Light Colored Suits for Summer: Indispensable, Desirable or Unnecessary?

All right, I have a closet full of nice suits now. All of them are in darker colors: navy, charcoal, black (I know, the horror), dark brown and "mailman" blue about covers the range. I am considering picking up a light colored suit, maybe a cream, tan, "sand", or light beige. I'd much rather NOT spend the money right now, but have begun to wonder if this is a gap that needs to be filled in my wardrobe.

It also seems a bit hard to find nice suits in those colors, certainly off the peg. There are a couple real nice Belvest suits on STP, but spending $1K for a summer suit seems like a lot to me. Ebay has been barren of candidates for as long as I've been looking.

So, should I continue searching and scouring or stick with what I have?

For guidance, I'm a lawyer who spends lots of time in office settings, depositions and mediations, and less time in the courtroom.

Something about a cream colored suit with maybe a wine colored tie and wine/other color pocket square sounds so appealing, and it is a look I cannot approach with my current wardrobe.

BTW, I also lack light colored sportcoats....

I'd say desireable, not required, providing you choose a light tone that goes well with your skin tone.

would you say lighter then your skin color or darker is best?

It's more a question of hue, but lightness/darkness matters.

While not indispensable, I'd say a light colored summer suit is certainly desirable.

I have three - all in tan - poplin, wool and linen.

Manton has a nice article about summer suits in the new Esquire Big Black Book under his nom de plume, Nicholas Antongiovanni.

Esquire Big Black Book - Spring 2009

Brooks Brothers also has a good selection depending on your style...

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatS...Section_Id=419

Indispensable! I love them and wish it were summer all year round.

You shouldnt need one but its nice to have.

Indispensable.

Desirable but totally unnecessary.

Originally Posted by GBR

Click to expand...

Desirable but totally unnecessary.

I agree.

It's really nice to have light colored suits for summer, although not necessary. I'm not a fan of tan suits, so instead I have a solid light gray, light gray Glen plaid, and a medium gray stripe. They are excellent for hot, humid days when a suit is required.

I've thought about getting one. I find them inherently appealing, but I don't get many invitations to summer lawn parties and similar events, where they strike me as being at their best.

Given the inherent informality of such a suit, I have reasoned that I could achieve the same effect with one of my odd jackets and appropriate slacks. Perhaps this is a stylistic error on my part, however.

Essential.

Dressing well in the summer can elevate you from adequacy to badassquacy.

- B

Light brown linen?

Unnecessary, if you want one get one.