Is a Dark gray suit Boring?

[FVogt]

Dear community

I hope it's appropriate for me to ask you this, but I have a few questions about charcoal or dark grey suits, are they boring, is a navy blue or a light grey suit more stylish, elegant, formal compared to a dark grey one.

I recently found an article by Mr Alexander Kraft, a man who I must say dresses very well and has a style that I like. He wrote that dark grey suits are not stylish, they are too boring for him. Would you agree and say that a navy blue or light grey suit is more stylish, less boring and maybe even more formal?

His quote:

Source: Alexander Kraft's 9 rules for living elegantly | The Gentleman's Journal | Gentleman's Journal (thegentlemansjournal.com)

In terms of formality, some people think that a navy blue suit is a bit more formal than a charcoal grey suit. Would you agree with that, or would you say that it might be a bit more informal, but you can still wear it for the same occasions as a navy blue suit (business, dinner, parties, etc.)?

When I look at old photos or illustrations from the 30s and 40s, I rarely see charcoal grey suits, mostly they are light grey or navy blue patterned. Would you say it's just the illustrations, or were stylish men back then more likely to wear navy blue suits and not charcoal grey? What I'm saying is, is a charcoal grey suit a recent trend or is it truly timeless?

That's the grey colour I have in mind. I know a patterned grey suit is obviously not boring, but I'm specifically asking about a plain dark grey like this.

Kind regards

 

[Lagavulin62]

The color itself is certainly not boring to me. I love black and charcoal. In fact they are my favorite colors. However, outside of a suit I never wear black on black(black pants black shirt). Then too I would never wear an all white or all navy outfit. I think the jumpsuit look is pretty awful. If you golf think Phil Mickelson or Gary Player. Do you really want to dress like that? I am not sure anyone would wear nothing but charcoal solid. I agree that would be extremely boring. But who does that? Most of my wardrobe is black and charcoal but they are all different in patterns. I think I have just one navy suit. I am not really a fan of navy. I do like light gray but I only have one. I don’t have more because when I was buying suits 15 years ago I didn’t see them often where I shopped. But I do think a light gray in pattern is classy looking. Maybe one day I will own one. But to answer your question I’m no authority on public perception of suit color. I just know what I like and I think personal taste should be the main driver.

 

[TheIronDandy]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry. The internet is full of people who have far-too-strong opinions about rather minor things. Strong opinions generate lots of clicks. And Kraft is selling clothes himself, so he clearly has a reason to try to move people towards the styles he sells.

Charcoal is traditionally a "business" look, even more so than navy. It's highly suited for a formal office, perhaps a bit less so for casual offices or celebration.

Nothing is truly timeless. Suit cuts, materials and usage has changed over the years: vintage suits from the 40s look vintage today. As do suits from the 90s. And let's not get started on the 70s. Classic tailoring change SLOWER and the changes are more subtle, but it's not timeless. And of course, how we WEAR tailoring has changed a LOT - one could make a claim that suits are mostly anachronistic now. One up-side of that is that in real life, outside of the #menswear bubble, suits are so unusual that any suit you wear will stand out

 

[The Noble Dandy]

As a standalone suit - yes. But that's the idea of this color - to be a blank canvas you can paint. A charcoal suit allows you to create some bold outfits you could not do with a navy suit. Light pink shirt and navy tie, for example. Or a light blue shirt and navy tie - you would have a hard time trying to match the shades of a blue tie with a navy suit, to look good. You can also do muted monochromatic outfits too. Like Cary Grant in North by Northwest movie.

 

[Lagavulin62]

As a standalone suit - yes. But that's the idea of this color - to be a blank canvas you can paint. A charcoal suit allows you to create some bold outfits you could not do with a navy suit. Light pink shirt and navy tie, for example. Or a light blue shirt and navy tie - you would have a hard time trying to match the shades of a blue tie with a navy suit, to look good. You can also do muted monochromatic outfits too. Like Cary Grant in North by Northwest movie.

Those are great points and I like the way you explained it. It’s fun to use the color in the fine lines of many charcoal and black suits to match ties shirts etc. I never really thought of it but you don’t have that variety with Navy suits. You may have discovered why I don’t care for navy that much. Thanks

 

[rjc149]

I can't say I'm putting much stock into a man telling me to take a blue tie everywhere and never wear a short-sleeved shirt.

Also, everyone wears brown shoes with tailoring these days, polished black oxfords are actually now the breath of fresh air. I would venture to say the same with suits. Way too many cobalts and indigos in suiting these days.

 

[Lagavulin62]

I can't say I'm putting much stock into a man telling me to take a blue tie everywhere and never wear a short-sleeved shirt.

Also, everyone wears brown shoes with tailoring these days, polished black oxfords are actually now the breath of fresh air. I would venture to say the same with suits. Way too many cobalts and indigos in suiting these days.

Nothing more irritating than some guy with a platform attempting to dictate style to everyone. Fact is I’m here a new member because that’s what’s happening in the stores I used to shop often. I get a new style, trend, etc but must we all accept it? No I think we should go with what works for us and our situation.

 

[DapperPhilly]

Dear community

I hope it's appropriate for me to ask you this, but I have a few questions about charcoal or dark grey suits, are they boring, is a navy blue or a light grey suit more stylish, elegant, formal compared to a dark grey one.

I recently found an article by Mr Alexander Kraft, a man who I must say dresses very well and has a style that I like. He wrote that dark grey suits are not stylish, they are too boring for him. Would you agree and say that a navy blue or light grey suit is more stylish, less boring and maybe even more formal?

His quote:
View attachment 2238281


Source: Alexander Kraft's 9 rules for living elegantly | The Gentleman's Journal | Gentleman's Journal (thegentlemansjournal.com)

In terms of formality, some people think that a navy blue suit is a bit more formal than a charcoal grey suit. Would you agree with that, or would you say that it might be a bit more informal, but you can still wear it for the same occasions as a navy blue suit (business, dinner, parties, etc.)?

When I look at old photos or illustrations from the 30s and 40s, I rarely see charcoal grey suits, mostly they are light grey or navy blue patterned. Would you say it's just the illustrations, or were stylish men back then more likely to wear navy blue suits and not charcoal grey? What I'm saying is, is a charcoal grey suit a recent trend or is it truly timeless?

That's the grey colour I have in mind. I know a patterned grey suit is obviously not boring, but I'm specifically asking about a plain dark grey like this.

View attachment 2238283
View attachment 2238287


Kind regards

Mid grey POW check

 

[ericgereghty]

Dear community

I hope it's appropriate for me to ask you this, but I have a few questions about charcoal or dark grey suits, are they boring, is a navy blue or a light grey suit more stylish, elegant, formal compared to a dark grey one.

I recently found an article by Mr Alexander Kraft, a man who I must say dresses very well and has a style that I like. He wrote that dark grey suits are not stylish, they are too boring for him. Would you agree and say that a navy blue or light grey suit is more stylish, less boring and maybe even more formal?

His quote:
View attachment 2238281


Source: Alexander Kraft's 9 rules for living elegantly | The Gentleman's Journal | Gentleman's Journal (thegentlemansjournal.com)

In terms of formality, some people think that a navy blue suit is a bit more formal than a charcoal grey suit. Would you agree with that, or would you say that it might be a bit more informal, but you can still wear it for the same occasions as a navy blue suit (business, dinner, parties, etc.)?

When I look at old photos or illustrations from the 30s and 40s, I rarely see charcoal grey suits, mostly they are light grey or navy blue patterned. Would you say it's just the illustrations, or were stylish men back then more likely to wear navy blue suits and not charcoal grey? What I'm saying is, is a charcoal grey suit a recent trend or is it truly timeless?

That's the grey colour I have in mind. I know a patterned grey suit is obviously not boring, but I'm specifically asking about a plain dark grey like this.

View attachment 2238283
View attachment 2238287


Kind regards

I don't care to read the article, but, out of curiosity, does he offer any rationale behind why navy (I presume he largely means navy when saying blue) is universal, whereas charcoal is boring? Strikes me as a picky choosy bit of menswear dogma.

I don't necessarily disagree, in that I find them both boring, though I certainly don't view it negatively...and I think a light grey suit is gorgeous

 

[FVogt]

I don't care to read the article, but, out of curiosity, does he offer any rationale behind why navy (I presume he largely means navy when saying blue) is universal, whereas charcoal is boring? Strikes me as a picky choosy bit of menswear dogma.

I don't necessarily disagree, in that I find them both boring, though I certainly don't view it negatively...and I think a light grey suit is gorgeous

No, I don't think he provides any justification for his argument.

Here is the link to the page where he talks about dark grey suits: https:

Alexander Kraft's 9 rules for living elegantly | The Gentleman's Journal

www.thegentlemansjournal.com

If you don't mind me asking, you say that you find navy blue and charcoal grey suits boring, but that's not a negative. How exactly do you mean that?

Kind regards

 

[ericgereghty]

No, I don't think he provides any justification for his argument.

Here is the link to the page where he talks about dark grey suits: https:

Alexander Kraft's 9 rules for living elegantly | The Gentleman's Journal

www.thegentlemansjournal.com

If you don't mind me asking, you say that you find navy blue and charcoal grey suits boring, but that's not a negative. How exactly do you mean that?

Kind regards

Boring in that they're plain. Even for nerds about this stuff, they're plain, and unavoidably so. The only ways to really spice up the colors are fabric/weave/things of that nature. I've got a charcoal silk blend suit on today. As a nerd, I know that makes it "bold," but nobody is going to pass by and think it's anything other than a dark grey suit.

And, let's be real, most of menswear IS plain and/or boring. Surely nobody can reasonably argue a tuxedo is anything other than plain.

Now, that being said, I don't find plain (or boring, to keep the term used above) a negative. They are classic. They're crisp. They're refined.

 

[KlarkKent]

I am a big fan of charcoal with pinstripes for a suit. Have a super 110 from VBC that's been my favorite for years. For solid suit I like a medium grey as I think it accomplishes what charcoal does in terms of matching with shirts and ties and is a bit more lively. Also a fan of light grey trousers for spring/summer and Prince of wales checked odd jackets.

 

[KlarkKent]

I am a big fan of charcoal with pinstripes for a suit. Have a super 110 from VBC that's been my favorite for years. For solid suit I like a medium grey as I think it accomplishes what charcoal does in terms of matching with shirts and ties and is a bit more lively. Also a fan of light grey trousers for spring/summer and Prince of wales checked odd jackets.

Some shirt and tie ideas for both.

 

[acconrad]

I'm a sucker for the by-the-book classics. Funny enough, everyone thinks charcoal or navy is boring and so everyone tries to stand out by not wearing charcoal/navy, so you actually stand out by wearing charcoal/navy.

Like when I go to weddings I wear a white shirt, navy suit, and a wedding (shepherd's check) tie, and no one is dressed like that. It's this like archetype of the quintessential that is so "basic" to everyone that they all think they're unique by not wearing it, when infact you are unique by embracing it.

I love the charcoal (and the navy) suit.

 

[garzagrossa]

I like the idea of a charcoal suit with maxed out casual/fancy details - wide lapels, minimal construction, pleated shoulders, patch pockets, high-waisted, pleated trousers with cuffs. I find this combination both stylish and subtle. It works better in charcoal than in navy, in my opinion, becasue charcoal is by nature a serious, somber colour.