When people think about suiting, they often consider two divides: solid-colored suits in conservative colors like navy and grey on one end, and patterns like windowpane, houndstooth and tartan on the other.

But that classification system doesn’t tell the whole story. Some solid-colored suits are anything but ordinary. For one broad example, considered jewel-toned suits. A suit in a jewel-tone like maroon, dark olive, or dark plum may stand out from the pack, but can prove more versatile than you might imagine.

How To Wear Jewel-Toned Suits
The secret to wearing jewel-toned suits is balancing the other elements that make up a suited look. When paired with the right shirt and tie, even a maroon suit can pass muster in a professional environment.

Solids are your friends.
The most simple approach is to keep a shirt and tie solid, as the addition of extra color found in patterns could make pulling off the jeweled-tone look more difficult, particularly for a bold color like maroon. In this case, the conservative combination of a white shirt and a dark, solid tie grounds the more adventurous suit.

Make sure the colors stand out.
When it comes to suits in more vibrant color tones, you don’t want the colors to match. In fact, you want to create a contrast so that the suit’s color isn’t the only element in play. In this example, the light blue shirt, mauve tie and dark olive suit all contrast with one another, preventing any single element from dominating.

Bring in patterns—But make them distinct.
Yes, “solids are your friends” was our first rule. But that isn’t to say patterns are off-limits when it comes to jewel-toned suits: it just means that selecting them takes a little exta care. Instead of something bold, opt with a more subtle pattern, like a blue multi-stripe. Just as colors should stand out, make sure your patterns are distinct from one another: in this example, a striped shirt with a foulard tie.