Shades of Grey

Forget what you’ve been told about “the boring grey suit.” Grey is one of the most versatile colors out there, and even slight variations in shade can suit it to entirely different moods and places. As we’ve mentioned, the grey zone for suits is quite diverse—but for the sake of simplicity, we’re going to break the ultra-wearable color into three main categories: light, mid-gray and charcoal.

How to wear a light grey suit.
A light grey suit is the most casual of the bunch, and a great choice for spring and summer weddings. Its lighter shade ensures that you won’t look as if you’re simply wearing your 9-5 business suit to a social occasion. But unlike brighter colors or pastels the sobriety of grey keeps it versatile and allows it to be worn to more casual offices.

When wearing a light grey suit, avoid choosing a dark dress shirt that could wash out the suit in contrast. Instead, opt for a classic white, light blue or lavender shirt. For an easy business-casual look, wear it with a open-neck patterned shirt and a pocket square,

How to wear a mid-grey suit.
A mid-grey suit quite literally walks the line between the more social-occasion-appropriate light grey suit and the business-minded charcoal. As such, you can consider mid-grey suits to be a match for either scenario.

For added versatility, consider having a mid-grey fabric made into a three-piece suit. When all three parts are worn with a spread collar shirt and a tie, it will score high marks on the formal spectrum. To dress it down, leave the tie and vest at home and match it to a gingham button-down.

How to wear a charcoal or dark grey suit.
If you’ve decided to go full charcoal, your suit will squarely fall into business territory. Once there, you may find it to be one of the most versatile staples in your work-week rotation, pairing with everything from sky-blue sunwashed oxfords to lavender checks. Its more sober, subdued color also makes it a great, safe bet for your first double-breasted suit.