Can you help a casual guy dress it up in a beige suit?

[imolaavant]

I'm a jeans and t-shirt guy, and only have worn suits to interviews, weddings and funerals, none of which occur often in my life. By the time a suit-wearing event arrives, the last one I purchased is either out of style or no longer fits. I'm taking my wife to really nice dinner for her birthday here; they have a jacket-required dress code so I decided this was a good opportunity to purchase a new suit.

All of my suits have been black or dark grey to date, so I decided to lighten things up with this beige one. I've also never worn anything other than black shoes, ever, and I know a beige suit demands brown shoes so I'm a little out of my element here. If it helps, this is what she will be wearing and I'm a medium build 39 year-old, 5'-7" (1.75m). I'd really rather put something together sans tie, yet still classy. I'm shooting to land somewhere between casual and formal, whatever that may be labeled (semi-formal?).

I noticed older posts suggesting that suit sans tie was generally a fashion faux pas, but I've seen it done more often lately and it seems to work well on most guys. So what does 2012 think of this? I also know the prevailing rule for suits has been a dark color for evening events, but since I'm breaking that rule I'm willing to bend others as well as long as it all comes together in the end. I'm leaning toward a blue ****, but I can't decide on solid or pattern. I would even consider green as that looks good on me, but I'm not sure it would work well with a beige suit. I think a pocket square is needed, especially if I leave out the tie, and the color of the PS will depend on the **** (don't worry, it will complement, not match, the shirt). And I'm at a total loss for shoes so any suggestions in that arena would be greatly welcomed.

And for what it's worth, I found the plaid suites with bow tie (and sometime suspenders) that so many of the mannequins in the mall were wearing rather unappealing. This is NOT the look I'm going for. Some guys may be able to get away with it, I can't. Think Johnny Depp, not Bill Nye (Ignore my avatar, I was dressed like that for a prank)

Help me look great for this event!

Thanks!

 

[suitedcboy]

I think you'll be fine. You may even be with the majority of men there with no tie in the summertime. Weekends especially.
I would go with a patterned shirt, medium striped or medium pattern. A solid would probably look too much like you just forgot the tie.

The fit of the suit will make this look. If it is loose n sloppy on you then a tie or lack or the perfect shirt will still make it look like you care. Your wife is obviously special or you wouldn't be doing this or care what we think.