It won't end officially until September 22 in the United States, and in California it will continue to be warm until the end of October, but the end of August has always been the end of summer in my mind. So here at A Suitable Wardrobe it's about time to stop looking at linen and think instead about worsteds in anticipation of the changing seasons.
Too much change of course can be disruptive, so while our topic will be different our model will once again be yesterday's Luca di Montezemolo, dressed for the coming season. He's wearing worsted here, in one of the classic combinations of blue necktie, white shirt and gray suit. Were it not that his jacket is double breasted and most likely buttoned to the bottom row of buttons, this would be about as conservative as the lounge suit gets.
Men who wish to dress conservatively and have trouble deciding on their color combinations can do much worse than to memorize and put into practice the mantra "Blue with gray and gray with blue." That is to say, with a gray suit wear a necktie with a blue ground, and with a blue suit wear a necktie with a gray or silver ground. The shades may change but the combination looks good -- and is appropriate -- year-round.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Any Time Colors
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5 comments:
I share your mindset, but here in Washington, DC you can't wear fall weight clothes until at least October (at least not if you plan to spend any time out of doors).
The suit pictured (med dark grey, peak lapels, single breast) is the next one I'd like to acquire. Change the tie to black and it's perfect.
In Los Angeles, September can be the Hottest month of the year and October somes follows close behind. I plan fall for November and after Thanksgiving hope it cools down even more.
I was under the impression that a double breasted suit, with slacks pleated and cuffed, was regarded as more traditional and more conservative than a single breasted suit with uncuffed, unpleated slacks. If I am mistaken, can you describe how it is in men's fashion tat so many of us come to this wrong-headed conclusion? I am curious to discover the root of the 'double breasted is conservative/traditional' idea, especially if you perceive it as a mistaken one.
Arctic, a single breasted has more of the flavor of evening wear and many consider it more conservative because of that. A DB dinner jacket is less formal than a single breasted which was descended directly from the tailcoat.
Will:
Thanks for sharing your dictum: "Blue with gray and gray with blue."
I think my eyes saw have always seen this, but my mind has never recognized it or verbalized. In retrospect, I've always been drawn to it, but never knew why.
Your dictum is not only wise advice, your pithy expression makes it eassy to remember when standing before my closet selecting teh day's attire.
Thanks!
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