Black suit + Dress Shirt + Tie Combinations.

[Rail Tracer]

I'm a bit unsure of how I want to pair blues with a solid black suit. I've seen some of these guides online that often pair blue with lighter suits.... which I don't have.

The only thing I have close to a blue is a pool dress-shirt with a silver tie, both are solid. I do also have a striped tie consisting of blue/black/grey that is specifically for wearing with a white dress-shirt..... but white goes with practically everything.

Everything else that I have are in bolder Red/Maroon/Burgundy color and similar tie colors (striped with other colors like black, navy, and white.) The thing is, I don't want to wear these all the time because it brings a little too much attention in a room full of people that usually wear a bit more muted colors (note: shades of blue, white, pinks bordering white.)

I'm unsure of striking the right balance of not overdoing it (akin to black suit-white shirt-black tie.) To the more bold colors I've been heading to lately. Would a solid dress shirt, like this color along with a striped tie with blues and black be nice but not overdoing it?

 

[Beorn]

Where are you wearing the suit and what country are you in?

 

[Rail Tracer]

Where are you wearing the suit and what country are you in?

The U.S., for more professional reasons like work and (future) interviews.

 

[Beorn]

What profession?

 

[Rail Tracer]

What profession?

An office environment like faxing, typing, transcribing, organizing files.

Basically an assistant.

 

[Beorn]

An office environment like faxing, typing, transcribing, organizing files.

Basically an assistant.

Stick with a white shirt with a more subdued striped tie.

As soon as you can get a grey suit for for future job interviews and semi-formal social events. Generally black is for funerals and weddings, but don't sweat it for now I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[Coriolis]

I'm unsure of striking the right balance of not overdoing it (akin to black suit-white shirt-black tie.) To the more bold colors I've been heading to lately. Would a solid dress shirt, like this color along with a striped tie with blues and black be nice but not overdoing it?

My work wardrobe is almost entirely black and grey and dark jeweltones. I don't wear ties (not a guy), but my dress outfit is a black suit with dark red, green, purple, or teal turtleneck or blouse and simple jewelry. I find it avoids the sharp contrast of black/white or black/light color, while being a little less intense than all black. For example:

This is the lightest I would go for a shirt:

The last fellow doesn't have a suit and tie. It's just to show another color I commonly wear with black. Pair with a Patterned tie very close to the shirt color.

Yes, you can branch out and get a gray suit eventually, if you like that or just want the variety. I've heard the "black is for funerals/weddings" as well,or just "black suits are too intense". I don't put much stock in rules of thumb like this. If you find good combinations for your black suit, you will stand out in a good way, especially if you are on the young side. Another important factor to consider is your own personal looks, and whether black or gray is more flattering for your coloring, etc.

 

[Rail Tracer]

Stick with a white shirt with a more subdued striped tie.

As soon as you can get a grey suit for for future job interviews and semi-formal social events. Generally black is for funerals and weddings, but don't sweat it for now I'm sure you'll be fine.

Yeah, the black suit and pants is really the only suit that I have so far, but I want it to be less contrasty, but still be professional enough.. I do plan on getting something like a dark(ish) grey suit once I get established.

So a subdued striped blue tie, with blue black and white, would work? Or would that be too much attention to detail?

My work wardrobe is almost entirely black and grey and dark jeweltones. I don't wear ties (not a guy), but my dress outfit is a black suit with dark red, green, purple, or teal turtleneck or blouse and simple jewelry. I find it avoids the sharp contrast of black/white or black/light color, while being a little less intense than all black. For example:

This is the lightest I would go for a shirt:

The last fellow doesn't have a suit and tie. It's just to show another color I commonly wear with black. Pair with a Patterned tie very close to the shirt color.

Yes, you can branch out and get a gray suit eventually, if you like that or just want the variety. I've heard the "black is for funerals/weddings" as well,or just "black suits are too intense". I don't put much stock in rules of thumb like this. If you find good combinations for your black suit, you will stand out in a good way, especially if you are on the young side. Another important factor to consider is your own personal looks, and whether black or gray is more flattering for your coloring, etc.

I actually like the first and second images (I think I may try something similar to the second image.) They look subdued enough (at least to me) to pass.

Most people that see me wearing the black suit think I looked awesome, even when I pair a maroon/burgundy shirt(solid) and tie(striped with black) combination (which is pretty loud already.) Of course, I only got that combination while I was mixing and testing tie and shirt combinations with the suit. With what it was worth, that maroon shirt and tie matched without being too contrasty like black and white (but not something close to black/black or white/white either,) which is what I liked.

 

[Coriolis]

Most people that see me wearing the black suit think I looked awesome, even when I pair a maroon/burgundy shirt(solid) and tie(striped with black) combination (which is pretty loud already.) Of course, I only got that combination while I was mixing and testing tie and shirt combinations with the suit. With what it was worth, that maroon shirt and tie matched without being too contrasty like black and white (but not something close to black/black or white/white either,) which is what I liked.

That sounds like a good combination.

 

[Beorn]

Most people that see me wearing the black suit think I looked awesome, even when I pair a maroon/burgundy shirt(solid) and tie(striped with black) combination (which is pretty loud already.) Of course, I only got that combination while I was mixing and testing tie and shirt combinations with the suit. With what it was worth, that maroon shirt and tie matched without being too contrasty like black and white (but not something close to black/black or white/white either,) which is what I liked.

Eh, screw the rules. It will be one of your first jobs, right? If you have a combo you like and feel confident in then just wear that. You'll have plenty of future interviews where you can stick to more conservative options when you're more comfortable with the process.

 

[Qlip]

For me, a black suit and a burgandy shirt, or a bold blue shirt is a little too casino gangster or "night at the club" for me. But really, if you're in a suit, you're probably ahead of a lot of people out there. Nothing wrong with it.

 

[Beargryllz]

The other day I wore: black shirt, black pants, black tie, black belt, black socks, black shoes. I don't own a solid white tie, but I'm convinced that would have looked awesome, like something out of a comic book.