I don't wear black all the time, have only one black sweater, never worked for or with architects that went black monochrome all the time and was never taught by one either, except this one guy who was from an American Ivy league background, maybe that's where it's more common?
in grad school I noticed how one of the more popular profs seemed to always where a black turtleneck and then after a while more an d more profs did the same......and then the students started to follow....so when I noticed this ....I balled up my black turtleneck and rarely ever wore it again so as not to appear to be a sheep
I'm a fan of the grey/black wardrobe mostly because I went to a school where khakis were the standard. It didn't help that dye colors took a dive for a number of years.
Now I play the game of wearing a hint of day glow color on special occasions- to see if people are actually paying attention.
Sep 24, 17 10:00 pm ·
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Featured Comment
Wilma Buttfit
Just reinforcing this so we are all clear on this part of the dress code - NO KHAKIS!!!
Sep 25, 17 8:57 am ·
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Wilma Buttfit
I have a pair of khakis, I break them out when I want to look nerdy.
Just no pleats in the pants please. Any color is ok (except khaki). I think really dark rich blues are under represented, probably because they don't go with black. I have blue suede shoes, like the song.
Sep 25, 17 9:02 am ·
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Non Sequitur
I wore white suede shoes last friday along with a purple shirt and a vintage (stolen from father's wardrobe) navy sport jacket. Today, it's a red shirt with Tim Burton era batman logo cufflinks.
Sep 25, 17 9:33 am ·
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Wilma Buttfit
Nice! You win.
Sep 25, 17 9:41 am ·
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Wilma Buttfit
Reminds me, I need to pull out my purple suede coat. It's suede season.
Sep 25, 17 10:16 am ·
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Non Sequitur
What colour are the buttons? They better be ornate and golden.
Sep 25, 17 12:49 pm ·
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Wilma Buttfit
They are not. Sorry to disappoint. Good idea though. I can look into some button covers. The ones on it are purple to match.
Dark blue jeans, bright trainer or fancy dress shoes, black Calvin Cline classic crew neck t -shirt shrunk in the wash to the correct size.
Not sure if this qualifies as "dressing in black" but its my go to everyday attire. I throw a sport coat on if I need to.
I think the idea behind most people in the all black, at least for me, is to have a "capsule wardrobe" It's one less decision in a long line of decisions I have to make on a daily basis. The shirt and pants I want are always clean because I own ten of them. I believe you only have so much bandwidth for decisions in a day. Why waste it on what your wearing?
Sep 25, 17 12:35 pm ·
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Non Sequitur
...but on the flip side of that statement, if picking clothing in the morning is do demanding on your available mental bandwidth, perhaps you need to reconsider priorities.
Sep 25, 17 12:50 pm ·
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JonathanLivingston
I prefer to put that time to working out and preparing breakfast for my family. It's not that there isn't bandwidth but prioritization. Maintaining a stylish wardrobe also takes more than just picking out clothes in the morning. You have to shop, try, buy, and repeat seasonally. I have chosen one set, I can order online I know it works and I spend that time, money and effort on myself and the things that are more important.
If it was socially acceptable, I would wear a black cape.
As is, I have 3 identical black suits (and a charcoal grey one), three weeks of identical white button-downs, 1 week of black-button downs, two black blazers (and one grey) and a whole grip of black and dark grey chino pants. It makes everything from laundry to shopping to appearing quietly condescending much easier.
Sep 26, 17 11:20 am ·
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randomised
Exactly, I mean look at your hat ;-)
Sep 26, 17 1:56 pm ·
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randomised
I take it all back :) With the right attitude people can pull off basically anything, even khaki short pants...
I wear all black sometimes, but it's only because I'm feeling like Johnny Cash.
Sep 26, 17 1:00 pm ·
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randomised
Very valid reason. If you'd also sound like JC that would be even better.
Sep 27, 17 5:26 am ·
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TIQM
When I sing Get Rhythm in the shower, I do sound just like him.
Sep 27, 17 10:02 am ·
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joseffischer
Heh, when graduating, all I had were what qualified as church clothes, and a tux. I replaced some of the tux pieces with a black shirt, wore my black boots, and went to interviews. It supposedly worked in my favor because when I finally started work a few months after graduating, multiple people remembered me from my interview as the "johnny cash kid". I heard comments like "Oh, I'm glad we hired cash" or "I was hoping we'd see you again Johnny" for the first month or so. Suffice it to say, 1st week on the job, I dropped about a grand on a new wardrobe.
All black dress sense?
Why do modern day architects wear all black, or dress in a monochromatic way?
1 Featured Comment
Just reinforcing this so we are all clear on this part of the dress code - NO KHAKIS!!!
All 32 Comments
Architects wear all kind of fancy hipster clothes these days. But the all black comes from the 1100s.
it's an affectation from the art world.
[nose in air] "I wear black, therefore I am an artist.
Therefore I am black.
An all-black outfit showing every speck of dirt and drywall dust will help you look extra-stupid while visiting jobsites.
I don't wear black all the time, have only one black sweater, never worked for or with architects that went black monochrome all the time and was never taught by one either, except this one guy who was from an American Ivy league background, maybe that's where it's more common?
Not just architects. Designers, techies, "hip" CEOs, really anyone who wants to appear stoic and cultured.
As I type this I realize I the only two items I bought while shopping the other day were a black sweatshirt and a black running shirt...
The funny part is of course that it's so funereal.
I have white stripes on my black today. Eye-catching.
To stand apart from the hoi polloi, of which they secretly know they are a member.
Yeah, it hides the dirt.
Architects are generally petrified of colour.
Many men are color blind. So sad.
To distinguish ourselves from interior decorators, after all we are designers, not decorators.
Every day I spend pouring over 4.XX sheets, I proudly remind myself that I'm also an exterior decorator!
in grad school I noticed how one of the more popular profs seemed to always where a black turtleneck and then after a while more an d more profs did the same......and then the students started to follow....so when I noticed this ....I balled up my black turtleneck and rarely ever wore it again so as not to appear to be a sheep
I'm a fan of the grey/black wardrobe mostly because I went to a school where khakis were the standard. It didn't help that dye colors took a dive for a number of years.
Now I play the game of wearing a hint of day glow color on special occasions- to see if people are actually paying attention.
Just reinforcing this so we are all clear on this part of the dress code - NO KHAKIS!!!
I have a pair of khakis, I break them out when I want to look nerdy.
Just no pleats in the pants please. Any color is ok (except khaki). I think really dark rich blues are under represented, probably because they don't go with black. I have blue suede shoes, like the song.
I wore white suede shoes last friday along with a purple shirt and a vintage (stolen from father's wardrobe) navy sport jacket. Today, it's a red shirt with Tim Burton era batman logo cufflinks.
Nice! You win.
Reminds me, I need to pull out my purple suede coat. It's suede season.
What colour are the buttons? They better be ornate and golden.
They are not. Sorry to disappoint. Good idea though. I can look into some button covers. The ones on it are purple to match.
My first day of studio class I wore yellow pants and a pink batman shirt, all from the Goodwill.
What's wrong with khaki?????
Nothing if you're Indiana Jones.
khakis are for the engineers.
Basic uniform style.
Dark blue jeans, bright trainer or fancy dress shoes, black Calvin Cline classic crew neck t -shirt shrunk in the wash to the correct size.
Not sure if this qualifies as "dressing in black" but its my go to everyday attire. I throw a sport coat on if I need to.
I think the idea behind most people in the all black, at least for me, is to have a "capsule wardrobe" It's one less decision in a long line of decisions I have to make on a daily basis. The shirt and pants I want are always clean because I own ten of them. I believe you only have so much bandwidth for decisions in a day. Why waste it on what your wearing?
...but on the flip side of that statement, if picking clothing in the morning is do demanding on your available mental bandwidth, perhaps you need to reconsider priorities.
I prefer to put that time to working out and preparing breakfast for my family. It's not that there isn't bandwidth but prioritization. Maintaining a stylish wardrobe also takes more than just picking out clothes in the morning. You have to shop, try, buy, and repeat seasonally. I have chosen one set, I can order online I know it works and I spend that time, money and effort on myself and the things that are more important.
It's so flakes show.
So dress better to distract from poor hygiene habits?
OH BOY! LONG PANTS!
Im already black, everyday for the past 39yrs so i jus wear shorts and v-neck t-shirts
.
And flip flops too?
If it was socially acceptable, I would wear a black cape.
As is, I have 3 identical black suits (and a charcoal grey one), three weeks of identical white button-downs, 1 week of black-button downs, two black blazers (and one grey) and a whole grip of black and dark grey chino pants. It makes everything from laundry to shopping to appearing quietly condescending much easier.
Exactly, I mean look at your hat ;-)
I take it all back :) With the right attitude people can pull off basically anything, even khaki short pants...
I wear all black sometimes, but it's only because I'm feeling like Johnny Cash.
Very valid reason. If you'd also sound like JC that would be even better.
When I sing Get Rhythm in the shower, I do sound just like him.
Heh, when graduating, all I had were what qualified as church clothes, and a tux. I replaced some of the tux pieces with a black shirt, wore my black boots, and went to interviews. It supposedly worked in my favor because when I finally started work a few months after graduating, multiple people remembered me from my interview as the "johnny cash kid". I heard comments like "Oh, I'm glad we hired cash" or "I was hoping we'd see you again Johnny" for the first month or so. Suffice it to say, 1st week on the job, I dropped about a grand on a new wardrobe.
If it was socially acceptable, I would wear a black cape.
They're not socially accepted? Looks mighty fine to me.
You're right. Maybe I've just been lazy in searching.
What do you guys (and gals) think of this one: https://www.farfetch.com/shopping/men/issey-miyake-long-cape-coat-item-11831224.aspx?fsb=1&storeid=9653&size=21&utm_source=polyvore.com&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=ZYTUS_desktop
If I were a bit slimmer and a lot richer I'd go for it, looks really fashion forward.
Black and grey, everyday. Colorful scarf, everyday. Red shoelaces, everyday. Why? Because fuck you.
Eat your heart out, Jean Nouvel. Here is the Clint Eastwood of architects.
I think Dr. Evil would win that one, for one million dollar!
Nothing says like minded sheep like the black and grey uniform of architects.
I'm the only one wearing all black in my office today, whose the sheep now?
Well.....
I’m usually in all black. Due to my skin undertones I don’t look good in a lot of colours. Do I stick with blacks and dark grays
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