Would you wear a suit without a tie?

[rnoldh]

I'm in Houston, Tx. Currently 95 degrees and humid. I sell new homes on site at new subdivisions. The model home is that I work out of, is air conditioned and comfortable. But all day long I go in and out of the model home. Usually to homes in various stages of construction. They, of course, have no A/C, and are often muddy!

The dress code is "professional casual". This translates to dress pants and a dress shirt. Most sales people have a coat in the office(which they generally don't wear). Some wear a tie and some don't.

I love to wear suits, but it might not be a wise choice outdoors in Houston, in July and August. So, I've started to wear a suit without a tie. And without the coat when I'm outside.

Given the circumstances, would you still wear a suit(even without a tie) or just go "professional casual" for the summer?

 

[skalogre]

Maybe. Thing is that if I have a chance to wear a suit (VERY rare in Arizona), I'd love to wear a tie (yes, I am twisted like that).

 

[JLibourel]

There are men who have a certain panache, a certain je-ne-sais-quoi who can pull off the suit-without-a-tie look. They are not many. I am not among them. Most men are not among them.

If you are already wearing a suit jacket, a necktie, unless it's strangulation tight, shouldn't increase your discomfort much in hot weather.

 

[Thomas]

Also from Houston, but my situation is that my office is casual. The general thought around here is:

suit + tie = flight risk

So when I wear suits, most of the time it's sans tie, but with a patterned shirt. When vendors come for negotiations I wear a tie. Also wear a tie if I'll be speechifying or giving a presentation.

Come on winter!

 

[grimslade]

I think it works if the suit and shirt are both a bit on the casual side. But I think of the look as really a social look, rather than a business look.

 

[Tomasso]

Originally Posted by JLibourel

There are men who have a certain panache, a certain je-ne-sais-quoi who can pull off the suit-without-a-tie look.

You're too kind. I'll wear suits with linen shirts and cotton knits in the spring/summer, cashmere polos and mock turtlenecks in the fall/winter.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Yes, and I am doing so today. I think it works if the suit is a slim, designer number. A center-vent, sack suit without tie just looks wrong, imo.

 

[Joffrey]

Yeah sure I dont see why not

 

[Master Shake]

I know of at least one guy who conducts his business in a suit without a tie.

I think Ambulance Chaser has it right on this one.

 

[lakewolf]

Originally Posted by JLibourel

There are men who have a certain panache, a certain je-ne-sais-quoi who can pull off the suit-without-a-tie look. They are not many. I am not among them. Most men are not among them.

Thanks for that !

I almost allways wear suits without a tie.. I put on the tie for business when visiting customers... if not I wear the suit with bold shirts sans tie and with a gold necklace... ( 2 buttons open is the minimum )... I love my suits ! for business and casual and night outs...

 

[EL72]

Originally Posted by lakewolf

... if not I wear the suit with bold shirts sans tie and with a gold necklace... ( 2 buttons open is the minimum )...

rnoldh: I don't like the suit w/o tie look. If you're concerned about heat, it's not the tie but the coat that's the problem. If you're walking around in a suit pants and shirt w/no tie, you may as well wear odd trousers and remove the coat if it's really hot. Especially if the suit is pinstriped, wearing only one half the suit looks bad imo.

 

[Lucky Strike]

I wear a lot of "casual" suits; linen, pincord, corduroy, tweed, etc, and frequently without a tie (depends on what clients I'm seeing, etc.)

I find that this look often needs some modifications: I nearly always wear a pocket square, unless I'm wearing a turtleneck, and I often wear loafers or derby-cut shoes with the suits. I have to agree with Ambulance Chaser: A dressier, more conservative business suit normally needs a tie.

 

[designprofessor]

I sometimes go without a tie till the weather cools down. I use the pocket square to dress it up. A university seems a more forgiving environment to wear a suit this way.

 

[Edward Appleby]

I agree with grimslade, it's more of a going-out look.


Also: animated smilies(!)

 

[LabelKing]

The only alternative is a bow tie.