The Gentleman's Guide to Suits: 

When the occasion calls for a suit, you want to look your slickest. Gone are the days of every man at an event matching in a black and white tuxedo - now there's a rainbow of colour options in our tailoring. But how do you co-ordinate your colourful suit with the hue of your shirt? In this guide we'll help you match your shirt to your suit perfectly and rake in the compliments at your next soiree.

A helpful hint for colour coordination is to picture the colour wheel. Colours that pair well together are close to one another on the colour wheel, such as pink and orange, or completely opposite to one another, like red and blue. By keeping the colour wheel in mind, putting together a sharp suit should be easy peasy.

Of course, you don’t have to stick to the colour wheel. Rules are made to be broken, so if you find a fantastic combination when trying out different tops with your tailoring - we say go with it!

The classic black suit is slick and sophisticated. There’s a reason it’s been the go-to for formal occasions for years. But which shirt should you wear it with?

Of course, a white shirt and a black suit are as iconic a pairing as gin and tonic, Romeo and Juliet or bacon and eggs. Associated with characters like James Bond, there’s no need to divert from the classic if it helps you to feel cool and confident.

But if you’d like to shake things up, a boldly coloured plain shirt that bursts through the black will turn everyone’s heads. Go gothic by pairing a rich red shirt with your black tailoring or another jewel tone like emerald green.

Blue suits come in all types of shades, from navy to teal, cerulean to baby blue, and each shade pairs best with a different colour.

A pastel blue suit is wonderful for a daytime formal event, such as a spring wedding or christening. You’ll make a cheerful picture by pairing your baby blue suit with a shirt in a similarly soft pastel, such as a gentle yellow or pale pink.

For a navy suit, a shirt in a lighter shade of blue can complement the look perfectly, softening the harshness of the dark navy blazer and trousers.

Grey suits have an unfair reputation for being dull or overly corporate, but with the right shirt, they can make a real statement. A pale grey suit can be livened up with a soft pink or blue shirt, ideal for a smart and bright look at a formal workplace.

A dark or charcoal grey suit, on the other hand, is striking when worn with a black shirt. It’s a suave look that always attracts admiration. 

A brown suit is so charming, calling to mind indulgent chocolate, rich coffee, and other indulgent, luxurious things. Pair a deep brown suit with a lighter toffee or caramel-hued shirt, or simply a crisp white shirt for a coffee and cream aesthetic.

If you really want to stand out, embrace patterning and prints in your tailoring. Wear a block-coloured suit with a vibrantly patterned funky shirt in complementing colours to add excitement to your formal attire. Floral shirts, in particular, pair beautifully with smart suits. Pair your chic black suit with a black and white floral shirt or your blue suit with a tropical botanical pattern.

Our guide on styling funky and patterned shirts can give you a further helping hand when it comes to rocking shirts with remarkable prints and embroidery.

Shirts aren’t the only option when it comes to selecting a top to wear with your tailoring. Throw the rule book out of the window and instead try a plain tee with your suit for a smart casual twist.

In winter, a roll neck jumper is wonderful for warming up your suit look. Or try a polo shirt when you wear your suit style to work.