Black or Blue?

[Undertow]

I'm debating on purchasing a decent Super 140's Merino wool suit, single breasted, 3 buttons, notch lapels, typical cut (nothing fancy), plain material - no patterns (I'd rather just have a heavy-duty wool version, but these varying 100's are usually the only "deals" I can land).

I'm having trouble deciding: Black or Navy Blue?

I need your input!

I have black suits, I have blue suits; I don't have a preference on either color, my only preference is that I want this to be a nice suit for special occassions.

I know that it's up to me in the long run, and I know black goes well with such-and-such events, while blue is useful for this-and-that.

What I want from you guys is what you would choose if someone offered just one black or blue suit.

What would you pick and why would you pick it? Your feedback is greatly appreciated!!

 

[Bugsy]

I'm debating on purchasing a decent Super 140's Merino wool suit, single breasted, 3 buttons, notch lapels, typical cut (nothing fancy), plain material - no patterns (I'd rather just have a heavy-duty wool version, but these varying 100's are usually the only "deals" I can land).

I'm having trouble deciding: Black or Navy Blue?

I need your input!

I have black suits, I have blue suits; I don't have a preference on either color, my only preference is that I want this to be a nice suit for special occassions.

I know that it's up to me in the long run, and I know black goes well with such-and-such events, while blue is useful for this-and-that.

What I want from you guys is what you would choose if someone offered just one black or blue suit.

What would you pick and why would you pick it? Your feedback is greatly appreciated!!

Personally, I would go for the blue. It's more versatile and can be both very dressy and casual. I save my black suits for funerals for the most part.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Grey grey grey!

It's the most versatile of all. Black doesn't work with blue and blue doesn't always work with other colors, though grey works with everything and you can mix and match the trousers all year long.

You look stodgy and get bored wearing blue or grey all the time, and you blend in with the crowd.

 

[Mike in Seattle]

Given the choice of blue or black...I'd also go with blue. As stated, it's more versatile and can look dressy without looking as formal & perhaps stodgy as black would.

 

[JimInSoCalif]

That is an easy one as I don't wear black suits. I share Matt's view that grey is a more useful color than either black or blue.

Cheers, Jim.

 

[Akubra Man]

I am biased on this question. I was taught by my father that color black was out except in formal wear. I can give you no logical reason for his insisting on this when I was first starting out to wear suits but that was his strong advice to me. I have followed it to this day and react emotionally to the question as though my father since gone is here telling me only navy son.. no black ... only navy.. so I go with navy. If you go with black I am sure it will be fine too.

 

[Tomasso]

The ubiquitous black suit.

While they've been around forever, today they seem to be the first choice for the fellow whose lifestyle doesn't require a suit wardrobe, just something for special occasions. Nothing wrong with that. The problem is that the black suit is also commonly used as a uniform for various service personnel (security guards, chauffeurs, restaurant/hotel employees, etc....) and one runs the risk of being confused for someone on the job. It's happened to me on more than one occasion and my lone black suit is a DB flannel, probably not the first choice for the Secret Service.

I often advise those starting out to buy a solid navy blue and a solid mid gray suit so that the blue jacket can be worn as a blazer with the gray (and other) trousers. Great for travel, as well.

 

[LondonLuke]

Definately the blue suit. A good navy suit will get you by almost anywhere, and in most situations.


On a slightly unrelated note, I thought the blue suit in the latest Bond film was wonderful!

 

[Max Flash]

Black is reserved for formalwear, traditionally. A lounge suit should never be black - at most very dark charcoal.

If you are buying one suit, I would go for a charcoal-grey. If you want to spice up an existing suit wardrobe, go for a lighter grey or navy. A good wardrobe should have a selection of each.

 

[MrBern]

Grey grey grey!

It's the most versatile of all. Black doesn't work with blue and blue doesn't always work with other colors, though grey works with everything and you can mix and match the trousers all year long.

You look stodgy and get bored wearing blue or grey all the time, and you blend in with the crowd.

Grey is very IN right now....

 

[HadleyH]

I like blue, I like black, I like grey ... they are classic colors, all three!

But if you must choose between black and blue, get the blue.

 

[carter]

Nice Avatar, Hadley.

Assuming you really meant either black or navy blue, go with navy blue. Navy blue, however, is not a consistent color. It varies by material and manufacturer. It's not unusual to see navy and dark navy from the same designer. So, be sure you find a navy that looks good on you and that you like as well as applying the same criteria to the suit.
You didn't mention whether this was to be a two or three-piece suit. A three-piece is a more versatile choice since it can be worn with or without the vest. I'd suggest getting a second pair of trousers with the suit in a contrasting color. Various shades of gray or tan would work well with a navy blue suit.

 

[Max Flash]

FYI - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article4955199.ece

 

[Edward]

Interesting little snippet from The Times.... I woud agree that black suits can be cheap looking, but I think they're a little too dogmatic in their insistence that this is inevitably so.

I would like to put in a word for Midnight Blue: for daytime events, it will appear blue, while at smart evening events, under artificial light, it will take on the appearance of something closer to black, fitting well with a more fomal occasion.

 

[Paisley]

If you already have black suits and blue suits, a gray suit would be a good choice. It's both a classic suit color and very au courant.

 

[jgilbert]

Since your closet already has both black and blue do the grey.

 

[Undertow]

Thanks for all the feedback! This is going to be a tough decision!

I'm not going to purchase black, and that's final. Now I'll have to decide between blue and gray - and I'm leaning towards blue.

I'm waiting until I get a suit back from the tailor tonight to see how well they do on a 50L. I'm actually more of a 48L but I have broad shoulders so I recently purchased a 50L and had it tailored down. Once I determine how well the suit fits (and how well the tailors do) I'll be making my decision on this suit.

 

[Bugsy]

Thanks for all the feedback! This is going to be a tough decision!

I'm not going to purchase black, and that's final. Now I'll have to decide between blue and gray - and I'm leaning towards blue.

I'm waiting until I get a suit back from the tailor tonight to see how well they do on a 50L. I'm actually more of a 48L but I have broad shoulders so I recently purchased a 50L and had it tailored down. Once I determine how well the suit fits (and how well the tailors do) I'll be making my decision on this suit.

To put your mind at ease, a good tailor can do wonders. After I lost 50 lbs, my tailor cut down five of my suits from 46's to 42 R's. You can't even tell. I know you'll experience the same results. Best.

 

[Tomasso]

my tailor cut down five of my suits from 46's to 42 R's. You can't even tell. I know you'll experience the same results.

Interesting.............

 

[Widebrim]

Tough decision

Grey is the most versatile, there is no doubt about that, especially charcoal. One thing that needs to be taken into account, though, is your physical appearance. You appear to have rather dark hair, with a medium-light complexion, but I can't make out your eyes. None-the-less, you seem to be similar to me (I have blue eyes), and I can tell you that blue suits usually look better on me than grey, and might on you, too (Don Draper notwithstanding). Now having said that...IF you are indeed looking for a solid color, then I would go with grey. During this last election, I kept seeing both major candidates in solid blue suits, and couldn't help but think how plain they (and others that wear solid blue) looked. If possible, though, I would consider blue with pin-stripes. Don't be swayed by the comment that blue pin-stripes makes one automatically think of the corporate world; that is not necessarily so. The choice, however, is based on how you feel that you look; if you don't feel confident in whatever color, don't wear it. And I hope that with whatever suit you ultimately purchase, that you will have a smart fedora to go with it!