Start with navy if you're buying your first business suit. Charcoal is a good alternative if you prefer grey or your work calls for a more formal look. You don't need four colours straight away. I'd rather help you choose one suit you'll wear regularly than sell you a rotation your calendar doesn't need.
When we're choosing cloth, I want to know where you'll wear it and what you already own. A suit for occasional presentations needs a different place in your wardrobe from one you'll wear to the office every week. Here's how I'd work through the colours with you.
Navy: my starting point
A plain navy suit gives you plenty of room to work with shirts and ties. Start with white or pale blue. For a tie, burgundy is an easy choice; a restrained pattern can work too. You can keep the outfit simple without making every piece the same colour.
Look at the actual cloth rather than choosing from the word “navy”. A very dark navy can look close to black indoors, while a brighter blue makes a stronger impression. For a first suit, I'd usually steer you towards a shade between those extremes.
When we discuss business suits, bring out the shoes and shirts you expect to wear with yours. That's more useful than trying to copy an outfit from a photograph.
Charcoal: a quieter, formal option
I'd put charcoal alongside navy for a business wardrobe, especially if you prefer a sober look for meetings or presentations. A white shirt keeps the combination straightforward. Pale blue works if you'd like less contrast.
You don't have to buy charcoal second just because you've bought navy first. If you rarely wear a suit, your next purchase might be a shirt or another pair of trousers. Add a second suit when you've got a reason to wear it.
Mid-grey: useful variety
Mid-grey is worth considering once you've covered your darker suit needs. I like it with a pale-blue shirt and dark brown shoes, though black shoes are an option if that's what you already wear.
Choose the shade with your office in mind. A medium grey gives you a noticeably different look from charcoal without going as light as a summer suit. If you're considering a check, compare it with a plain cloth first. You may find the colour gives you all the variety you want.
Brown: an optional addition
Brown wouldn't be my default recommendation for your only business suit. It can be a good addition if your workplace gives you room to dress less formally and you genuinely like wearing it.
I'd start by looking at dark chocolate brown with a pale-blue or cream shirt. Lighter tobacco shades draw more attention to the colour itself. Try the cloth beside your face and against your existing clothes before deciding. There's no reason to buy brown just to complete a list.
Colours and finishes to approach carefully
- Black: I'd usually choose navy or charcoal first for general business wear. If black fits your workplace or a specific dress requirement, we can work from that.
- Light grey and beige: I wouldn't rule them out, but I'd ask where you'll wear them. They may suit a relaxed office better than your most formal meetings.
- Noticeable shine: For a business suit, my preference is a cloth with a restrained finish. Look at the sample in daylight as well as under indoor lighting.
Keep patterns manageable
A fine stripe or quiet check can work well, but plain cloth is easier to build around when you're starting out. If your shirts already have patterns, bring one to the consultation so we can see the combination.
A subtle pattern isn't proof of expensive tailoring, and a bold one isn't automatically wrong. Choose something you're comfortable wearing at work, rather than something that only looks interesting on a sample.
Plan around what you'll wear
Our two-piece custom suits start at $697 CAD before tax. Delivery is 3 to 4 weeks from measurement, so leave time before the meeting or event you need it for. All sales are final; let's settle the colour and details before you order.
I'm Rajat Nagpal, and I run Suited Booted & Co. from Langley. We don't have a showroom. We come to your home or office throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, with no travel fee anywhere in Metro Vancouver, including the North Shore.
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