A charcoal grey suit is an essential for your wardrobe. It is truly a staple when it comes to men’s suiting. A grey suit is especially versatile, and can be very freely matched with many different shirts and ties.
In fact, former President of the United States Barack Obama famously praised the grey suit in his interview with Vanity Fair:
“You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I’m trying to pare down decisions.”
Don’t underestimate the simplicity of a grey suit: choosing the optimal shirt and tie can be a tricky task, even if President Obama has it all figured out. Traditionally, a charcoal grey suit is considered just formal enough to be a stylish business suit. Recently, charcoal suits have gained popularity as a more casual suiting option.
Read our tips below on charcoal grey suit, shirt and tie combinations.
1. Charcoal suit, white shirt.
This combination, is a classic match. The white shirt tastefully cuts through the darkness of a charcoal grey suit, and adds some tremendous contrast to your ensemble. Obviously, a plain white dress shirt is a wardrobe essential. The charcoal suit presents you with the perfect opportunity to wear a white dress shirt for a sophisticated look.
This is an aesthetically pleasing look, with stark contrast for added simplicity. Perhaps the charcoal suit and white dress shirt ensemble is an ideal choice for your day job: a clean-cut, and serious look. This is your safest option when it comes to grey suits, in general.
2. Wear a charcoal suit with a blue shirt for some variety.
Not all blue dress shirts are created equal. Many blue shirts will look quite preposterous with your grey suit (or any suit). Muted blue shirts are your friend: they will complement your outfit well. While a dark blue dress shirt can be an effective piece in an outfit, don’t wear one with a charcoal grey suit. This can appear overwhelming. Generally, stay away from fluorescent and bright blue dress shirts. They will almost certainly seem tacky, and cheap. Stick with lighter shades!
3. Choose deep colors for ties: navies, greens, and burgundies.
A darker suit, particularly in grey, can be paired phenomenally with a deep navy tie. Since charcoal grey suits are on the darker end of grey suits, you’ll want to liven up the outfit with a flash of color. Wearing a grey suit puts your suit, shirt and tie combination in risk of looking dated. To avoid this, aim for a burst of color with the tie. An emerald green can be a great fit at the right time of year. A deep burgundy is almost always a sure-fire winner. Combine this with a white or blue dress shirt, and you have yourself a refined look.
4. Supplement your look with brown shoes (or black shoes for formal occasions).
A charcoal grey suit will look outstanding with brown dress shoes. A pair of lace-up tan shoes is always a safe bet, and can be worn with your other suits as well. For a more formal look, opt for black shoes. The wonderful part about a grey suit, is its versatility when it comes to shoe selection: virtually any combination of shoes will work well with the suit. For more style tips on wearing brown shoes, check out our guide on how to pair brown shoes with bold socks.
5. Know your occasion, and formality.
The clothing that you wear to your day job (formal attire), may not be the best for other occasions. Think about the context of where you are going, to inform your decision on how to wear your charcoal grey suit. For example, making a small change to the shoes you’ll be wearing, can tweak your outfit from business casual to smart casual. To learn more, check out our guide on thedifference between smart casual and business casual.
6. Bold socks can add just the right pop.
The beauty of a charcoal grey suit is that it can be matched with virtually any color – which is exactly why it’s such a popular option for many men. For a subtle hint of color, wear your favorite pair of crazy socks. For a cohesive look, match your socks to your tie. Blue socks are generally considered slightly more formal, however crazier colors (reds, greens, and yellows) are more mainstream and acceptable in today’s business world. Don’t be afraid to try out a new pairfrom Society Socks with your charcoal grey suit.
Recap of men’s charcoal grey suit, shirt and tie combination tips:
- A white dress shirt is a classic look, and pairs perfectly with a charcoal grey suit.
- A light, powdered blue shirt can add some subtle variety to your outfits.
- Deep colors for ties are best: burgundy, navy or emerald green are a great choice.
- Brown shoes are a versatile pick, but black shoes are ideal for more formal situations.
- Assess how formal you should style your suit.
- Throw in a pair of crazy socks for some flair, and personality.
FAQs
Most dark-toned ties will work perfectly with a charcoal suit. Lean into deep bronzes, burgundies, and plums to bring a little warmth to the table, or keep it cool with a classic navy or forest green. A brighter red can also work but this will depend on where you are wearing the suit.
What color shirt and tie go with a grey suit? ›
In general, a grey suit will always look good with a crisp white shirt and a black tie.
What tie goes with a dark grey suit? ›
Basically, any dark-toned tie with a white shirt and a gray suit would be appropriate for co*cktail attire, and if it's a charcoal suit, you can even wear it for black tie optional events. Meanwhile, lighter colored ties will work better with medium and lighter gray suits.
What color shirts go with charcoal gray? ›
Other Color Matches
Purple also works well with charcoal, creating a warm vibe in dark shades such as grape and eggplant. To cool it off, choose a top in lilac or lavender. Yellow and orange shirts in lighter hues such as margarine and sherbet can work with charcoal in spring and summer months.
What colors go well with charcoal grey? ›
Choosing a color palette to complement charcoal gray is simple: keep with other cool tones and go with blues, purples, whites, and some greens. Or, you could also contrast the cool gray hues with warm colors, such as pink, yellow, or orange.
Can you wear a charcoal suit to a wedding? ›
Absolutely! If the bride and groom both agree on the color, wearing a gray or charcoal suit (and even a tuxedo) is a suitable option for all weddings. What should men look out for when purchasing a gray or charcoal suit? If possible, it's important to get a suit tailored to fit perfectly for the event.
Do you wear black or brown shoes with a grey suit? ›
While black shoes may be the most typical option to pair with a grey suit, brown shoes can balance out your look and give it personality. Light grey suits are the most versatile, and can be styled with light brown or dark brown shoes. For a mid-grey or charcoal suit, brown shoes in darker shades are best.
Should tie be darker or lighter than suit? ›
A general rule when it comes to picking out the perfect tie is that your tie should be darker than your shirt. This way, it will stand out against your chest, and draw attention to the fact that you've made that extra effort.
What shoes go with charcoal grey suit? ›
Dark brown shoes are your most versatile combination with gray suits, suiting both light and dark grays equally. They will always be appropriate in smart-casual settings and can also work well in most formal settings. The darkest browns look best with charcoal and a slightly lighter shade with mid-grays.
What color shoes should I wear with a charcoal gray suit? ›
Gray suits pair well with a variety of colors including black, lighter brown or camel. Charcoal suits look best with black or dark burgundy shoes.
Like a light, slate or mid-grey number, a charcoal suit looks sharp with shoes in black, burgundy and oxblood. Unlike suits in lighter shades of grey, however, a charcoal one won't play well with navy or light brown dress shoes.
What color belt to wear with a charcoal suit? ›
Charcoal Suit with White Shirt and Grey Tie
Try wearing this with brown shoes and a brown belt to tone down the monochromatic effect. If you want to keep the formality, wear black shoes and a black belt.
How do you style a dark grey suit? ›
Top Tips For Wearing a Grey Suit
- For formal events, wear a grey suit with a white, blue or pink shirt.
- Patterned shirts can work with a grey suit to add extra interest.
- Wear black, brown or burgundy shoes with a grey suit.
- Add colour to your suit with accessories such as a pocket square or tie.
Grey and navy blue
If you are looking for a color that effortlessly works with any grey shade, navy blue is it. Pair it with a soft, light grey to warm up the space, or create some drama with deep almost black grey.
What is the color code for charcoal grey? ›
Gray is a mixture of white and black, but charcoal has a hint of blue added to the mix. The hex code for charcoal is #36454F.
Does charcoal gray go with navy? ›
Charcoal gray and navy blue create a satisfyingly moody and dramatic look that is perfect for a bedroom, living room, or study.
Is charcoal grey formal? ›
As the charcoal grey color is very formal, you can allow yourself to experiment a bit with the print on your shirt.
Does royal blue go with charcoal grey? ›
Because of its bright hue, it can create too much intensity when paired with certain shades of red. Royal blue pairs nicely with orange, which is its complementary color on the color wheel. The colors that pair well with royal blue include: Gray.
What is a good contrast to grey? ›
Pair it with white, pink, or soft blue, and it inspires a calming essence. Team it up with vibrant reds and yellows, and you'll instantly feel its energizing effects. Regardless of what you do with gray, you can count on the fact that it will fit in with just about any decorative style or space.
Can you wear brown shoes with a charcoal grey suit? ›
In general, if you're not confident in pairing up your grey suit with brown shoes, you want to start by matching the mood of the overall shade. The charcoal will look good with dark brown. Midtones look good together, like a medium grey with a chestnut. A light grey suit needs brown shoes, which are also light.
Traditionally, the only off-limits color for wedding guests has been white, for obvious reasons—no one wants to take attention away from the bride. But times are a-changin'. Now, many people simply don't see wearing white as a big deal. Some brides and grooms are totally cool with it.
Is it OK to wear a grey suit to a wedding? ›
A classic grey suit is always a safe yet sleek option for a casual wedding, and can be customized with the right accessories depending on the right season. Additionally, consider a simple navy suit paired with a crisp white button down.
What shirts go with grey suit? ›
What color shirts go with grey suits? Grey is a versatile color, so it pairs well with lots of shirt options. Popular shirt choices include white, pale blue, navy, black, pale pink, red, and printed.
What watch should I wear with a grey suit? ›
Grey suits work well paired with an all-black watch, or even lighter-colored watch face and brown strap. Don't be afraid to experiment! A colored strap can add a bit of character to a dark suit.
Is a dark grey suit formal? ›
In terms of formality, the grey suit is one step below the navy suit. However, that is not to say that it isn't formal. Like the navy and black suit, grey suits offer a classic look. Additionally, you have plenty of choices for footwear that works well with gray, including black, dark brown, or tan shoes.
What is the most versatile tie color? ›
A plain navy tie is extremely versatile, going with almost all colours and patterns of shirts and jackets. Grenadine is the most versatile tie material in terms of formality, going with all but the smartest suits and all but the most casual knitwear.
What color tie is most professional? ›
Business Formal
The business professional look comes with a few givens. You should be in a formal suit, dress shoes and collared shirt. To fit with this look we recommend to staying conservative with your ties. Colors should be neutral (black, grey or dark blue).
Is a charcoal suit OK for black tie? ›
Acceptable Colors: Black, Charcoal, or Deep Navy
Your suit should always be very dark at a Black-Tie Optional event to approximate the formality of the black tuxedos you'll be seeing.
How do you make a charcoal suit look good? ›
How to wear a charcoal suit. Paired with a crisp white dress shirt, navy tie, pocket square, and black shoes a charcoal wool suit is a key ingredient in a swoon-worthy wardrobe. Of course, you can also dress it down with a turtleneck or even a t-shirt if you're feeling daring (more on that below).
Is a charcoal suit too formal? ›
Charcoal Gray
It's perfect for the business environment; it's formal but not formal enough for black or white tie. It's an ideal suit for when you're starting off, especially if you're younger: it signals wealth and wisdom.
The Best Shoe Combinations:
Grey Suit – Light or dark brown, black, burgundy or oxblood shoes.
What tie goes with a charcoal suit and white shirt? ›
However, they look particularly good with a charcoal grey suit. Pair your white shirts with a navy or burgundy tie when strutting a charcoal grey suit. If wearing a medium grey suit, try opting for a neutral tone such as a brown tie, something with visual interest such as a foulard tie.
Is it OK to wear brown shoes with a charcoal suit? ›
Light brown or tan shoes are too informal for charcoal suits, and darker brown shades may look like you're trying to match the color of your suit but falling short. While your safest bet is to wear black shoes with a charcoal suit, brown shoes in a dark shade, like oxblood, can look elegant.
Is it OK to wear brown shoes with a grey suit? ›
A dark charcoal suit and brown shoes won't always look somber, but they will always look classy. So this is your grey suit, brown shoe pairing to bring out as a default. The fancier the event, the darker you should go. Always darken your shoes with your suit and up the formality of the shoe style as appropriate.
Can you wear charcoal suit to black tie wedding? ›
While the wedding invitation might say black tie, it's okay to go for another dark, neutral tone like gray or charcoal. This Joseph Abboud tux has a modern slim fit and double-pleated trousers with a satin stripe. All you have to do is add a tie, pocket square and shoes, and you're good to go.
