Midnight blue v Charcoal

Black shoes are fine either way.

The advantage to charcoal is that it will be more useful after the wedding. Midnight is pretty severe, and is more often used for dinner clothes than suits. Still, if you love it, get it.

Another thing to think about (and these are just my personal biases): if the wedding is in the daytime, opt for charcoal; if at night, for midnight. If charcoal, get the suit SB with a DB vest. If midnight, DB two piece.

I would go with a nice mdeium-navy suit with black captoes.

Welcome to the forum! In case you haven't been lurking long, know that Manton is extremely knowledgable about this subject. The only thing I'd add, is that it's possible that one colour or the other looks better on you. If you could try holding up a length of the actual fabric against your face in lighting that is similar to that expected at the wedding, it may help your decision. Asking the bride-to-be's opinion is permitted, as well.

I am also getting married and have been debating between a midnight blue suit and semi-formalwear (black tuxedo, single breasted, single button, grograin lapels, etc.).

Can anyone point me to some photos of a formal rendition of a midnight blue suit? I hear this style mentioned frequently and am intrigued but have not been able to find examples of its formality/suitability for an evening wedding.

the point of midnight navy is that in some light it stays darker than black. if it is truely 'midnight' navy it will look like black from afar. you've probably seen it and didn't realize it.

if it's a daytime wedding consider light grey. also consider a one-button jacket with a DB vest. this is as formal as it gets without busting out a tuxedo or other formalwear. in any case, make sure you get a 3-piece suit if you are to be married in it. PS: i also highly suggest peak lapels.

If it's a suit it's not a "formal rendition"? Anyway, photos don't do a good job of capturing colour, so it's either going to look black or navy. You really need to see some fabric in person and compare it both black and navy in realistic lighting. pauper, many of your questions are answered in the archives, in particular: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=29056 http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=29234

I agree with the poster who said, "See what looks best on you." Also, it really depends on the type of weave -- just because a suit is charcoal or navy doesn't mean that it is in the type of weave that is going to look "formal" enough for a wedding.

Anyways, I think that if you are looking to buy a suit that will be useful for business later on (that is, you don't want a black suit) and opt for a blue family, just go with a dark navy. Either way (charcoal or navy), you can feel a bit freer to splurge since the suit won't be a one time deal.

BTW, your wedding is the one time that it is clearly acceptable to splurge for a suit. And that means that you don't necessarily need to be shopping at bargain basement stores. You'll appreciate it later, and the wedding gifts will more than make up for your expenditure.

When is the wedding? It may be an appropriate time to splurge for a bespoke suit if you've ever wanted one.

Sorry to have hijacked this thread but the midnight blue caught my interest.


Does this mean a semi-formal suit/tuxedo can be made of midnight blue fabric and be equally appropriate for an evening wedding as a black fabric? The midnight blue can actually be as dark or darker than black fabric? Do you still have satin/grosgrain on the lapels and is it still black?

If so, what is the forum consensus on the look of a black tuxedo v. a midnight blue tuxedo?

A midnight blue tuxedo is definitely something you can do. They can be really hard to find RTW though.

please read the original post. he is having a suit made for his wedding.

Midnight blue dinner suits were started by some famous dresser here, who I forget, because it looked better under artificial light than black wool, which can often look more brown hued. As far as I know, a lot of them are made with black grosgrain or satin lapels, but I'm sure there are some are made to match (though this would be a bit superfluous). James Bond wore one in Thunderball, if I recall correctly. Looked fabulous. To the OP, the advice here is pretty sound on the blue vs. charcoal. I haven't much to add besides that I personally would be wearing a three piece on my wedding day. They look formal enough without being a morning or dinner suit, especially with a flower through the lapel hole and a white linen square.