Even if you don’t wear a suit to work, you should have one in your closet for special occasions. While a dark suit may be right for both weddings and funerals, some colours are more appropriate than others when going to other events. In addition, which suit colour you choose can also be determined by your complexion.
Foundation Suit Colours
Every man should have at least one suit in his closet in case he is invited to a wedding or someone he is close to dies and he attends the funeral. A dark, conservative suit is usually the best option for keeping in your closet. A charcoal grey suit is the best alternative as it is more versatile than black or navy. A black or brown pair of shoes or belt can be worn with charcoal grey, so you don’t have to worry about your accessories not going with what you are wearing.
Many men choose black suits to keep in their closets in case they need to attend a funeral, but they can be worn to formal events as well. While it may not be the best choice for a wedding, unless formal attire is called for, it can be worn to church or to a play in which your nephew or niece may be starring. Black and charcoal grey are two of the three suit foundation colours with navy blue being the third.
Navy blue is probably one of the most commonly chosen colours for men’s suits and when you attend an event, many of the men in the room will probably be wearing a navy suit. A navy blazer can be paired with a variety of trousers so your attire is appropriate for the occasion. Pairing it with a pair of khakis sans tie will give you more of a laid back appearance, while choosing a navy pinstripe suit will not only look stylish, but it will appear more formal than a plain navy suit.
Selecting Colour by Complexion
Selecting a suit’s colour will often depend of the complexion of the wearer. While earth tones suit many men, they may not look good on those who have darker skin tones. A salesman at the quintessentially British suit maker Hawes and Curtis can help you select the best colour for your skin tone and the occasion you’re attending.
Most men will look fine in one of the suit foundation colours with their ties, shirts, and accessories helping to bring out their skin tones. However, men with high contrast features between skin, eye, and hair colour and those with dark skin tones, may not do so well wearing them. For them, dark, rich coloured suits will help highlight their features and they can choose lighter shirts to help contrast their skin tones.
When selecting a suit, not only consider the occasion and your skin tone, but consider the season, too. You probably won’t be comfortable wearing a heavy suit in the summer or a light fabric when it is cold and snowy outside.
