How to Layer Your Tailored Look: Shirt and Suit Pairing Tips
A tailored shirt with a suit must be one of the most common clothing combinations in the world. But does that make it any easier to know how to pair? Absolutely not. There’s a true craft when it comes to layering and that’s why we’ve developed our very own Oscar Hunt shirt and suit combination guide, to assist you in navigating this common - but challenging - feat of dressing.
Here, we’ll break down suit layering tips for common combinations in business and formal attire as well as offering our own take on some classic pairings that have stood the test of time for good reason.
Let’s get into it!
Business Layering Guide for Men
We like to think of a man’s business wardrobe as being built on a core foundation which is a selection of white and pale blue shirts, a collection of ties, and 2-3 suits in navy, charcoal and grey. In most instances, any combination of these pieces will result in a fine - albeit predictable - outfit for the office.
Where the art comes into play is when you push beyond these basics, and start exploring elements like patterned shirts or suits in more seasonal colours like chocolate brown or beige.
When this occurs, our advice is to look for complementary colours. So, in the instance that you’re wearing a taupe coloured suit, you might look to pair it with a periwinkle blue and white striped shirt. This colour provides a strong, contrasting balance to the brown and gray undertones in taupe.
Similarly, if you’re wearing a grey suit, you might look to complement it with a pale pink shirt. The warmth of the pink is the perfect means of offsetting the cooler tones in grey.
When it comes to accessories, our general rule of thumb is to look for a darker coloured tie or pocket square than your shirt, that picks on some of the colours. So, if you’re wearing a mint striped shirt, you might choose a darker emerald tie.
Formal Layering Guide for Men
When it comes to providing tips on wearing a dress shirt under a suit, it’s far more straightforward and for the most part, comes down less to colour and more to the style of the shirt itself. Specifically, when wearing a tuxedo, we always recommend that you wear a true dress shirt (that being one where the placard conceals the buttons or the shirt has stud closures). This small piece of formalwear styling advice elevates a black-tie ensemble and clearly differentiates your shirting from the classic white button down style you might wear in the office.
To learn more about layering shirts and suits or to craft your perfect custom shirt, we invite you to swing by your local showroom or to give us a bell today.