Pairing Jackets and Pants

[3orangewhips]

OK, I am a relative sartorial neophyte. I think I've gotten the hang of the pants/shirt/tie/belt/shoes stuff: very entry level. I was wondering if someone could give me some pointers on sports jackets and pants combos: I am a school teacher, and I like to project an image of authority, so I tend to avoid fadish stuff (not completely, but mostly), and my tastes tend toward the classic.

If a primer on this already exists, I apologize.

My pants collection consists of:

Brown checked (monochromatic)
Black chalk-stripped
Black solid
Tan khaki gabardine
Tan khaki micro-fiber
Light tan and black sharkskin(ish)
Grey wool
Blue pin-stripped

I own a navy blazer, a black blazer, a tan and a brown cord coat, and a sharkskinish sportscoat I allowed a saleman to talk me into.

Thanks in advance,

Sam

 

[eHaberdasher]

The tan and gray trousers are the easiest - pair the tan with navy or black blazers of the brown cord jacket. Pair the brown checked trousers with either cord jacket. The striped trousers are best without a (non-matching) jacket - perhaps best kept for warmer days when a jacket is not required.

 

[porcelain monkey]

Ditto the above ^ If you are going to get a new jacket try a tweed in brown or grey (depending on your coloring). It should match many of your pants. If you have a problematic pair, wear them to try on some jackets to see what you think.

 

[3orangewhips]

Originally Posted by porcelain monkey

Ditto the above ^ If you are going to get a new jacket try a tweed in brown or grey (depending on your coloring). It should match many of your pants. If you have a problematic pair, wear them to try on some jackets to see what you think.

I have been thinking I need a grey jacket, and I'd love a tweed one. I assume the grey jacket would match the black pants, but what else? And what would a tan tweed jacket match?

This is confusing for me. I guess coordinating a tie/shirt/pants/etc was too, once upon a time.

 

[porcelain monkey]

I think it really depends on the shade of grey and what other colors are represented in the tweed. I would think you are OK with black or grey and maybe brown (and khaki), depending on how dark they are.

By the way, you need an avatar to go with your name. May I suggest:

 

[3orangewhips]

Indeed! The true derivation of my name is revealed!