2023-04-04T00:03:22Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I say yes. I do occasionally in my professional workspace. Yes, for me, wearing black pants instead of grey would be “flair”, so to speak. I’m doing it tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/7 "2023-04-04T00:23:03Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > You will probably get the occasional Johnny Cash joke, By the old people. I’m guessing they kids at school will have a more contemporary comparison. (Who, you ask? Beats me. I’m an old one, too). Oh, and as to the OP? Sure, go for it. Bonus points if you add a van dyke beard and claim to be your own “twin”. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/8 "2023-04-04T00:30:59Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Sure, go for it. Bonus points if you add a van dyke beard and claim to be your own “twin”. I’m not that fun, but thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/9 "2023-04-04T01:13:46Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Yes. Not all blacks match accurately, due to different fabrics or condition, but I would still deem such minor differences acceptable. This. A matte black fabric on your slacks would look like a different black than a black knitted top. But if that doesn’t bother you, go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/10 "2023-04-04T02:03:16Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Anyway, instead of grey pants, is it OK to just have straight black? Black sweater, black pants? Yes, but you also have to be perpetually unshaven, wear a beret, and have a lit Gauloises dangling from your lip at all times. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/11 "2023-04-04T02:39:20Z")
Sounds like a good plan to me, you Beatnik! 🕶 ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/12 "2023-04-04T07:37:45Z")
Over here, you would once have got [jokes about chocolates](https://youtu.be/nu_6tgk7Yt4) But what is it that makes you think you shouldn’t wear this? It’s not indecent or outlandish. Who would care and why would their reaction matter? I’m assuming your lessons are interesting and engaging enough for your pupils not to take any notice, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/13 "2023-04-04T11:03:27Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > I’m assuming your lessons are interesting and engaging enough for your pupils not to take any notice, of course. I wear very similar things daily and have never had a single comment from students. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/14 "2023-04-04T15:17:58Z")
I’m currently wearing black shoes, pants, shirt and hat. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/15 "2023-04-04T16:44:22Z")
My unspoken contract with my students was: you don’t comment on what I wear, and I don’t comment on what you wear (as tempting that is sometimes). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/16 "2023-04-04T18:24:59Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Yes. Not all blacks match accurately I consider this a plus. > [@Moriarty](#): > > By the old people. Hey, who you calling old!? (says the guy who turned 68 las month) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/17 "2023-04-04T19:00:37Z")
Another vote that black pants / sweater / shoes is perfectly fine. Plus, it comes in handy after dark if any impromptu ninja activities become necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/18 "2023-04-04T19:11:22Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Plus, it comes in handy after dark if any impromptu ninja activities become necessary. Only if it is a [Tactleneck](https://youtu.be/fF139JVKOA8). Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/19 "2023-04-04T23:19:22Z")
Ninjaed! ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110/20 "2023-04-05T03:54:10Z")
Nothing wrong with “all black” for a man IMHO. Back when I was working (office environment) my preference was some contrast such as black shirt, taupe pants, black shoes, there’s nothing wrong with the “all black” look whatsoever. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mens-fashion-can-i-wear-a-black-sweater-with-black-pants-black-shoes-too/982110.md?page=2)