Odd waistcoat and charcoal suit

Dove grey. That was my choice, but then again, I was the groom.

Dove gray, cream and buff are the automatics.

Dove gray or camel - never, ever black.

Charcoal Grey suit Burgundy with paisley (or some other pattern/texture) waistcoat White (or cream) shirt Dark green/ torquoise or blue muted tie Whiskey or light brown shoes ..and a nice fedora. It's somewhat costume, but the colors will work. For better or worse, I get stares & smiles with this combo.

A charcoal suit is a blank canvas. Almost any lighter coloured waistcoat (including checks and other patterns) will look OK. EDIT: if your waistcoat is fancy, your tie and shirt should be plain. Stuart

More of Blue/Grey than charcoal, but a couple I tried recently:

Nothing can ever be black! Nothing! Ever!!

Light gray looks nice with charcoal.

Ties, shoes and belts. Formal wear.

That's blasphemy! I'm telling Manton! Seriously though, you can pair a grey suit with a black vest, IF the right shirt / tie combination completes the look, if not it can easily backfire.

I know you're joking, but...