As I mentioned in the post featuring my brown tweed three piece suit, I’m conscious that it can be easy to style a three piece suit in a fairly predictable and formal way. And any time you let yourself get locked into a certain way of thinking about an item—whether it’s a suit, shirt, or accessory—you really limit your possibilities. As a result, I’m always looking for ways to think a little bit outside the box in order to maximize the versatility or much of what’s in my closet. Here’s one way I did it with my grey tweed three piece suit.
Depending on where you work, wearing a three piece suit might be on the cusp of overdressing. However, your choice of what you pair it with can easily help dress it down and make it office appropriate. A solid color or contrast collar shirt with a navy stripe or bold red power tie is definitely a classic business way to style a grey suit. But wear it with a striped shirt and a patterned tie in a muted color, like brown, and you’ve instantly knocked it’s formality down several notches.
Remember that your accessories—tie, pocket square, socks, or scarf—should bring your look together. Always choose items that complement each other, rather than matching exactly.