Through the course of a professional man's life, there will be different events that you will want to elevate your level of dress. Choosing the best color of suit for those events and everyday work events can be confusing. Here are some great tips to help you select the best color of suit for you to wear to your event.
First a bit of education on men's suit colors. Most men's suits can be broken down into the following color categories:
Navy tones
Grey tones
Royal blue tones
Earth tones
Black
Fashion / Non-typical
Below is a guide our Christian Boehm Custom Stylists put together on the best suit colors to wear and what each color projects. These colors are part of the nonverbal communication that happens when you are wearing a suit of this color and the message and image you are projecting without even saying a word.
SUIT COLOR GUIDE
NAVY
Navy has the look of power and authority. When the President addresses the nation, what color of suit does he wear? Navy, and there is a reason for it.
You would select a navy suit if you are public speaking, have a boardroom meeting, are getting married or graduating, are getting a picture taken for something such as a company brochure or your professional LinkedIn profile, or perhaps you are going on a first interview. These elevated events are perfect opportunities to wear a great navy suit.
Grey
Grey has a look of confidence and experience. If you are graduating from college and you want to look like it's not your first rodeo, grey would be a great choice. Grey is neutral and goes with every skin tone, so it is very simple to add because you don't have to think in the morning when you are getting dressed. A grey suit goes with nearly everything in your wardrobe. You can wear black, any shade of brown, burgundy or even navy dress shoes with a grey suit.
Almost every shirt and tie looks great with a grey suit. It's the easiest suit to travel with because it is so versatile. It is considered to be the best color for everyday business.
It is an excellent choice if you are going on a second interview. It also can be worn for a wedding where you are choosing to wear a suit. If you are a white-collared professional businessman and you are wearing suits regularly, you should be comfortable with 90% of your suits being in some shade of grey or blue.
ROYAL BLUE
Royal blue is considered to be a more social and fashion-forward blue tone. It looks fantastic with any shade of brown shoe and has the unique ability to illuminate one's skin tone, especially in pictures. It will help you stand out from the crowd.
In a picture with many people, you would look fashionable, vigorous, and youthful. If you are a rainmaker or do business development as part of your role, this would be a great choice.
If you want to wear a suit without a necktie, this would be a great choice. Royal blue can also be worn for a wedding or graduation if you are choosing to wear a suit for these occasions. If you want to pop the question to your girlfriend, this would be a great choice.
EARTH TONES
Earth tones are tans, browns, and olives. Earth tones are great rapport colors, perfect for less formal, more casual occasions. If you have to be in a suit but your client has a casual environment, this would be a great option. If you have to fire someone, do a deposition, or wear a suit on a casual Friday to the office, then an earth tone would be a great option. It is a change of pace color, so select these for more social or casual days at the office.
Earth tones such as tan can be worn for a wedding and are popular choices for destination beach weddings. A tan linen suit at a beach wedding would be a good example.
Black
Black is considered to be the most formal color. If you are a business professional, this would be a suit you might wear in the evenings to entertain clients. If you are single, this would be a great suit to wear on an evening date. If you are getting married or graduating and want to wear a suit, this would be a great option. If you are invited to a semi-formal wedding, this would be a perfect choice.
We will caution our professional business clients on adding a black suit to wear for daily business: charcoal grey would be a better choice as black can be very imposing. If you're in the hospitality business, no problem, black is a good choice. But if you're an attorney, banker, or financial planner, charcoal would be better.
FASHION / NON-TYPICAL
Fashion colors such as burgundy, green, white, aqua blue, etc. are great fun to make up into a suit. For these additions, we would say it depends on what you do.
If you're in the entertainment business, own the hottest nightclub in Miami, or are a fashion designer, knock it out. However, if you are a financial planner with a conservative firm, they may not be a wise choice for everyday business.
Fashion colors are great to wear to social events, cocktail parties, on a date, or going out to dinner with your wife. They are fun, expressive, and meant for you to peacock it up a bit. If a lime green suit will answer that question for you, we can make it happen at Christian Boehm.
HOW TO PAIR SHOES WITH YOUR SUIT COLOR
Shoe selection can make or break your suit color choice. The right shoes pull the entire look together, while the wrong ones create a jarring disconnect. Here is a quick guide:
With navy suits: Brown shoes in any shade are your best bet. Dark brown for formal settings, medium brown for business, and cognac or tan for social occasions. Black shoes work for very formal events but can look severe with navy in daylight.
With grey suits: Grey is the most versatile suit color for shoes. Black, dark brown, medium brown, burgundy, and even navy suede all work. Charcoal grey pairs best with black or dark brown, while light grey can handle lighter browns and burgundy beautifully.
With earth tones: Brown shoes are the natural pairing. Keep the shoe color close to or slightly darker than the suit color. A tan suit with dark brown shoes creates a pleasing contrast.
With black suits: Black shoes are the only correct choice. Anything else looks disconnected from the formality of the suit.
With fashion colors: Let the suit color guide you. Burgundy suits pair well with burgundy or dark brown shoes. Green suits work with brown. White suits can handle white, tan, or light brown shoes depending on the setting.
MIAMI SUIT COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS
Miami's climate and culture create unique opportunities for suit color selection. The year-round warmth means lighter colors and fabrics are not just acceptable but often preferable.
For daily business in Miami, a mid-grey or navy suit in a lightweight tropical wool is your workhorse. These colors handle the transition from air-conditioned offices to the humid outdoors without showing perspiration as readily as darker colors.
For social events in South Florida, royal blue and fashion colors are more accepted here than in more conservative markets. A royal blue suit at a Miami networking event or cocktail party is perfectly appropriate and will make you stand out in a positive way.
For Miami weddings, earth tones shine. A tan or ivory linen suit is a natural fit for the tropical setting. Grooms in Miami often choose lighter colors that complement the beach and resort venues common to South Florida celebrations.
For evening events in areas like Brickell or the Design District, a black suit or a dark navy suit works well. The formality of the evening and the sophistication of these neighborhoods call for darker, more elegant colors.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Suit Colors
What is the most versatile suit color?
Grey is the most versatile suit color. It pairs with virtually every shirt color, every tie, and every shoe color. A mid-grey suit in a lightweight wool can be worn to interviews, weddings, business meetings, and social events with equal success. If you are building a wardrobe from scratch, start with grey.
Can I wear a brown suit to an interview?
While brown suits have become more acceptable in recent years, we still recommend navy or grey for interviews. Brown is perceived as more casual and may not project the level of authority you want in a first impression. Save brown for once you have the job and understand the company culture.
How many suit colors do I need for a professional wardrobe?
For a professional who wears suits daily, we recommend starting with navy, grey, and royal blue as your foundation. These three colors cover the vast majority of professional and social situations. From there, add earth tones for variety, a black suit for evening events, and fashion colors for social occasions. A two-week rotation typically means 8-10 suits.
