Fashion By Color: Gray Suits
Black has long been a standard color, the standard color
, in men's fashion. It's part of the reason why there's a stigma that men's formal clothes should be worn only by funeral directors and family members in mourning. Recent trends in the fashion world, however, show that black may soon yield its seat in the spotlight to an equally classic color: gray. And it's coming to an office suit near you.
The Black Dilemma
One of the problems with black is that it's visually too strong. Most shades of black - yes, there are different shades of black fabric - only serve to reinforce its stereotype of sombre events and joyless outfits. Even when you try to soften its impact with a lighter color like a pastel, the black suit still remains to draw the viewer's attention and keep it there.
In the same breath, black is nearly irreplaceable as the most formal color available in all of men's fashion. Whether you're a boardroom presenter or a bridegroom, black is the be-all end-all of formal attire, the standard choice for any event. Were you to replace your black suit, it would have to be with a color that's classic and masculine, yet without all of the edge that black possesses.
Enter the gray suit, the middle ground of the chromatic conversation. It's got just the right amount of conservative air to stand in for the black suit at formal events, with less of the intimidation that the regular black suit creates. For the style-conscious, it makes for the perfect go-between, a modern mix of light and refined.
Going Gray
When choosing a gray suit, you can sub the color in directly for any black ensemble that you used to have. So whether you need a modern one-button peak lapel suit or a much more traditional notch lapel three-piece job, getting it in gray is still a good idea.
Add that to the fact that there's now a very wide selection of gray fabrics, thanks to all the gray action going on in men's fashion. For staying warm in colder times and climes, suits in gray tweed. Gray linen, meanwhile, is perfect for surviving warmer temperatures like those in tropical countries. And then there's good old wool in gray for just about every situation in between. Whatever you need, it's probably already available in gray.
If it's just for the office, however, the only purchase that's truly crucial for you would be a two-piece suit, probably in a wool blend for flexibility throughout the year. But if you've got some extra cash for your fashion, a three-piece set ought to be a good buy as well. It's turning out to be a much more mainstream choice than you might expect. With gray suits popping up all over the red carpets, it's a wise style buy for now.
What Goes with Gray
Black shoes are the no-brainer matching option for gray suits, but the optimum accessory for the color is really a brown pair of oxfords. Caramel and oxblood kicks do a better job of complementing the lighter color, while at the same time creating a more dandified look for you. Paired with a brown belt and an appropriately handsome leather bag, it's a style statement that's just the right amounts of subtle for the office environment.
Gray suits are also the perfect opportunity to go out wearing the boldest colored neckties in your collection. The classic gray still lets the bright color pop like black, but with less of that sharp contrast so that the overall effect is more subdued. If you're yet to try this kind of tie, start with something strong like a royal purple or an electric blue, and then practice your colors from there.
The gray suit is far from new, being the attire of choice in the men's fashion of several decades ago. What you should know about contemporary comebacks, though, is that they are much, much slimmer and sharper than their predecessors. If your dad or grandpa got away with wearing loose or boxy suits in the 40's and 50's, it's not a faux pas to repeat for 2010.
by: Hendrik Pohl
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