• Hi, I am the owner and main administrator of Styleforum. If you find the forum useful and fun, please help support it by buying through the posted links on the forum. Our main, very popular sales thread, where the latest and best sales are listed, are posted HERE

    Purchases made through some of our links earns a commission for the forum and allows us to do the work of maintaining and improving it. Finally, thanks for being a part of this community. We realize that there are many choices today on the internet, and we have all of you to thank for making Styleforum the foremost destination for discussions of menswear.
  • This site contains affiliate links for which Styleforum may be compensated.
  • No Man Walks Alone one of our oldest sponsors owned and operated by one of the most discerning buyers I know, is right now offering up to 50% off on their winter sale. Browse their extensive selection of mesnwear, shoes and accessories, and get something truly special, like this special collaboration Western style shirt by G. Inglese in a rich, thick, and luxe brown cotton moleskin, with subtly contasting yellow snaps

  • STYLE. COMMUNITY. GREAT CLOTHING.

    Bored of counting likes on social networks? At Styleforum, you’ll find rousing discussions that go beyond strings of emojis.

    Click Here to join Styleforum's thousands of style enthusiasts today!

    Styleforum is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Sportcoat /Trouser: Do or Don't

designprofessor

Distinguished Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2006
Messages
2,412
Reaction score
8
Gentlemen, I just bought a medium brown windowpane sportcoat. I know I can wear it with khaki colored pants, but the sales man also paired it with some charcoal pants. Is it ok to wear a sportcoat where the pants are darker, or is this a no go? (I'm looking mostly at this being worn for fall and paired with white / blue shirt usually.)

Thanks for any advice.
dprof
 

whoopee

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
2,420
Reaction score
4
It's okay, but mid/pale gray flannels would look better. You can also explore cavalry twills, moleskins, and corduroys.
 

Roger

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
1,937
Reaction score
17
I'm not aware of any rule that states that lighter-colored sports jackets shouldn't be paired with darker trousers. Is there such a rule? I can think of lots and lots of jacket/trousers combinations with that contrast that would look wonderful--light-colored brown-green tweed jacket with darker olive trousers, light gray glen check jacket with charcoal trousers, light gray-blue jacket with navy trousers, etc. The list goes on and on.
 

zjpj83

Distinguished Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
9,425
Reaction score
28
b0dl.jpg
 

luk-cha

Distinguished Member
Dubiously Honored
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
4,530
Reaction score
83
i quite like to ware mine with cords and even jeans
 

Buster

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2005
Messages
219
Reaction score
6
As a short guy, I am always under the impression that I look somewhat taller when I wear pants that are darker than the sportcoat.
When I wear the classic combination of khakis with a navy blazer, I fee like a midget. But maybe it is just me.
 

romafan

Stylish Dinosaur
Joined
Nov 30, 2004
Messages
11,046
Reaction score
2,375
Pants darker than jacket: yes

Especially with light colored jackets, I think it looks good. Try going the other way and you run the danger of looking like an ice cream vendor...
 

Tomasso

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
4,067
Reaction score
20
Originally Posted by romafan
Pants darker than jacket: yes

Especially with light colored jackets, I think it looks good. Try going the other way and you run the danger of looking like an ice cream vendor...


Interesting.
 

thinman

Distinguished Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2005
Messages
4,815
Reaction score
45
I have a tan glen plaid jacket and have little choice but to wear darker trousers, usually charcoal. I think it's a fine look, especially when the trousers can pull out a color from the jacket. Your medium brown with charcoal sounds good. Charcoal is an earthtone, after all.
 

mensimageconsultant

Distinguished Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
Messages
4,608
Reaction score
147
Originally Posted by Buster
As a short guy, I am always under the impression that I look somewhat taller when I wear pants that are darker than the sportcoat.
When I wear the classic combination of khakis with a navy blazer, I fee like a midget. But maybe it is just me.


No, you're right. Lighter jacket with darker pants brings attention upward, making you look taller. It's hard to accomplish the other way around with only solids and no pocket square or tie.
 

JLibourel

Distinguished Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2004
Messages
8,288
Reaction score
506
I'll just add that I have been wearing slacks that are darker than my jacket intermittently for at least a half-century and the style police haven't busted me yet!
 

Featured Sponsor

How do you prefer trousers to be finished?

  • Plain hem

  • Cuffed (1.5 inches or less)

  • Cuffed (more than 1.5 inches)

  • No preference, as long as the proportions work


Results are only viewable after voting.

Forum statistics

Threads
523,137
Messages
10,747,591
Members
229,750
Latest member
Bobjonesgood
Top