Question about Sports Coat Color

[Jschm22]

Hey everyone,

New to the forum here and also the business world... I'm a senior in college. Anyway, I'm attending a business ettiquette dinner on wednesday that requires to atleast have a sports coat with the outfit and no jeans.

The outfit I was planning on wearing is Khaki dress pants with an off-white (almost yellow) dress shirt and a Black tie, shoes, and belt.

I need to go out and buy a sports coat so I was wondering if I could get some advice as to what color would go best with this outfit please....would black work ok?

thanks

 

[Douglas]

Most folks on here are going to steer you away from a black sportcoat, including me. They'd probably also steer you away from the black tie. Maybe even the black shoes and belt.

You've gotta work with what you've got, however. The simplest answer is going to be to ditch the black tie for something a little less severe and more businesslike - a simple rep stripe, for example, in just about any conservative color, depending on what you have, what you like, and what works with your complexion. And then go get a nice, versatile navy blue blazer.

If you have brown dress shoes and brown dress belt, I'd switch to those too.

 

[rajesh06]

Originally Posted by Jschm22

Hey everyone,

New to the forum here and also the business world... I'm a senior in college. Anyway, I'm attending a business ettiquette dinner on wednesday that requires to atleast have a sports coat with the outfit and no jeans.

The outfit I was planning on wearing is Khaki dress pants with an off-white (almost yellow) dress shirt and a Black tie, shoes, and belt.

I need to go out and buy a sports coat so I was wondering if I could get some advice as to what color would go best with this outfit please....would black work ok?

thanks

I not a big fan of black tie and black sportscoat. I am a bit more traditional and would go with a red tie, blue sportscoat and a shirt closer to white than yellow. (without getting into all the subtleties of colors that would complement your complexion, hair color, build, etc.)

Then again - I am probably 17 years older than you so YMMV.

 

[Jschm22]

ok thanks for the advice guys

 

[Dewey]

get your first sportcoats in navy and dark brown. for navy, does not have to be a blazer, there are blazer alternatives like navy tweeds. or get a blazer. others like dark brown. that is also good. for tie, get a solid navy tie or a navy tie with a white stripe. if you don't like navy or white, fine, but go for a solid tie that is high quality or a tie with only two colors in it. most ties, esp. on the discount rack, are way too loud -- too many colors, too complicated in pattern -- for a first or second tie.

 

[JimInSoCalif]

A blue blazer is a wardrobe foundation. It is very versatile - less dressy than a suit and a tad more dressy that a sport coat. It can be dressed up or down. Many different types of trousers go with it. I suggest you ditch the black tie and get one with stripes or a small pattern.

Cheers, Jim.