A slightly more informal way to wear a black suit

[Henk-Jan de Bruin]

Hello,

I happen to own a very nice black suit, double breasted herringbone.
I bought it once because of a funeral.
Now it is hanging idly in my wardrobe, and I find it quite difficult to wear it in normal occasions, as it never feels 'right'.
Are there any recommendations on accessories/colors/shoe choices making it more common, and don't make it look like I'm Darth Vader itself?

I appreciate all the help.

 

[johng70]

It's difficult to "dress down" a double breasted suit. You're pretty limited on shoe color - black . While the style of shoe can be less formal, you're still stuck with those options. While you can brighten it up with shirt/tie choices you're still limited because a double breasted suit doesn't look good unbuttoned.

 

[breakaway01]

Agree. I think you’re limited to wearing it in the evening. If the jacket is fitted you might try it with an open neck white shirt.

 

[compuccesory]

I'm down with the muted but colorful pocketsquare and tine, a rougher shirt - linen perhaps, and/or a pinstripe. The two tone shirt is a little too much for me.

For shoes, staying within black, what about a black suede loafer? In my mind I think even a brown suede would work but I should probably want to see that in real life to be sure.

 

[Panama]

Black, dark colored or white cotton or cashmere turtle/rollneck/polo neck sweater.

 

[maxalex]

You bought the suit for a funeral, which means you understand what a black suit is for. Unless you are regularly cast as a gangster in Quentin Tarantino films, it has no other practical use. It’s not at all the same as a navy suit (which another reader has posted above, proving the point) although many people seem to think so; hence presumably sophisticated national news reporters refer to Trump’s “black suits” (not!). Unlike navy, a true black suit is frustratingly difficult to accessorize.

The good news is that the older you get, the more funerals you will be called to attend. The last will be your own, and you can wear your black suit to that as well.