The scene is set. They are ready to perform at the next wedding reception. His gray suit was carefully straightened and ironed. His impressive burgundy cap fingers were carefully polished and set aside. Heck, even his belt was selected for the occasion. But there is one glaring omission. Forget it. Two. Two complete omissions. The shirt. And the tie. Without those two pieces of clothing, you might as well roll your suit around a mannequin and call it a day. Which begs the question. What shirt and tie combinations go well with a gray suit?
In addition to the navy blue suit, the gray suit is an absolute staple in the men's wardrobe. More than a traditional suit, a gray suit can be paired with a variety of shirt and tie options, making it very versatile.
Figuring out which shirt and tie to go with your gray suits should seem like an easy enough decision, but it can often confuse even the best of us. With a wide range of gray suit options, what shirt and tie do we wear according to the suit color, the occasion, the time of year and how we want to look? In this complete guide, we'll cover shirt and tie combinations with a gray suit!
Like navy blue and blue suits, gray suits come with a wide range of options and a relatively broad concept until you break them down into narrower categories depending on the occasion, time of year and the type of look you want. want. Consider the differences between light, medium gray, and charcoal gray suits, and you'll begin to develop an understanding of which suits work best in which environment. Against the neutral background of an impressive gray suit, add a variety of shirts and accessories, and their combinations are limitless.
Given the continued strong interest in gray suits, there is essentially no environment where the gray suit is not allowed.
light gray blazer
While not strictly a suit, a light gray blazer is a great place to start this theme! A light gray blazer is very versatile for everyday wear (especially away from the office) and makes the perfect smart-casual statement.
A light gray blazer lets you dress formal without trespassing too seriously into formal wear territory. Pair your light gray blazer with chinos, a dark denim shirt, and a pair of white loafers or sneakers, and not only will you be better dressed than your contemporaries in terms of mixing and interweaving formal wear with streetwear, but you'll have people twice as well. -takes!
Looking to spice up your light gray blazer? How about a knit tie for more effect?
Please do not hesitate to browse the impressive selection of The Dark Knotsilk knitted ties.
light gray suits
Light gray suits are the perfect attire for semi-formal events, especially outdoors. Light gray suits are extremely versatile, giving you the option of teaming them with a lighter pastel tie for breezy events like a summer beach wedding, or a darker tie for something more formal like dinner at a country Club.
light gray suit withThe Dark Knot's Cazenovia Foulard Lila Seidenkrawatte!
medium gray suits
In between the light gray and charcoal gray suit is his medium gray suit (commonly known as just “gray”!). The medium gray is the most versatile of all your suit options, as it can be worn across the entire dress code spectrum (with the exception of black tie or more formal events).
A medium gray plaid suit perfectly complemented by!
charcoal gray suit
As the grandfather of gray suits, the charcoal suit often comes to mind first when thinking about putting on the perfect suit. A charcoal gray suit is dark enough to wear for business occasions as well as more formal occasions like presentations or funerals. A charcoal suit is a must, as is a navy blue suit. While a navy blue suit often makes the wearer look younger, a charcoal gray suit can elevate your appearance to a more mature individual!
A classic anthracite suit. courtesy ofwww.hespokestyle.com
Combine white shirt and tie with gray suit
While a variety of shirt colors pair well with a gray suit, your classic white shirt is a timeless bet that always pays dividends. Turns out, it's one of the surest options for a cohesive, stylish look, and it gives you the chance to tie the entire ensemble together (no pun intended) with the accessories of your choice.
charcoal gray suit
If you want to create a sharp, formal look, pairing your charcoal suit and white shirt with a black tie is the way to go. The result will be an elegant look with a subtle twist on your traditional black suit and tie!
You want to spice up your ensemble. How about opting for a darker tie, in a solid color or with a repeating geometric pattern (foulard)? We suggest a darker shade to match the formality of the charcoal suit (we would normally reserve lighter colored ties for the spring/summer months, with a lighter gray suit as we will see below).
A charcoal gray suit and white shirt paired with The Dark Knot's!
A solid or patterned tie in navy or burgundy would work best! These darker ties work particularly well for late night wedding reception or cocktail dresses.
Click here to view the exquisite selection of The Dark Knotnavy blue silk ties
Click here to see the impressive selection of The Dark Knotburgundy silk ties
medium gray suit
Looking for something classy but a little less serious. How about opting for a white shirt to go with your medium gray or light gray suits and pairing it with a standard blue or olive tie for added effect?
A medium gray plaid suit and white shirt complemented perfectly by!
light gray suit
Pair for spring and summer outdoor events, such as a beach wedding, a white shirt with your medium or light gray suit and a pastel tie to match the season and setting.
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Light gray suit perfectly matches withThe Dark Knot's Hudson Foulard Blaue Seidenkrawatte!
Combine a blue shirt and tie with a gray suit
A light blue shirt goes perfectly with several of his gray suits.
charcoal gray suit
Going for something more formal? The charcoal gray suit is the perfect backdrop for a pale blue shirt, creating a striking contrast.
Pair with a solid navy blue or burgundy silk tie for added effect. A navy tie paired with your blue shirt creates a more monochromatic feel, while a burgundy tie creates greater contrast. Whether you're dressing for your next wedding reception or cocktail event, a combination of charcoal suit, light blue shirt and navy or burgundy tie will always do the trick.
Charcoal gray suit paired with a light blue shirt and navy blue silk tie. courtesy of wwww.hespokestyle.com
medium gray suit
You want to dress up for a social networking event. How about the powder blue shirt with a medium gray suit and a slightly chic tie to spice up the look? An olive green or dark purple tie will really make you stand out and impress.
As olive green and violet are considered the colors closest to blue on the color wheel, they bring a sense of familiarity with your ensemble (as opposed to red or burgundy, which create more contrast).
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A medium gray suit with a light blue shirt and purple tie! courtesy ofwww.lookastic.com
light gray suit
Going to a country club party or summer beach wedding? How about a powder blue shirt with your light gray suit complemented by a pastel colored tie, for example? B. a light pink or light green silk tie with animal print? Alternatively, you can opt for a lighter colored silk paisley tie (cream/light pink/light grey).
Or opt for the recent resurgence of the horizontal striped tie and opt for a silk knit tie for the ultimate smart casual look!
To view The Dark Knot's range of animal print silk ties, clickhere.
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A light gray suit and a light blue striped shirt go perfectly with a silk tie! courtesy ofwww.lookastic.com
Pink shirt and tie combinations with gray suit
Pastel pink shirts go perfectly with your gray suits because of the level of contrast. Not only does a pastel pink shirt work particularly well for contrast, but it can also serve to warm up the gray color and add pizzazz to your look, rather than the white and blue shirts.
charcoal gray suit
Pair your pink with a charcoal suit for your next wedding reception? How about adding a solid colored or navy blue silk tie for added effect. Alternatively, a different neutral shade such as a brown scarf or patterned tie would work particularly well and help balance out the lighter elements of the pink (a lighter pastel shirt though!).
Selection of Dark Knot Ties can be viewedhere.
Dark Knot brown tie selection can be previewedhere.
A charcoal gray pinstripe suit and light pink shirt are perfectly complemented by this extravagant navy blue silk sailboat tie!
medium gray suit
Wearing a medium gray suit to a networking event or dinner? Try pairing this pastel pink shirt with a navy blue or burgundy silk tie. Alternatively, you could opt for something a little more eye-catching, like a B. an olive green tie (creates a great contrast, with the earthy tones of the olive green tie complementing the light pink of the shirt perfectly) or a purple tie!
A medium gray suit and light pink shirt are perfectly complemented by this exquisite burgundy-textured solid tie. courtesy ofwww.vintagetopia.com
light gray suit
Looking to add some color and fun to your next Kentucky Derby Dress Day or summer beach wedding? Try pairing your light pink shirt with a fun animal print motif, a silk knit tie, or a lighter color printed silk tie to create that laid-back yet smart and sophisticated look.
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To view The Dark Knot's range of silk paisley ties, clickhere.
The above suggestions apply not only to solid color shirts, but also to patterned shirts. When pairing shirts and ties with your gray suits, opt for a striped or plaid shirt and a solid or patterned tie for maximum impact. The key is to choose a shirt with narrow spacing within the pattern (for example, a thin striped or micro plaid shirt) with a wider tie spacing (larger spacing of the tie pattern, for example, a silk or paisley tie).
Sufficient spacing between the tie and shirt patterns is essential to create the perfect contrast. Without a different standard distance, the overall image has an irritating effect on the viewer. Color and pattern combinations should always allow for some degree of contrast so your tie will stand out against your shirt and suit without a strong clash of colors and patterns.
No smart suit is complete without the right footwear. When deciding which shoes to pair your gray suit with, consider the following based on the shade of gray:
Light gray suit and shoe combinations
While gray suits are, on average, just as versatile as navy blue suits, light gray suits fall further down the formality spectrum. Because these suits can be worn in a variety of settings, and because they are lower on the formal spectrum, these suits can be worn with black, beige, or brown shoes!
courtesy ofwww.pinterest.com
Medium gray suit and shoe combinations
Medium gray suits fall somewhere between light gray suits and charcoal gray suits in terms of formality. Therefore, they are best worn with brown, dark brown or black shoes. Beige/tan shoes should be avoided in favor of medium or dark brown shoes. As a general rule, it's best to opt for shoe colors that are in the same dark range as your suit/pants, or one shade darker.
courtesy ofwww.quora.com
Anthracite gray suit and shoe combinations
Charcoal gray suits are best worn with darker colored shoes due to their formal nature. Therefore, charcoal gray suits are best paired with shoes that are black, oxblood, or significantly darker browns.
Please note that regular or beige shoes with charcoal suits should be avoided at all costs. Since plain or brown shoes are less formal, they usually don't pair well with a charcoal suit. Therefore, plain black shoes like Oxford Cap Toes (see below) are the best choice. Also, oxblood/burgundy shoes or a rich chocolate brown also work really well.
If you choose to combine brown shoes with your charcoal suit, it's best to opt for a darker pair to keep the suit formal! courtesy ofwww.pinterest.com
While you can safely wear a gray suit to any type of event, from cocktail parties, business meetings, weddings and glamorous sporting events like the Kentucky Derby, there are a few tips to keep in mind when accessorizing your gray suits:
- Gray suits and accessories definitely go together. Think of incorporating a combination watch, pocket square with lapel flower or tie bar!
- For metallic accents like tie pins, lapel pins, or cufflinks, it's best to stick with silver, white, or gold.
Well that was a lot of information to digest! Below is a summary of the main points covered:
- Gray suits are extremely versatile and can be worn for a variety of occasions, from glamorous sporting events like the Kentucky Derby to everyday work, presentations, cocktail parties and wedding receptions.
- The gray suit you choose will largely depend on the type of occasion you are dressing for.
- Light gray suits are best suited for less formal settings like business meetings. a country club party or a summer beach wedding.
- Medium gray suits are the most versatile and can be worn to everyday work or to your next cocktail party.
- Charcoal gray suits are the most formal and most reserved for environments where you really want to impress. Rock a charcoal suit for your next promotion to ensure a corporate presentation or fancy wedding reception!
- White shirts go well with all gray suits. However, they look particularly good with an anthracite-colored suit. Pair your white shirts with a navy or burgundy tie when wearing a charcoal suit. If you're wearing a medium gray suit, opt for a neutral tone like a brown tie, something with visual interest like a scarf tie. Go for something more casual in a light gray suit, like a navy blue suit. A pastel or cream colored tie - suitable for an occasion like a beach wedding!
- Light blue shirts go great with any gray suit! A blue shirt and charcoal suit combination would be perfectly complemented with a navy blue or burgundy tie, resulting in a more elegant look. A blue shirt and medium gray suit would look even more striking with a slightly chic tie, like an olive green or purple tie! Finally, if you're rocking your blue shirt with a light gray suit for a less formal occasion, try opting for an animal print silk tie or a silk mesh tie!
- Pink shirts also go very well with gray suits. A navy blue or burgundy tie would go perfectly with a pink shirt and charcoal suit, while a neutral shade like a brown tie would look great with a medium gray suit. As above, if you are pairing a light pink shirt with a light gray suit, opt for a more playful tie, eg. B. an animal print silk tie or a silk mesh tie for extra effect!
- Light gray suits are casual and go best with beige, brown or black shoes.
- Medium gray suits, which are in the middle of the formality spectrum between light gray and charcoal suits, are best worn with brown, dark brown, or black shoes.
- Charcoal gray suits, which are inherently the most formal (in the gray suit spectrum) are best worn with a darker shade of brown, oxblood/burgundy or black shoes!
- When complementing your gray suits with tie rods, lapel pins or cufflinks, try using metallic silver or white tones for a polished look.
And that's a wrap for this one! We hope you had as much fun reading it as we did writing it!
FAQs
What color shirt and tie go with a grey suit? ›
In general, a grey suit will always look good with a crisp white shirt and a black tie.
What shirts match with a grey suit? ›A grey suit and navy shirt, or a grey suit and blue shirt, are great options for formal and semi-formal events. Blue is certainly one of the best choices when it comes to deciding what shirt to wear with a grey suit. Blue perfectly complements grey and helps to add a clean and fresh look.
What color tie goes best with a light grey suit? ›A light grey suit is best paired with brighter colors so that your outfit will stand out. For example, this look works well with ties of brick red, light blue, or even yellow because they are eye-catching colors that can't go wrong.
What shoes and ties go with a grey suit? ›- For formal events, wear a grey suit with a white, blue or pink shirt.
- Patterned shirts can work with a grey suit to add extra interest.
- Wear black, brown or burgundy shoes with a grey suit.
- Add colour to your suit with accessories such as a pocket square or tie.
Think of a grey suit as a workhorse investment and wardrobe essential that will carry you through many stylish moments. One style stumper that often arises is the debate on whether to wear black or brown shoes with grey suits. Well, the answer to this question is that both are actually good options!
What color shirt goes with grey suit for wedding? ›Gray wedding suits pair well with a shirt in a lighter color, such as a white dress shirt or light blue. If you want to add some brighter colors to your ensemble, opt for lilac or soft pink.
Should tie be darker than suit? ›You should try to find a tie that matches the vibrancy and tone of both your jacket and trousers. It's not a hard-and-fast rule — and, if your suit is lightly-coloured, your tie should still be darker. So try to judge each case individually, but know that your tie should always be complementary.
Is it OK to wear brown shoes with a grey suit? ›A dark charcoal suit and brown shoes won't always look somber, but they will always look classy. So this is your grey suit, brown shoe pairing to bring out as a default. The fancier the event, the darker you should go. Always darken your shoes with your suit and up the formality of the shoe style as appropriate.
What color shoes should men wear with a grey suit? ›Gray suits pair well with a variety of colors including black, lighter brown or camel. Charcoal suits look best with black or dark burgundy shoes.
How formal is a grey suit? ›A light gray suit is one hard-working suit. It does the heavy lifting of casual to semi-formal and everything in between. Light gray's best use is for more casual settings; business casual and smart-casual. However, with the proper shoes, shirt, and tie, it can pass for semi-formal.
Can a man wear a grey suit to a formal wedding? ›
Can grooms wear gray or charcoal to their wedding? Absolutely! If the bride and groom both agree on the color, wearing a gray or charcoal suit (and even a tuxedo) is a suitable option for all weddings.
What does a grey suit say about you? ›Grey has a look of confidence and experience. If you are graduating from college and you want to look like it's not your first rodeo grey would be a great choice. Grey is neutral and goes with every skin tone, so it is very simple to add because you don't have to think in the morning when you are getting dressed.
Can I wear black shirt with grey suit? ›A grey suit paired with a black shirt is a stylish option for formal affairs. The combination creates a sleek look and striking contrast between lighter and darker hues. Perfect for nights when you want to stand out, this sharp outfit is an edgy alternative to a standard black suit.
Should your tie match your shirt or suit? ›The Rules of Matching Ties to Suits
Always be sure to keep this pointer in mind: Match your tie to your clothes, not your clothes to your tie. There are two kinds of colors in any ensemble, the core color and accent colors.
Business Formal
The business professional look comes with a few givens. You should be in a formal suit, dress shoes and collared shirt. To fit with this look we recommend to staying conservative with your ties. Colors should be neutral (black, grey or dark blue).
Most dark-toned ties will work perfectly with a charcoal suit. Lean into deep bronzes, burgundies, and plums to bring a little warmth to the table, or keep it cool with a classic navy or forest green. A brighter red can also work but this will depend on where you are wearing the suit.
Why do men wear brown shoes with gray suits? ›While black shoes may be the most typical option to pair with a grey suit, brown shoes can balance out your look and give it personality. Light grey suits are the most versatile, and can be styled with light brown or dark brown shoes. For a mid-grey or charcoal suit, brown shoes in darker shades are best.
Are grey suits less formal? ›In terms of formality, the grey suit is one step below the navy suit. However, that is not to say that it isn't formal. Like the navy and black suit, grey suits offer a classic look. Additionally, you have plenty of choices for footwear that works well with gray, including black, dark brown, or tan shoes.
What does a grey suit symbolize? ›The expression "men in grey suits" or "grey suits" usually refers to powerful people who operate behind the scenes. This phrase is often used to describe faceless and almost secretive people who control politics, business, or other important matters without attracting attention to themselves.
What color suit is most popular? ›The most popular suit color is navy blue; fifty percent of all suits are navy blue or some shade of blue. Coming in second place is grey or black, making up forty percent of suits. These shades are also an excellent fit for nearly any occasion. This leaves nearly ten percent of all suits for all other colors.
What is a grey suit good for? ›
Gray is one of the best men's suit colors when you're starting up. Every man should own a grey suit. It's perfect for the business environment; it's formal but not formal enough for black or white tie. It's an ideal suit for when you're starting off, especially if you're younger: it signals wealth and wisdom.
What colors go with a grey suit jacket? ›What color shirts go with grey suits? Grey is a versatile color, so it pairs well with lots of shirt options. Popular shirt choices include white, pale blue, navy, black, pale pink, red, and printed.
How can I make a grey suit more fun? ›Simple Rules To Follow When Wearing A Grey Suit
A stark, white shirt and black tie looks super clean with the grey suit, especially in pastel grey or charcoal. Otherwise, light greens, strawberry milk pink, lilac and powder blue are great shirting hues, adding a bit of cheeriness to the office.
'Cool greys are best paired with cooler colour schemes, such as blue, green, and light purple, while warm greys better complement reds, oranges, and yellows. For fans of the monochrome look, incorporate different shades of grey, alongside white and black, to create depth and visual interest.
Can I wear gray suit with brown shoes? ›A dark charcoal suit and brown shoes won't always look somber, but they will always look classy. So this is your grey suit, brown shoe pairing to bring out as a default. The fancier the event, the darker you should go. Always darken your shoes with your suit and up the formality of the shoe style as appropriate.
Is grey suit OK for wedding? ›A classic grey suit is always a safe yet sleek option for a casual wedding, and can be customized with the right accessories depending on the right season. Additionally, consider a simple navy suit paired with a crisp white button down.
Are grey suits in style 2022? ›Needless to say, it's one of the most popular ones for a semi-casual look. It strikes the right chord between formal and casual, and definitely not the combo men would want to wear for just a single occasion. The sky is the limit when it comes to considering how to dress up your grey suit.
Can a grey suit be formal? ›A double-breasted gray suit radiates formal business vibes. It looks incredibly professional, and it's easy to match as well. Wear it with a white or blue dress shirt, solid tie (preferably black or navy), and formal dress shoes that match the shade of your gray suit.