What color of suit?
 

I'm a sophmore in studying in the field of accounting. I have a presentation that I have to give. With that, I have to go buy a business suit. I was thinking black was the color to buy, but of the three shops that I visited yesterday, I was told that black was not generally acceptable for most occasions, and that I should either go with blue or grey. This suprises me, it always seemed like black would be a good basic way to go, but it sounds like a black suit is "out there". Is there anyone with suit buying experice who can explain this to me? Thanks and happy benzing.

Depends on your skin tone, hair color, and maybe just a little on your eye color.

Depends on whether you're high or low contrast.

What are you? Black suits look good in some, not on others.

Never, ever, wear a tie that "matches" your shirt color.

My skin toan if fair. My hair is brown, and my eyes are blue. I'm 5.5 and fairly slim.

Thanks again for the responce.

You can start with a dark greyish brown suit. Try a charcoal grey pinstripe or an oxford grey sharkskin. The key here is to direction attention to the face and get your face to light up. You do not want to be a mass of color without features.

If you pick a patterned suit you can wear a patterned tie or shirt, but it's more probable that you will get a patterned tie and solid shirt, so, pick a pattern that's different in size than your suit.

You're probably a low contrast guy and it's hard to say without really seeing you, but with the proper colors you can really bring forward your face and eyes, which is what folks should be noticing.

I'm trying to find a website for you but all the models are tan and have dark hair.

I prefer Mossy Oak camouflage.

In a conservative business setting, nothing is more appropriate than a navy blue suit.

Stick with a solid white shirt, button down at the collar.

You can never go wrong with the above.

Fashion is a very personal thing, but I would suggest a point collar instead of a button-down for a suit. I would save the button down for slacks, with or without a sport coat or tie.

I agree with the other comments about black, usually it is too formal for anything but funerals and maybe dinner galas, although some people (African Americans and Asians in my experience) can wear it with a little bit more flexibility.

As a former headhunter Gotta agree with Navy Blue nothing else. White shirt. When you buy the suit ask the guy to pick out a tie for you. DOn't wear white socks, or slip on shoes. Stay away from Neru jacket too! (:

IMO blue suit means nothing venture nothing gained. When I first started out I got the normal dark blue, brown suits because someone said I had to have them. I ended up not wearing either because the color combos never worked for me. Not everyone looks good in blue, and dark blue is really the worst colors if you're fair haired and fair skinned. Unless you're a judge or undertaker, there's no reason these days to stick with "traditional" colors no matter what business you're in.

Stay away from the preppie look if you don't go to school out east, ditto on the socks and remember that the thicker the sock the less formal. Black Oxfords work for most occasions if you're even thinking of shoes right now.

Your goal, whatever color combination you decide to get, should be to wear colors which highlight your features and make people focus on you when you speak. You should be formal enough to convey authority without calling too much attention to your dress.

Where's the hat?

I am a trial lawyer (a prosecutor), so part of my job involves gaining the jury's trust and confidence.

black and browns are not very good colors. They invoke the wrong kinds of associations. (Brown = Hitler's Youth and Black = Mafia).

You cannot go wrong with blue or grey. Light pinstripes are nice in both grey and blue suits. White shirt or light blue shirt. Conservative ties.

President Bush, regardless of where you stand on the political fence, is a very good dresser. Watch what he wears and go for it. Governor Arnold is a Hollywood type, so his style of dress is too "out there." Don't imitate him until after you become rich and sucessful.

Remember, you want to gain people's trust and confidence. You are not out to make a fashion statement.

Good luck

If you are going to own one suit, get thee to Brooks Brothers.

You're looking for the Navy 2 button suit. Not three and god forbid 4 button. Black lace up Oxfords or toe caps. White point collar shirt, button downs are for sportcoats.

If you don't have a BB around you are looking for Hart Shaefner Marx or Hickey Freeman.

Don't take chances and don't try to make a fashion statement.

Black suits are not business appropriate.

I attend Rutgers University where I currently have a class on business attire, interviews and anything related to that topic. We were told that navy blue works the best in a professional business setting. I have also been doing many internships at the big companies in New York City and for the most part people did wear navy blue suits. (Grey was also a color of choice).

This is getting to be a pretty gay thread...............

My 1st interview..a looong time ago, I made sure I had my Grateful Dead Skull-n-Roses t shirt under my white shirt, and navy suit!

What the hell, I'll chime in.

I'd say blue would work on you. A nice navy with a soft pin stripe (slim guys can wear them too) in a 2 button probably with a slightly lower than average gorge. It's a pretty traditional "English" cut. You see the likes of Hugh Grant wearing that cut. Get the suit properly tailored. It is easy to spot off the rack fit and finish. I really dislike oxford shirts and don't own one, nor do I own wing tips. You can have the gent that fits you pick out your tie or you can get a fairly modern pink/light blue stripe or solid (all silk, don't get those acrylic blend ties). It will make just enough of a statement while bringing out some color in your face or your eyes. Obviously, if you tend to get a little flushed don't wear the pink. White shirt is the safe bet if you're new at "dressing" yourself. I prefer a more modern square toe lace up from Kenneth Cole or the like. I agree with leaving the bling behind, and if you don't own a dress watch, pick one up. I'm also a proponent of french cuffs, though you might not be ready for that. If you go that route, a very understated cuff link will go a long way in leaving an impression of success and savvy.
If you really want to have a put together look, find a good tailor in your area that makes a nice suit. Nothing beats bespoke. And pick up a suit brush and brush the coat every so often. And avoid dry cleaning too frequently as it wears the fibers.
Best of luck

And if you have one, depending on the occasion, you can leave one of the buttons on the cuffs "accidently" unbuttoned. ;)

If you're ever in Hong Kong, do yourself a favor and get yourself several suits made at the cost of one bespoke US made suit, even with the cost of airfare tossed in.

I still disagree with the one size "navy blue fits all" idea. I really think different color combos work different for people. Isn't that some variation of the different strokes mantra?

Exthcuthe me, we prefer you thay metrosecthual?

Get a bright yellow one...with white shoes.....stand out in the crowd. :D

Oh...so THAT's what GQ stands for!!!

NO black suits, unless you work at a mortuary.

NO brown suits, particularly the lighter shades of brown. Dark brown is OK in a nice glen plaid.

A dark blue suit is your best bet.

NO suit pants without cuffs. ONLY single vent suit jackets. No vent is a more euro look. Double vents are in cheaper suits and never look right. As someone said, ONLY 2 button suits. Not 3, not 5, not 4, but TWO buttons.

The only things shiny would be your tie and your shoes.

NO shiny shirts. NO dark colored shirts, particularly with a lighter color tie. No blended shirts, only 100% cotton. Crisp, starched white, light blue, sometimes light pink shirts. NOTHING goes into your hermetically sealed flat shirt pocket. Shirts with stripes are tricky to match ties with.

Ties are very personal. Stick with traditional ties, like solid, stripes, dots, paisleys, and small designs. A general rule of thumb, if the tie is a pattern of figures (cats, birds, horses) that you recognize, skip it.

All this being said, dress pretty much as your peers do, but keep your eye on what the guys next rung up on the ladder wear.


glenmore

Gotta have cuffs with pleated pants.

My vote is for no cuffs.

I can't remember the last time I saw a guy wearing pants with cuffs. And I'm one of the guys who regularly wears a navy suit, white 100% 2 x 2 pinpoint cotton Nordstrom's button-down collar dress shirt, paisley or stripe neck-tie, with Allen Edmond's burgundy toe cap dress shoes.

You ought to see how handsome I look.:stooge_mo

So nobody wears pleated pants anymore?

Does this mean I toss all my suits with cuffs?

What about plaid suits and white shoes and belt? are they passe'

Not in Miami

Maybe it is in modern suits. But, and my English tailor concurs, the 2 button is the more traditional English cut. Unless, you are referring to the third button that is high on the lapel and normally unseen. In which case I appologize for correcting you. But, if you go by the standard closures, it is 2 button. Check Ben Silver or the like for some info on this and several other cuts.

http://www.bensilver.com/style04/about_SuitsJackets.htm

Just got back from lunch and my informal survey of cuffed/uncuffed pants in downtown Los Angeles. Standing at the elevator, with 6 guys, not one pair of uncuffed suit pants. Working to and from lunch, same thing, not one pair of uncuffed business pants.

Business pants are cuffed. End of discussion. <g>

With business wear, there is no in and out. There is no in, then out and then in again. It just IS.

This comment from a critical Amazon book review of an old book "Dress for Success" makes sense:

"It just makes sense that those whose style of dress fits in with their coworkers and clients will do better than those whose style does not. "

Suginami, I like Aldens.

glenmore

I believe cuffs are out, but all my pants are pleated.

I have never worn flat front pants. I think they are a fad that will one day disappear.

A classic Glen plaid in taupe, gray, or brown is fine.

White shoes and belts should only be worn to church on Sundays, and only with the matching hat.

I'm not familiar with Aldens, but I checked out their website, and they look like a nice shoe.

I was told by Allen Edmonds that they were the last bench made dress shoe.

I've tried every shoe, and I've found that the Allen Edmonds fit me like a glove. I'm a size 10 EEE.

I've got four pairs: the burgundy cap toe, black wing tips, a pair of navy / dark brown tassle loafers, and a pair of lace-up medium brown oiled leather casual shoes.

Aldens probably a step up from AE, but AE makes a good shoe. From there your probably looking at Grensen, Crockett & Jones, or J Weston. After that just have em custom made.

Business attire is never "in" or "out", it's just a standard, timeless uniform. You can rotate in trendy and wear the occasional sack suit or whatever but for a first and only suit, stick with the traditional.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

How do you keep up on clothes with two kids?

Check out englishcut.com. It has lots of useful info even for us non-dandies.

Only if you wear it with an orange fur coat and a green fedora.:D

I think cuffs are appropriate for pleated pants. The cuffs help maintain the drape of the pants. No cuffs are appropriate for flat-front pants.

But, then again I never wear button-down collars or two-button jackets. And box-toed shoes. So maybe I'm weird. :)

I wasn't directing him there to get a custom suit. Just to see a few pictures of some rather well put together ensembles.

Actually you can go to those department store trunk shows. Neiman Marcus and Saks has them. You don't have to get anything there, but if you have 4k for a suit almost anything's possible. Nordstrom's also has them, no hor d'oeuvres there though.

following this thread tells me one thing.......some of you guys need some real he-man diversions. This whole thing wreaks of Meterosexual behaviour.

Wrasslin', how about wrasslin'?

me likes some wresslin...i dun drive out to da woods in my camo S10 Blazer wid a lift kit...and den i wrassle me some deer lovin...

On a regular basis when I'm in the office, I wear slacks and a polo shirt or button up shirt.

When I have a business meeting or presentation, I wear a suit, but upon arrival at home, I quickly peel off the suit, and jump into my sweats.

Maybe prices have changed, but the last pair of Allen Edmonds dress shoes I purchased were about $325.00, while the latest pair of casuals were about $285.00.

I've always been a cowboy when it comes to civilized attire. You mention dark blue is a no-no for fair skin. I'm a towhead, very fair skin. My dad was a redhead.

What colors are usually best for purt near albinos?

When I came home from Alaska I hadn't shaved or had a haircut. I was wearing beat up old rubber mining boots and Carhart bib overalls that were covered with mud, grease, and diesel fuel. When the women saw me they swooned.:D

The french collar/cuff is where its at...
 

http://www.mediacircus.net/snatch___2.jpg


Like Turkish all the way to the left....

Rock the tweed or tan...with a light blue with white collar and a nice tie...

Looks real nice...I am a sophomore business student myself and I always rock out the Turkish look...but I have the shaved head too...

I like to relax in my Costco jeans and my flannel shirts.......:D

Bally is my favorite brand. Those Mezlans are pretty nice too at 2/3 the price of Ferragamo.

Then there's the OJ shoe, Bruno Magli. They all have a big Bruno Magli stamp on the bottom so when you step in dirt people know what you're wearing. :D

Good for you! Did you know that the Costco CEO only makes 500-600k a year? :D

beat the $26 million our CEO got when its everyone else who suffered through the mess Bernard Ebers created. THousands lost their pensions adn/or jobs....he gets a $26 million bonus....


Those Kirkland jeans are the only ones I like other than Levis.