need fashion advice asap dressy velvet blazer etc.

[jasonmarshalljazz]

i am a professional jazz musician

i was thinking of wear a nave blue velet blazer with a black dress shirt and black slacks and a black and blue striped tie

is this good or bad and why

 

[Sator]

I realise you are a jazz musician and you can get away with a much 'funkier' look than the rest of us but I would suggest you think twice.

Black and blue is a very harsh combination which flatters few, if any, complexions. Add black and blue stripes and it becomes even harsher. Black shirt and trousers also looks too much like something a waiter should be wearing.

A blue blazer seems fine for a jazz musician, but there are better ways of dressing it up than the bruising combination you suggest.

 

[jasonmarshalljazz]

so what would you suggest in order to save this ensemble?

 

[Fuuma]

I'll ad a, no doubt, dissident opinion by saying black and navy can be quite an elegant match; in fact I like the combination so much that I own two dress shirts and one blazer that combine these two colours. Just make sure the navy isn't too dark and you're all set.

There's no reason the outfit you describe wouldn't work in your environment, however I must say I'd envision ditching the tie (if possible) for a more relaxed appearance. Ties often look out of place in less traditional outfits.

As for black pants making you look like a waiter, that's about as relevant as saying not to wear white dress shirts because of the very same reason.

 

[Sator]

I doubt I am the best man to tell a jazzman how to dress. Left to my devices you would end up in proper evening dress of some sort - like Louis Armstrong. However, as a Miles Davis admirer, I'll give it a try.

For a gig in artificial evening light I would suggest a white shirt because the contrast between navy and white is sharp, clean and crisp - thus helping to highlight your face. Almost any tie would work with that but a paisley tie with a blue background and strong red colouring in it would be cool.

For a funkier, jazzier colour scheme consider a burgundy or maroon coloured shirt. I think some forumites will be fainting as they read that I of all people recommended this instead of a tail coat - but there you go. A dark coloured bow tie (black/navy/dark grey) might work with that combination.

Trousers. That's a really hard one. Navy velvet sportcoats are horrendously difficult to match with a decent pair of trousers. That's why I never wear mine. Your safest bet is some sort of shade of medium to light grey. I found that a Prince of Wales ('glen') check worked best with mine, especially one with a strong red overcheck. Normally, I'd never recommend that for evening wear but I guess as a jazzman you could get away with it.

Hmmm...that was kinda fun.

 

[Sator]

Just as an addit to justify why I think navy and black is a problem.

In evening light navy and black look like poorly matched shades black. I think it looks much better when you have some clean contrast in colour to highlight the face, and to give the whole look life. Otherwise, you look like a head floating against a dark background - a bit like John the Bastist's head on a black platter.

 

[acidboy]

I like the late Bleeding Gums Murphy's fondness of red and orange hues. His choice of footwear, on the other hand....