Black or Blue : What Color Should Your First Suit Be?

One goal of this blog is to help my readers get the most out of their wardrobes. How to take their existing clothes, and get the maximum amount of value from them.

Today I want to share with you some valuable information about a common question that comes up in the menswear community:

Today I want to answer that question. And to keep things simple I’ll limit our options to Black and Navy Blue.

Note : As I write this post I’m well aware that many of you will already have multiple suits. So to include you in the conversation today, I’ll also write from another angle.

The Black Suit

Pros

• The peak of formality
• Great for when you need to be taken seriously
• Ideal for somber occasions such as a funeral or memorial service
• The color gives a “slimming” effect to the wearer making them look thinner than they actual are
• Somewhat easy to pair with other colors as black goes with most other colors

Cons

• Black can be the “go-to” color for occasions such as funerals, but is not the best option for other ocassions
• Because black is such a dark color, it sometimes proves to be too much of a contrast to the other colors it’s paired with.
• Black suits aren’t great options for dinner dates, parties, weddings , or interviews.
• The sophistication of this color limits it’s effectiveness outside of very somber occasions

The Navy Suit

Pros

• It’s color allows it to be dressed up or down. This is because it’s just dark enough to look sophisticated, while not so dark that it’s limited
• This color suit is often seen at weddings. In like manner it’s the perfect color to wear when attending a wedding
• The right shade of navy makes this suit wearable to a interview, lunch date, dinner, or a work party
• The suit can be broken up into separates and now becomes a blazer and slacks.

Cons

• Picking the right shade of Navy can be tricky in general
• Lighter shades of Navy may be harder to wear to more serious occasions
• Darker shades of Navy cause the color not to work for more light-hearted occasions

The Verdict

The Winner: Navy Blue

I strongly believe that a Navy Suit is both the first suit any man should buy, as well as the number 1 choice for a man if he only had one suit in his wardrobe.

The key to getting the most out of this suit is finding the right shade, and getting it properly tailored. I’ll share with you some of my tips for a great suit.

• 100% Wool
• Slightly darker shade of navy for versatility
• 3.5” notch lapels
• 2” cuffs on the trousers

If you don’t already own a Navy Suit, I encourage you to add one to your wardrobe soon. If you do already own one, ensure it has been tailored properly.

I hope you have found this post to be very hopeful. Until next time Gents!

Posted By: Jeffrey Chark · In: Style Talk