Key Takeaways:
- Brown suits range from chocolate to chestnut tones and pair well with green accessories and brown brogue shoes for traditional or urban settings
- Olive colored suits in bronze tones have cycled through fashion from the 1930s to 1970s and are returning to popularity
- Tweed suits offer regional color variations from gray-blue North Umbrian weaves to heather Scottish patterns, ideal for insulating fall winter wear
- Corduroy suits come in various whale thicknesses from needle-fine to chunky, in colors like aubergine, burnt orange, caramel, and forest green
- Sage suit colors in light green work well for semiformal occasions when paired with brown or burgundy shoes
- Suit accessories pairing matters significantly: wool ties suit corduroy materials better than silk, and brown or burgundy shoes work better than black for most non-traditional colors
- Blue suits beyond navy include marine and pale blue shades, with Prince of Wales patterns adding visual interest
Alternative Suit Colors Beyond Gray and Navy: What to Consider
Alternative suit colors beyond gray and navy open up a world of possibilities for men who want to stand out without sacrificing sophistication. Why limit yourself to the standard business palette when there are rich browns, distinctive olives, textured tweeds, and luxurious corduroys available? These non-traditional suit colors offer the same polished appearance as their conventional counterparts while adding personality and visual interest to your wardrobe.
Are you tired of blending into a sea of charcoal and navy at every event? While gray and navy suits certainly have their place in business settings, they're not your only options for looking sharp and professional. The key is understanding which alternative colors work best for different occasions and how to pair them properly with shirts, ties, and shoes.
This guide explores the most versatile alternative suit colors available today, from classic browns that evoke heritage and tradition to modern two-tone fabrics that shift color with the light. You'll discover which colors work for semiformal settings, which materials provide the best texture and warmth for autumn and winter wear, and how to accessorize each option to create a cohesive, stylish look. Whether you're building your fourth or fifth suit or simply ready to move beyond the basics, these alternatives provide fresh options that maintain the refinement expected from quality tailoring.
Brown Suit Colors and How to Wear Them
Brown suits offer a rich, sophisticated alternative that works particularly well in informal settings. A brown suit with a green overcheck creates visual interest through its rustic interpretation of a Prince of Wales pattern. The 100% wool construction provides both durability and comfort, while the brown base color ranges from chocolate to dark chestnut tones that add warmth to your appearance.
The key to wearing brown successfully lies in your accessories. Incorporating emerald greens in your tie and pocket square picks up the overcheck notes in the fabric, creating a cohesive look. Brown brogue shoes in a loafer style complete the ensemble, with the chocolate brown leather echoing the tones in the jacket and trousers. This traditional suit style works especially well for rural settings but translates surprisingly well to urban environments.
Brown suits have a fascinating history in menswear. They were quite popular in the 1930s alongside black and gray options, though by the late 1930s they became associated primarily with countryside wear. The color experienced a major revival in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when both dark brown and lighter copper tones became fashionable. That era also saw the introduction of sage greens and oatmeal colors into the suit palette, creating a distinctly British aesthetic.
How rich or bland a brown suit appears depends entirely on how you pair it with other items. Using a colored shirt or a brighter tie lifts the overall look significantly. Consider a brown suit as your fourth or fifth addition to your wardrobe rather than one of your first purchases. The color provides versatility for occasions where navy or gray feel too formal or expected, and it allows you to stand out while maintaining sophistication.
Olive Colored Suits and Their Fashion Evolution
Olive colored suits in bronze tones create an unusual but effective look that stands apart from conventional suiting options. This distinctive color sits somewhere between traditional brown and green, offering a sophisticated alternative that works well when paired correctly with complementary accessories and shirts.
The history of brown and olive colored suits reveals interesting fashion cycles. In the 1930s, brown suits appeared regularly alongside black and gray options without much distinction. By the late 1930s, brown suits shifted toward being considered rural wear, rarely appearing in business environments or on high streets. Fashion trends cycle, though, and brown suits experienced a significant revival in the late 1960s extending into the 1970s.
During that revival period, dark brown suits and lighter copper tones both gained popularity. The era also introduced sage greens and oatmeal colors into the suit palette, creating a distinctly British aesthetic. Browns, coffee colors, and oatmeal tones dominated the color choices for suit wearers throughout the 1970s, representing one of the more notable periods in British fashion history.
Brown remains a rich and versatile color when worn correctly. The difference between a bland appearance and a statement piece depends entirely on how you pair it with other items. Using a colored shirt or brighter tie against the bronze olive background lifts the entire look significantly. Recent trends show bronze-colored suits returning to fashion, making this a timely addition to consider. Browns work particularly well when styled thoughtfully, and concerns about wearing or purchasing a brown suit are largely unfounded when you understand proper pairing techniques.
Tweed Suits for Fall/Winter: Regional Colors and Patterns
Tweed suits provide excellent options for autumn and winter wear, offering a diverse range of colors from browns through to grass greens and hay tones. The color palette available in tweeds far exceeds what you'll find in standard suiting fabrics, making them ideal for creating distinctive looks during cooler months.
Traditional tweed suits reflect their regional origins through color choices. In Northumbria, you'll find tweeds incorporating more grays and blues in the weave. Scottish tweeds often feature heather notes and burnt oranges woven into the fabric. Estate-specific tweeds like those from Holkham Hall use green bases with red stripes running through them. This regional variation means you can select a tweed that reflects specific heritage or simply choose colors that suit your personal preferences.
The insulating properties of tweed make it particularly suitable for cold weather wear. The material provides warmth and durability that lighter fabrics cannot match during autumn and winter months. However, this same characteristic makes tweed unsuitable for summer wear or warmer climates. If you need a suit for hot weather, consider linen or cotton-blend materials instead, which can still offer interesting color options even if the material differs.
Tweed works exceptionally well as a statement piece in casual settings. The diverse color range means you can literally pick a suit color that works for your needs without being restricted to particular patterns. Whether you prefer subtle earth tones or bolder combinations with burnt oranges and heather notes, tweed provides options that standard business suits simply cannot offer. The material's texture and visual interest make it stand out naturally without requiring excessive styling.
Corduroy Suit Textures and Color Ranges
Corduroy material offers remarkable versatility for autumn and winter suiting through its range of textures and color options. The material comes in different thicknesses, from needle cord with very thin fine wales to chunky thick whale versions. This range provides subtlety from an almost velvet-like appearance to a robust, textured material that makes a bold statement.
The color ranges available in corduroy are phenomenal. Aubergine colors create deep, rich tones that work particularly well for evening or more formal casual occasions. Burnt orange and various shades of brown provide warm, autumnal options. Caramel colors offer a lighter alternative while maintaining richness. Forest greens and olive greens bring natural, earthy tones to your wardrobe. These color schemes showcase the material's ability to hold and display color depth in ways that smoother fabrics cannot achieve.
Corduroy possesses a sumptuousness that makes it particularly appealing for cooler months. The texture and visual depth create a cozy appearance that pairs exceptionally well with wool ties. This combination of textured fabric and complementary accessories creates statement pieces that stand out naturally. The material works best in casual suit colors and settings rather than formal business environments, but it delivers sophistication within that context.
The tactile nature of corduroy adds another dimension to your appearance beyond just color. The ridged texture catches light differently than smooth fabrics, creating visual interest even in solid colors. Whether you choose the subtle elegance of needle cord or the bold presence of chunky whale corduroy, the material provides distinctive options that separate you from standard wool suiting. The key is selecting the whale thickness that matches your intended formality level and personal style preferences.
Sage Suit Color for Semiformal Occasions
Sage suit color provides a sophisticated light green option that works particularly well in semiformal settings. This very light green tone offers something distinctly different from standard suiting colors while maintaining the refinement expected at semiformal events. The key to wearing sage successfully lies in choosing the right setting and pairing it with complementary accessories.
Brown brogue shoes work exceptionally well with sage suits, creating a natural earth-tone combination that feels grounded and intentional. Burgundy colored shoes provide another excellent option, adding depth and richness against the light green fabric. These shoe choices help anchor the lighter suit color and prevent it from appearing washed out or too casual for the occasion.
Wearing a tie and plain shirt with a sage suit creates a sophisticated look appropriate for semiformal occasions. The simplicity of a plain shirt allows the unusual sage suit color to remain the focal point without competing visual elements. This approach maintains polish while showcasing the distinctive color choice.
The style options for sage suits remain completely open to personal preference. Whether you choose double-breasted or single-breasted construction, peak lapels or notch lapels, the world is your oyster. The color itself provides enough distinction that you don't need unusual styling details to create visual interest. Sage represents a color worth exploring if you're ready to move beyond conventional options but still want something that works in relatively formal contexts. The light green tone brings freshness to your wardrobe without sacrificing the sophistication required for semiformal settings.
Suit Accessories Pairing with Non-Traditional Suit Colors
The color and texture of your tie and pocket square can either enhance or detract from suits in alternative colors. With corduroy material, avoid silk ties. The smooth, shiny finish of silk creates too much contrast against the textured, matte surface of corduroy. Instead, choose a wool tie that provides a more robust, rural character with its own texture and matte finish. This pairing works naturally with corduroy's inherent texture.
Shoe selection matters significantly when wearing alternative suit colors. Black shoes work only in specific circumstances with these men's fashion suits. If you're wearing aubergine or chocolate brown colors, black might pair appropriately. However, for most alternative suit colors, dark brown shoes provide a better foundation. Burgundy shoes offer another excellent option that works across many non-traditional suit colors.
Brown brogues deliver a traditional look that pairs well with most alternative colors. If you want something less conventional, consider a whole cut shoe or monkstrap shoe instead. The loafer represents another versatile option that works with most suit colors, provided you choose a full leather construction. Whether you select a tasseled version, horse bit, penny loafer, or Belgian loafer, each style enhances the overall appearance when matched thoughtfully to your suit color.
Pocket squares should pick up notes from the suit fabric itself. With a brown suit featuring green overcheck, emerald greens in the pocket square create visual cohesion. The key is identifying the secondary colors or patterns in your suit and echoing them through your accessories. This approach ties the entire outfit together without requiring exact matching, which can appear too coordinated and artificial. The right accessories enhance your suit rather than competing with it for attention.
Casual Suit Colors in Blue Beyond Navy
Blues offer excellent alternatives to the standard navy suit through lighter shades that maintain professionalism while providing visual distinction. Marine color provides a lighter blue option that sits between navy and pale blue, creating a fresh appearance without losing the sophistication associated with blue suiting. These lighter blues work particularly well when you want the reliability of blue but don't want to default to the expected navy shade.
The Prince of Wales pattern with a black overcheck onto a blue suit creates a particularly good look. This combination adds visual texture and interest to the lighter blue base, preventing it from appearing too plain or casual. The black overcheck provides structure and formality that balances the lighter color, making the suit appropriate for occasions where solid pale blue might feel too informal.
Between navy suits and pale blue, a range of blue shades exists that work exceptionally well for suit wear. The key is selecting the right shade for your intended setting and pairing it with appropriate shoes and accessories. These intermediate blues provide options that feel fresh and current without abandoning the classic appeal of blue suiting.
Black shoes work particularly well with lighter blue suits, providing formality that grounds the lighter color. The contrast between black footwear and lighter blue fabric creates a polished appearance appropriate for business and formal occasions. Pocket squares and ties can tie the entire look together, either complementing the blue tones or introducing contrasting colors for added visual interest. The versatility of blue makes it easier to accessorize than some other alternative colors while still providing distinction from standard navy options.
Custom Tailored Suits at Westwood Hart
At Westwood Hart, we understand that finding the perfect suit in alternative colors shouldn't mean compromising on fit or quality. Our online configurator puts you in control of every detail, from selecting rich brown tones and distinctive olive shades to choosing the exact lapel style and button configuration that matches your vision. Whether you're drawn to the texture of corduroy, the warmth of tweed, or the sophistication of sage green, we provide access to premium fabrics that go well beyond standard navy and gray options.
We've built our reputation on delivering custom-tailored suits and sport coats that fit your body and your style preferences exactly. The process is straightforward: use our configurator to select your preferred color, fabric, and styling details, then provide your measurements. Our tailoring team crafts your suit to your specifications, ensuring the alternative colors and materials you've chosen look as good as they should. From Vitale Barberis Canonico fabrics to distinctive seasonal options, our collection provides the quality and variety you need to build a wardrobe that truly reflects your personal style. Design your custom suit today and experience the difference that proper tailoring makes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What occasions are appropriate for wearing brown or olive suits?
Brown and olive suits work best in informal and semiformal settings rather than traditional business environments. They're excellent for social events, creative workplaces, outdoor gatherings, and situations where you want to make a stylish impression without the formality of navy or gray. Brown suits with proper accessories can even work in urban professional settings, though they're traditionally associated with more rural or casual contexts.
Can I wear black shoes with alternative suit colors?
Black shoes work with only specific alternative suit colors. They pair appropriately with aubergine and chocolate brown tones, and they work particularly well with lighter blue suits where they provide necessary formality. However, for most alternative colors including browns, olives, tweeds, and corduroys, dark brown or burgundy shoes create better harmony. The general rule is that brown-based shoes complement earth-toned suits more naturally than black.
Are tweed suits only suitable for cold weather?
Yes, tweed's insulating properties make it primarily suitable for autumn and winter wear. The material provides excellent warmth and durability during cold months but becomes uncomfortable in summer or warmer climates. If you need similar color variety for warm weather, consider linen or cotton-blend materials instead, which offer interesting color options without the heat retention of tweed.
What's the difference between needle cord and chunky whale corduroy?
The difference lies in the width of the ridges. Needle cord features very thin, fine wales that create an almost velvet-like appearance with subtle texture. Chunky thick whale corduroy has much wider ridges that create a robust, heavily textured material. Needle cord appears more refined and works for slightly more formal casual occasions, while chunky whale makes a bolder statement and leans more casual.
Should I use silk or wool ties with textured suits?
Wool ties work better with textured materials like corduroy and tweed. The matte finish and texture of wool complement the robust, textured nature of these fabrics. Silk ties create too much contrast with their smooth, shiny finish against matte textured materials. Save silk ties for smoother suit fabrics where the contrast works in your favor rather than against the overall aesthetic.
Is sage green too bold for professional settings?
Sage green works for semiformal professional settings when styled correctly. The light green tone requires thoughtful accessorizing with brown or burgundy shoes, a plain shirt, and an appropriate tie to maintain sophistication. It's less suitable for conservative corporate environments but works well in creative industries, social professional events, and situations where personal style expression is valued alongside professionalism.
When should I add alternative colored suits to my wardrobe?
Alternative colored suits work best as your fourth or fifth suit purchase rather than your first few additions. Start with foundational navy and gray suits for business needs, then expand into alternative colors once you have those basics covered. This approach ensures you have appropriate options for all situations before investing in more distinctive pieces.