# Would you wear a black shirt with khakis? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100 "2004-12-04T20:27:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/1 "2004-12-04T20:27:16Z")
I’m a male. I’ve gotten the idea that a black shirt/sweater might look good with khaki pants. Is this a horrible fashion statement? I’m guessing black shirt, khaki pants, black belt, white socks, and black shoes. Shoes and belt must match. I thought of the white socks because socks can match the pants or the shoes. Black socks would just be too weird. Try it or forget it? ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/2 "2004-12-04T20:28:35Z")
I’d give it a try but match the socks to the shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/3 "2004-12-04T20:29:21Z")
I wear black shirts with khakis fairly often and nobody’s ever pointed and laughed. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/4 "2004-12-04T20:37:03Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > I’d give it a try but match the socks to the shoes. black socks against khaki pants? I’m not sure that would work. That is why I thought of the white. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/5 "2004-12-04T20:38:24Z")
I do often. … but I’m not sure you should be taking fashion advice from me. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/6 "2004-12-04T20:51:11Z")
You always wear dark socks with dark shoes. White socks are for tennis shoes and other extreme casual outfits. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/7 "2004-12-04T20:55:44Z")
I _have_ worn black shirts with any number of different types of pants… ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/8 "2004-12-04T20:56:48Z")
Right this moment I’m wearing a dark gray, knitted shirt with khakis. Shoes are black/brown work boots. I have to admit the socks are white, but you can’t actually see them, so I don’t see how it matters. Then again, there is no around to point and laugh at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/9 "2004-12-04T20:57:01Z")
My brother wears black shirts/sweaters with khakis and looks rather sharp when he does. Of course, I guess my brother could probably wear a burlap sack and pull it off. Pisses me off to no end 😛 ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/10 "2004-12-04T20:57:58Z")
I’m wearing that at this very moment. Black hoodie, khakis, black-and-gray stripped socks. 'Course, I’m also a college student on a weekend, so…probably not the best judge. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/11 "2004-12-04T21:06:17Z")
One of the beauties of khaki pants (or skirt) is, like blue denim, they go with nearly everything. _Nearly_. A pale gray would look awful with khakis, though I’m sure **Folly** ’s _dark_ gray looks fine. So, yes: black shirt with khakis? Superb. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/12 "2004-12-04T21:17:46Z")
The black shirt with the khakis is fine. The rest of the ensemble, however, needs some work. Black shirt, khakis, brown belt, brown shoes, brown/tan socks. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/13 "2004-12-04T21:25:22Z")
Black shirt and khakis sounds like a nice ensemble. White socks will ruin it, though. ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/14 "2004-12-04T23:25:58Z")
Typically, the rule of thumb for the sock thing is it has to be : 1. an extension of the shoe 2. an extension of the pant With the attire you’ve described, you will need to wear black socks. Like someone else mentioned, white socks are only for casual/athletic wear. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/15 "2004-12-04T23:31:29Z")
If I’m going to wear black shoes with khakis, I always go socks that are close to the color of the khakis. I like to mix it up with different patterns of paislies or maybe some stripes and perhaps ribs or other texture to the socks. White could hardly be any worse, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/16 "2004-12-04T23:34:06Z")
Everyone so far has said that the black shirt/sweater would work well with Khakis. Is everyone assuming that the Khakis are white/vanilla colored? ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/17 "2004-12-04T23:44:04Z")
I do black shirt, khaki pants, black belt, black socks, black shoes. My SO is opposed to wearing black shoes with khakis, but overall I think it’s a sharp look. The way I see it, black goes with anything; khaki goes with anything; so why not? Got to disagree with **CrazyCatLady** about the brown belt and shoes…that would look pretty odd to me with a black shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/18 "2004-12-04T23:57:43Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I wear black shirts with khakis fairly often and nobody’s ever pointed and laughed. Well, to your face, anyway. 😃 I kid! ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/19 "2004-12-05T00:08:25Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > Everyone so far has said that the black shirt/sweater would work well with Khakis. Is everyone assuming that the Khakis are white/vanilla colored? I’m assuming they’re… khaki colored. Sorta light tan, but not white or vanilla. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100/20 "2004-12-05T00:18:06Z")
The black shoes must not be dressy shoes; they must be casual (loafers, wingtips, Hush Puppies). Black socks, okay. A patterned sock that’s black and tan or black and gray, okay. White socks, absolutely not. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-wear-a-black-shirt-with-khakis/278100.md?page=2)