Is a Dark gray suit Boring?

[thedavidstarr]

Gray works beautifully with everything precisely because it’s a neutral. Earth tones jewel tones you name it. Think of how sharp it looks in classic patterns: glen plaid, herringbone, houndstooth, tweed. The most versatile color there is.
My ONLY ISSUE with it reflects the reality that I’ve gone gray re hair/beard. So I’m less enthusiastic about light gray because I worry it washes me out. But that’s when those patterns come in handy because they’re more interesting to the eye

 

[oldog/oldtrix]

No to charcoal grey suits! I wore one for this photo in 2016, and you see all the trouble that caused.

 

[chrlsful]

the light is much better to me (esp if only having one).
Only time, season, place unwearable is a funeral (well, “formal", but I go tux for that).

 

[FVogt]

No to charcoal grey suits! I wore one for this photo in 2016, and you see all the trouble that caused.
View attachment 2245939

If you don't mind me asking, why exactly do you mean no grey suits?
(I'm sorry if the question is stupid)

 

[chrlsful]

not stupid @ all !
Can U see any of the pic? No, screen images are not true to life but I C these
as pretty close.
We may B having a debate (as we’ve progressed) to darker v lighter. I say:
“The color (not material) grey with the ‘shark skin” model (was that the 50s?) is
very versitial. You can ‘push it’ to math w/'extreme’ color accessories (shirt, etc)
or keep in with more staid ones."
What say you FV?

 

[FVogt]

not stupid @ all !
Can U see any of the pic? No, screen images are not true to life but I C these
as pretty close.
We may B having a debate (as we’ve progressed) to darker v lighter. I say:
“The color (not material) grey with the ‘shark skin” model (was that the 50s?) is
very versitial. You can ‘push it’ to math w/'extreme’ color accessories (shirt, etc)
or keep in with more staid ones."
What say you FV?)

As for the grey sharkskin, I would agree with you that it is very versatile. As for the debate, you are right that it is now partly dark grey vs light grey. My problem is that I can't decide between dark grey and light grey (I don't know why).
Although I don't have to wear a suit every day, I like to wear classic, timeless suits, but I don't want to look like everyone who has to wear a suit to the office.
Here are some examples of at least in my opinion great suits and great (I love 3pc)

 

[chrlsful]

aahahahaa
Love the 2nd as an answer (I even posed as my 1st visit here) to
your implied Q: “...don't want to look like everyone who has to wear...”. In some ways (semi-retired, outside consulting or inside as board member) I wear the suit out of respect for the others (comply to expectations) and to maintain respect back (maintain my talking points). But I DID wanna get away from ‘the tie’. Scarves’n cravats/ascots are filling that for me right now. Back to topic-
for me, you pic ones too drk and too light (fun 2 C all 4 in that 1 ‘light’ tho - #3. I might have a deep purple, black or bright color shirt w/it). Kinda looks like J D Hamm.
Lastly (for me, no 1 is really asking my opinion) the vest is great (esp it’s design) as any vest scores in my book. I wear them w/o jacket too, usually, not all ways w/the neck piece. Cheers

 

[FVogt]

aahahahaa
Love the 2nd as an answer (I even posed as my 1st visit here) to
your implied Q: “...don't want to look like everyone who has to wear...”. In some ways (semi-retired, outside consulting or inside as board member) I wear the suit out of respect for the others (comply to expectations) and to maintain respect back (maintain my talking points). But I DID wanna get away from ‘the tie’. Scarves’n cravats/ascots are filling that for me right now. Back to topic-
for me, you pic ones too drk and too light (fun 2 C all 4 in that 1 ‘light’ tho - #3. I might have a deep purple, black or bright color shirt w/it). Kinda looks like J D Hamm.
Lastly (for me, no 1 is really asking my opinion) the vest is great (esp it’s design) as any vest scores in my book. I wear them w/o jacket too, usually, not all ways w/the neck piece. Cheers

Thank you for your kind reply. If you don't mind me asking, what would you say is a nice grey colour? (Because you said mine were either too dark or too light)
And what do you think about this suit?

 

[chrlsful]

to me (not a fashion maven) that is fine, altho a lill darker than my recommendation. Also, 2nd in post #36 seems to have a blue cast to it. Those in #17/18 seem to hit the grey I seek tight on the head. Mine is w/o ‘pattern’ but I think that very appealing too. My 2₵ worth~
BUT...
this gets to my point: wear anything you like. If U like it U will B less concerned abt other’s opinion. This way men wear everything in confidence, express themselves, and have personal flair !

 

[FVogt]

to me (not a fashion maven) that is fine, altho a lill darker than my recommendation. Also, 2nd in post #36 seems to have a blue cast to it. Those in #17/18 seem to hit the grey I seek tight on the head. Mine is w/o ‘pattern’ but I think that very appealing too. My 2₵ worth~
BUT...
this gets to my point: wear anything you like. If U like it U will B less concerned abt other’s opinion. This way men wear everything in confidence, express themselves, and have personal flair !

I think I know what colour you mean, is it a light to medium grey?
And if you don't mind me asking, what do you think of this fabric, is it too dark for you?
(Sorry for the image quality)

 

[clee1982]

Dark grey is always easier to wear for me (or any dark color in general I suppose)

 

[ericgereghty]

to me (not a fashion maven) that is fine, altho a lill darker than my recommendation. Also, 2nd in post #36 seems to have a blue cast to it. Those in #17/18 seem to hit the grey I seek tight on the head. Mine is w/o ‘pattern’ but I think that very appealing too. My 2₵ worth~
BUT...
this gets to my point: wear anything you like. If U like it U will B less concerned abt other’s opinion. This way men wear everything in confidence, express themselves, and have personal flair !

I want to throw my computer into oncoming traffic every time I read these posts

I B v concerned w/ur typing

 

[oldog/oldtrix]

Lighter grey suits are no good either. I wore one in 2014 with this guy, and you remember what happened to him.

(He really is that tall.)

 

[SchneiderKunstler]

I teach at a design school, and the predominant look is black. However that gets really boring, and doesn't even often look good, especially given how there are actually many "blacks" which don't always or often work together. So I've been going back to charcoal and dark grey, which I wore more often in the 80s and 90s. Grey/charcoal is a wonderful foil for white or more colorful shirts (think "English" styles) and neckties, without being so stark a contrast as black, cream or white (I never wear white, except as a shirt). And my favorite ties are all from the late 80s or 90s, because of not just the patterns but also the cut and the weighting.

Navy is also a difficult color, though I've found it always best done as something nearer to black (think "midnight" blue or Naval uniforms), or a brighter dark blue with black threads woven in to "steady" it. That said, there have always been far more ugly blues available than really nice ones.

But back to charcoal. If one looks around, there are many wonderful fabrics which have either a texture, like a twill, or have a subtle weave to them using a contrasting yarn which gives a heathered sort of look. Flannels are wonderful. Or tone-on-tone weaves, like a herringbone or birdseye; or an overall dark POW plaid pattern which from a distance looks almost like a solid. Blued dark greys also provide a wonderfully dark but warm option, as they usually have a bit of red in them.

 

[FVogt]

I teach at a design school, and the predominant look is black. However that gets really boring, and doesn't even often look good, especially given how there are actually many "blacks" which don't always or often work together. So I've been going back to charcoal and dark grey, which I wore more often in the 80s and 90s. Grey/charcoal is a wonderful foil for white or more colorful shirts (think "English" styles) and neckties, without being so stark a contrast as black, cream or white (I never wear white, except as a shirt). And my favorite ties are all from the late 80s or 90s, because of not just the patterns but also the cut and the weighting.

Navy is also a difficult color, though I've found it always best done as something nearer to black (think "midnight" blue or Naval uniforms), or a brighter dark blue with black threads woven in to "steady" it. That said, there have always been far more ugly blues available than really nice ones.

But back to charcoal. If one looks around, there are many wonderful fabrics which have either a texture, like a twill, or have a subtle weave to them using a contrasting yarn which gives a heathered sort of look. Flannels are wonderful. Or tone-on-tone weaves, like a herringbone or birdseye; or an overall dark POW plaid pattern which from a distance looks almost like a solid. Blued dark greys also provide a wonderfully dark but warm option, as they usually have a bit of red in them.

What you say is very interesting. Especially about the many different possibilities for a charcoal fabric.
I sometimes think that my charcoal grey suit looks more boring than my navy blue one, could it be that it's not the colour but the fabric? And that maybe a sharkskin, herringbone or something similar would work better?
The Fabric and suit cut (It is a s110 VBC)