That said, pin stripes say business so definitively that they should not be worn away from the office, unless it is to an after work event where no-one could reasonably be expected to change clothes. Worn out of place, they speak to a limited wardrobe as in "I had nothing else to wear." That may be more true than not, but a solid worn in the pin stripe's stead makes no such statement.
Pin stripes should in my opinion always be worn with oxfords, the definitive shoe for the city and business. And since they have a noticeable pattern, they ought to be combined with either a solid shirt or a solid necktie lest things get too complex and others think the wearer pays too much attention to his clothes. Wear a white or pink shirt with suits that have a charcoal ground, and white or blue with navy. Stuff a white linen square in the jacket's breast pocket and top things off with a foulard necktie if the shirt is a solid, or a solid grenadine if the shirt is patterned.
Oh, and by the way, the pin stripes themselves ought always to be off-white or light gray with charcoal, and off-white or light blue with navy.
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8 comments:
Great post! We definately see too many pinstripe suits in non-work environments.
Does the advice concerning pairing shirts and suits (pink with charcoal and blue with navy) apply to solid suits and odd jackets as well?
I was under the impression that pink and light blue shirts are interchangeable when formality of white shirt is not called for.
Will has told us that he, unlike the Brits, prefers pink shirts with gray suits (they like pink shirts with navy suits). I say pink shirts work well with both, as do yellow shirts, but I stick with blue or white shirts for most suit-wearing occasions.
Good advice. And you have saved me the cost of a pin stripe suit since I never now and never will have cause to go 'downtown' on business.
You can never go wrong with a white, light blue or cream shirt. They all go well with navy and charcoal. I'd have to say the same about pink and lilac, though they aren't as office friendly, depending on your industry.
Dear Mr. Boehlke, what would be your take on the British fascination with pairing regimental / crested ties.with the pin-stripped suit ...
Dear Will, isn't it the chalkstripe you are wearing on the photo, rather than a pin stripe?
I have chall striped suits but that one is pin.
I'm a great fan of the striped suit although I prefer the chalk which I'll cheerfully wear at any time of day or evening. As a practical matter most people have "gone on" to an evening event from the office which probably explains their ubiquity.
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