Sportcoat /Trouser: Do or Don't

[designprofessor]

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]

It's okay, but mid/pale gray flannels would look better. You can also explore cavalry twills, moleskins, and corduroys.

 

[kitonbrioni]

Contrast on colors and texture always make for interest. The cognosenti have their rules, but put some spice and edge with it if you dare. If not, you got the comfort of the rules.

 

[Roger]

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]

I wear lighter sport jackets with darker trousers and vice versa.

 

[designprofessor]

Well, that clear it up. It looked good to my eye when he laid it out. I'll post some pics in the fall.
Thanks for the input.
dprof

 

[zjpj83]

 

[luk-cha]

i quite like to ware mine with cords and even jeans

 

[Roger]

Originally Posted by zjpj83

zjpj83, that's a helluva nice jacket. What is it?

 

[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.

 

[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...

 

[Tomasso]

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]

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]

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]

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!