Suit Color Choices & How to Pick the Right One

When it comes to picking out the perfect suit, color is one of the most important factors to take into account. While black was traditionally the go-to option, modern men have the choice between lots of different suit colors. Each one has its advantages and best-use scenarios, and wearing the wrong suit color could leave you looking and feeling utterly out of place.

But how do you choose the right color for every situation? Well, that’s what this guide is here to help with. Let’s look at an array of the most popular and versatile suit colors for men. We’ll also explore the key features and usage of each color, along with some tips and tricks to help you pick the ideal color suits, every time.

The Classics

Let’s kick off the list with the classics. These are the go-to suits colors that every man should consider adding to his wardrobe. They’re the most traditional and versatile choices, perfect for all sorts of occasions.

Black Suit

The most classic option of them all is the black suit. It’s a must-own for almost every man, especially those who attend a lot of formal events.

Occasions

If ever you see an event with a formal dress code, black suits are typically the best choice. They’re also the customary choice at funerals, and can be an alternative to tuxedos at black-tie events, too.

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Why?

Black is generally regarded as the most formal color, as it’s been used throughout history by wealthy and noble people for all their get-togethers and grand occasions. It’s a straightforward color – simply add a crisp, white dress shirt and some lace-up shoes, and you’re good to go. It’s also a neutral color, so a black suit can be dressed down with a colorful shirt or tie without looking off.

Considerations

While black may be the finest choice for formal occasions, it might be too much for casual events. It’s also not always the right pick for certain types of business engagements, like interviews or meetings, with the likes of charcoal or navy being more suitable. If you want to use a black suit for these, color code the rest of the outfit to be less dour.

Navy Blue Suit

Ranked as the No. 1 suit color by Real Men Real Style, navy blue suits have become the most popular color choice among modern men.

Occasions

When it comes to men’s suit colors for different occasions, navy is the new black. It can work in all sorts of settings, from job interviews and business meetings to weddings, cocktail parties, semi-formal events, and so on.

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Why?

Part of what makes navy such a versatile choice is that it’s just a little lighter than black. This allows it to blend more naturally and seamlessly with an array of skin tones and complexions. It also doesn’t have the same strict formal connotations as black, allowing it to be used in a wider range of settings. However, it’s also not so informal as a gray suit, making it a good substitute for a formal black outfit (except for white-tie events).

Considerations

There’s not a lot to worry about with navy suits. They match flawlessly with varying shirt and tie colors and combos, and they won’t look out of place at most events, apart from the most formal, like black-tie, or the most casual.

Charcoal Gray Suit

If black feels a little too dark and formal for you, a gray suit might be the right choice. It’s just a shade less formal, with plenty of versatility, similar to navy.

Occasions

Charcoal gray is an ideal choice for many of the same events that you’d wear a navy suit for. That includes business meetings, interviews, dinners, and semi-formal occasions – once you have a good understanding of what semi-formal wedding attire for men is, you’ll easily be able to wear this color at future events.

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Why?

Similarly to navy, charcoal gray has a certain level of formality, without being as severe as black. As noted by Patrick & Co., this color also blends well with many others, “allowing you to be more adventurous with the shirts and ties.”

Considerations

Charcoal is a safe and dependable choice for a lot of semi-formal events, and can work at certain formal gatherings. It’s fine regardless of skin tone, but isn’t appropriate at a formal black or white-tie gathering.

The Trendy Options

These days, different colored suits have emerged to break the norm and buck the typical black and navy traditions. These trendy, bolder options are more daring and certainly not suitable for every occasion, but can provide fun alternatives to the classics.

Brown Suit

Much softer and gentler than navy or charcoal, brown suits walk the fine line between semi-formal and casual.

Occasions

This sort of suit works well at more casual events, particularly those during the day, where the softness of the brown is allowed to shine. Casual business meetings can also be a good fit for a brown suit.

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Why?

Brown allows you to stand out from the crowd without going too far. It’s not as bold or out-there as a purple or green suit, for example, but still looks different and refreshing.

Considerations

Brown isn’t the right pick for the most formal events or traditional business meetings. But it can work for many other occasions. Opt for darker shades of brown if you want to appear more formal, and lighter tones for a more casual, relaxed look.

Burgundy Suit

If you want to stand out from the crowd with a different color suit from most other guests, a burgundy suit might be just what you need.

Occasions

Burgundy has a certain level of flair and fashion to it. It can fit nicely at fashion-forward events, as well as cocktail parties and get-togethers with family or friends.

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Why?

Burgundy has the distinct power to look sophisticated, while also being a little out-of-the-ordinary, perfect for men who want to make a statement.

Considerations

With a burgundy suit, you’re bound to attract attention. Make sure you’re ready for that, and don’t add many other colors with pants, shirts, and accessories, or you could risk looking odd.

Green Suit

As noted by Suits Expert, green suits are quite rare, but are slowly emerging as a fun choice for men looking for something different and fresh. Check out our new Hunter Green Suit!

Occasions

You can’t risk wearing a bold, bright color like green at formal gatherings. This style of suit should be exclusively reserved for casual events, cocktail parties, themed parties, or certain relaxed business settings.

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Why?

The beauty of green is that it manages to convey a certain sense of professionalism, despite being an unusual suit color when compared to the classics.

Considerations

As with burgundy, green suits attract attention. You’ll need a certain degree of confidence to pull off a suit like this, and it’s important to select the right shade for your skin tone – olive green often works well.

The Lighter Shades

Finally, we have the lighter shades. These are the lightest, brightest kinds of suits, a stark contrast to the traditionally dark tones of black and charcoal.

Light Gray Suit

A staple of semi-formal men’s attire, a light gray suit has many potential uses.

Occasions

If you’re heading to a daytime or summer wedding or event, light gray is a great go-to. It’s fine for most semi-formal and cocktail parties, too.

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Why?

Light gray feels less formal than dark gray, and lighter tones like this tend to work better during the daytime or outdoors.

Considerations

Light gray works particularly well if you have darker skin. If your skin is quite pale, you may need to switch to a darker shade or a different suit color.

Beige Suit

Beige is a suit color you won’t see or get to use too often. But, when used at the right time, it can make a man feel like a million dollars.

Occasions

Such a light color is only really suitable for outdoor and summery events. Think beach weddings or casual summer parties, for example.

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Why?

Beige suits look quite relaxed and laid-back, with a distinctly casual vibe, still with an air of sophistication. Like other light suit colors, they’re perfect to wear on sunny summer days.

Consideration

This suit color should only be worn during the warmer seasons, like spring or summer. It can easily look out of place at other times of year, and shouldn’t be worn when other male guests will all be wearing darker suits.

White Suit

A white suit is one of the rarest of all, but just like beige, it can work super well with the right kind of circumstances.

Occasions

Destination weddings, tropical vacations, beach weddings, and parties with specific themes are the right times to bust out a white suit.

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Why?

White is a very bold and daring choice. It demands attention, so it’s easy to go overboard with it. However, it’s a natural fit for summertime events, especially beach destination weddings.

Considerations

White suits stain and mark easily, so you have to be extra careful when wearing one. Generally, avoid wearing them to dinners or events that are likely to go on for a long time.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Suit Color

When it comes to men’s suit colors and picking the right one, there are a few key factors that can help you make the best choice. Keep the following factors in mind every time you pick out a new suit or plan your outfit for the next big event.

Personal Style

Of course, your sense of taste and style should always come first when picking out a suit color. You need to feel comfortable and content in your chosen suit, and it needs to reflect your preferences and personality. In other words, there’s no need to force yourself into certain men’s suits colors if they don’t match your style.

Perhaps you have quite a conservative, traditional sense of style, for instance. In that case, the classic colors like black, navy blue, and charcoal gray are perfect for you. Those who are more daring or extravagant with their outfits will easily feel comfortable in the likes of brown and burgundy suits.

Or, perhaps you like to experiment, or even design a suit with colored shirts and ties – in that case, a gray or navy blue suit might be the ideal accompaniment.

Occasion

You’ll also need to consider the kind of occasion or event you’re attending when selecting suit jacket colors. There are a lot of unwritten rules about the ideal men suit colors for specific types of events – navy blue tends to be a good fit for business events and interviews, for instance, while beige is a fine choice for outdoor, summery events.

Before any big occasion, consider the venue, the time of day, the time of year, and the nature of the event. A fancy formal wedding, for example, may have a strict formal dress code. In that case, you’ll need to consider tuxedo and suit rentals from a trusted provider, like Generation Tux. Meanwhile, a casual cocktail party opens the doors for more colorful choices, like burgundy and brown.

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Skin Tone

A man’s skin tone can also inform his choice of suit colors, and certain shades tend to go better with specific skin tones. As noted in Coolist, “When in doubt, always look for healthy contrast between cloth and skin, and suit colors that make your flattering natural tones jump out. Avoid items that tend to land in the same color palette as your own skin.”

That means that if you have darker skin, you’ll find it easier to pull off lighter shades that provide some contrast with your natural tone. Meanwhile, if your skin is lighter, darker colors tend to look better on you. However, there are certain colors, like grey, which tend to work really well regardless of skin tone.

Conclusion

When it comes to picking out a suit, it’s not just about the cut, the fit, and the material. You also have to take color into account. No matter what event you’re attending, there’s always an ideal suit color that can help you look your best.

So remember to consider the three key factors listed above – personal style, occasion, and skin tone – when selecting your suits, and you’ll already be well on the way to looking your best.

Now that you know how to choose which suit color, you can move on to the following topics:

• How should a suit or tuxedo fit?
• How to dress kids for a wedding
• How to stand out from groomsmen
• Online vs in-store suit rental
• Generation Tux vs Men's Wearhouse