Cloth Colour & Design

Following on from part one of our guide to buying a new suit, which covered everything you need to know about fabric choice, today, in part two, we’re set to explore colours and patterns.

So, what colour should your suit be? I was working with a client only last week who was extremely keen to explore colour, because he wanted to show his own personal flair. All well and good you might think, but when he arrived he was wearing a burgundy suit. Very cool, there’s no denying, but practical? Versatile? I’m not convinced. He wanted me to be honest, so I was – and I hope I’ve reconfigured his thought process slightly.

Firstly, I want to pre-empt what I’m about to say by pointing out that there may well be a time and place in ‘your world’ where a burgundy suit could be an option. It tends to come down to the industry you are working in – for instance, it would be easier to pull a burgundy suit off if you actually work in a creative industry, such as fashion, rather than the corporate or financial sector.

My point is simple: there are other ways to show off your personal style and create an impact. It doesn’t need to be done by making such a dramatic statement through block-colour. Accessorising and an understanding of colour combinations are the real ways to stand out and make an impression, for all the right reasons.

When it comes to business, I always say that clothes should be there to make you look smart and professional, and not be remarked upon. Imagine going to a networking event and being referred to as the guy wearing ‘that tie’ or ‘that suit’. I defer to someone far more informed, Sir Hardy Amies: “A man should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care and then forgotten all about them.” How true.

Business-Appropriate Colours

When creating a professional wardrobe it’s important not to simply buy things ad hoc, but think more strategically. I’ve been asked many a time to help people start from scratch and build a tailoring collection for business, so I like to think I have seen and experienced it all within this realm.