Tie for grey suit black shirt

Oct 25, 2021

In our guide to grey suit combinations below, we will provide you with some general rules that will elevate and enhance your style. From bold to laid back, the grey suit is often the one to stand out in amongst the tide of black and navy options. In this post we'll cover:

• Colour combinations
• What tie to wear with a grey suit
• How to wear your suit for different occasions
• Choosing the right accessories

FIND YOUR PERFECT GREY SUIT ACCESSORIES

Colour Combinations

In our minds, there is nothing more dashing and sharp as a suit when worn well. To bring out the best in your grey suit, it's important to get the right suit colour. Firstly, the basic shirt colours every man must have in his wardrobe are white and sky blue. These are both safe options that will allow you to create an array of classic options.

In general, a grey suit will always look good with a crisp white shirt and a black tie. However, we feel that this look has become such a staple that it actually comes across as bland. This is particularly true in a corporate environment where you might be faced with a small army of clones wearing the same combination. The best way to liven it up? Add an injection of colour or pattern. For example pairing it with a pink or green shirt or adding a windowpane check to your suit. This is a bold look, but when worn with confidence will separate you as a man with true style.

Your usual sartorial sense would tell you that wearing a sky blue shirt would work, but this does depend on the shade of grey. If you are wearing a light grey suit, a sky blue shirt will appear so washed out you will completely lose the effect of the contrast. However, if you are wearing a dark grey suit, a crisp sky blue shirt can make the grey really shine, and that is a simple way of adding a subtle pop of colour. If you do want to introduce a sky blue shirt with a pale grey suit, go for a blue and white striped or checked number. This is a simple, yet effective way of making a statement without being too overt, while you will also get the effect of the contrasting shades. 

Choosing Your Pocket Square

Have you ever wondered what goes into the design and creation of a pocket square? See our video below for why we believe we create the world's best pocket squares. You can view our full range here: Pocket Square Collection. And if you'd like to go deep and see our complete guide to pocket square colour matching, designs and folds, click on the following link: How to wear a pocket square. 

Tie Options

Let's now look at some tie options. A grey suit on it's own does offer quite a blank canvas when it comes to choosing a tie. So if you keep it neutral by going with a white shirt you can comfortably go bold with your tie. You could choose to go for more vibrant solid colours or choose a pattern that will become the focal point of your look. Navy ties, with wool textures, work superbly with grey for a smart and classic look.

To add a touch of warmth, a burgundy tie is a great option. The burgundy tie is a classic tie that every gentleman should own. More commonly seen in combination with a navy suit, it pairs perfectly with a grey suit.

As a further note, it's definitely worth investing in classic silk ties, 6cm to 8cm wide, in either solid colours or lightly patterned that will stay in style year after year. Cheap ties will tend to crease after a short period to of time if you don't really look after them.  

Tonal grey is a classic menswear staple look. The ability to play with grey scales, colour levels and textures allows you to be creative in your choices but not too bold in colour to get it wrong. We feel a wool textured grey tie or a stripe tie are perfect options here. Don’t be scared to explore different hues, a darker charcoal tie against a lighter grey can really stand out. 

For a grey suit, the shirt and tie combinations are just as versatile as a navy suit, and therefore adaptable for all seasons. However, as a general rule we would recommend sticking to the paler shades of grey during the warm months and the darker shades or charcoal in a woollen mix for the cooler months.

What Makes Up A Grey Tailored Jacket?

With any grey suit, you need to ensure you know all the key details associated with a luxury tailored jacket. As part of our Details Video Series, we explore the key components that make up a tailored jacket. From the importance of the lapels, to the benefits of using natural fibres, Leah speaks with fashion consultant Chris Modoo and delves into the main elements of a tailored jacket.

A classic jacket should be well made, versatile and long-lasting. The below video covers the key elements to be aware of when choosing a new jacket. 

Product Focus: Best of Ties

What is the best tie to wear with a grey suit? Below we look at some of our favourite merino wool or cashmere ties to pair with your suit of choice. 

Crimson Red Wool & Cashmere Tie 
Handmade in England, this wool and cashmere blended mix is the perfect burgundy option to pair with a grey suit. The vibrant, warm colour hues of the red work exceptionally with a grey textured backdrop. We would pair this with a crisp white smart shirt and a gold/red based silk pocket square.

Grey Pinstripe Merino Wool Tie
Our community favourite and best selling Grey Pinstripe Merino Wool tie is entirely handmade in England using fabric from the world-renowned Fox Brothers & Co. Featuring a grey base with an extra wide spaced stripe, this tie will pair well with any grey jacket or blazer for a tonal yet sophisticated ensemble. 

Moss Pindot Merino Wool Tie
The weave structure of this Moss Pindot cloth creates a very elegant texture, adding another dimension to your look. Green, sage and forest colours work well with grey as they compliment and are both from earthy colour families. If your grey suit has a texture, stripe, check or pattern within the cloth, this green tie would elevate the outfit superbly. 

How To Wear A Grey Suit

A grey suit is most definitely a versatile colour, and can be dressed up or down with some thought given to your accessories. Below we've covered off some different occasions with a bit of guidance to always look your best.

A Wedding
A simple way to look well turned out at a wedding is by wearing a classic double cuffed shirt, and then pair it with an elegant set of cufflinks. Ideally you should look to match other accessories of your look, for example silver cufflinks with a silver watch and silver buckles on a nice pair of monk strap shoes. This is such an effortless way of adding something to draw the eye. Although this is so simple, it is an easy way of showing off your sartorial knowledge. If you're looking to keep it simple lean towards plain rather than patterned shirts and use your accessories to lift the outfit.

If it's a summer wedding and you're going for a pale grey suit, a solid combination would be a crisp white shirt and blue tie and then you can use the pocket square as your flare accessory and go for something bold such as purple. Alternatively, you could keep the pocket square safe and go for a plain white square with a flat fold, and then go for a green or patterned tie as your flare piece. Simple combinations like this will give you that attention grabbing and effortless look that is perfect for a wedding.

In The Office
In the office it is very easy to slip into the common grey suit, white shirt and black tie combo. Below we set out a few things to keep in mind so you can stand out from the crowd, while keeping the hint of formality that many job roles require.

Firstly, there is the shade. Broadly speaking light greys are more casual, with the darker greys and charcoal more formal. Therefore if you are mainly planning to wear your suit in the office, go for a darker shade.

In terms of what you wear with it, a stylish choice is to choose a flat coloured shirt and then wear a tie that is at least one or two shades darker. For the office, if you go for a patterned tie, don't choose a pattern that is too overpowering.  

Finally, a very simple, but often overlooked accessory for a modern man is an elegant dress watch. A white faced watch with a brown leather strap will always look good in the office during the day and is also an easy complement for brown leather shoes. 

A Casual Event
For a casual event or day out this is where you can definitely be more flamboyant with your look and introduce bolder patterns, more eye-catching accessories or loose your socks and go for a pair of loafers. The main thing to keep in mind is not to go too overboard with your accessories. Choose 1 or 2 more flamboyant options and then keep everything else relatively muted. This ensures that you look like a man of style.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the grey suit is a very versatile suit colour. In general, the lighter the suit colour the more casual it tends to be. However, the shirt colour and accessories can definitely dress up or down the suit. 

All suiting requires the perfect pocket square accessory to complete any outfit. See our video below for why we believe we create the world's best pocket squares. You can view our full range here: Pocket Square Collection.

For more formal occasions keep your shirt options safe and then you can be much more flamboyant with your accessories. For more casual events or in summer, look to lose your socks and tie and go for a pair of loafers for a stylish relaxed look.

Click here to view our full range of Fine Men's Accessories.

Updated 25th October 2021

Product Reviews

Menswear Blogger - Linus Norrbom - Sweden

"From a person that feels naked without a pocket square in the chest pocket of my jacket, I can honestly say that Rampley & Co. have change the way I look upon pocket squares.

Rampley & Co. is well renowned for their beautiful and unique pocket squares, but have more recently widened their range of quality men’s accessories, such as e.g. ties in lovely Scabal fabrics but also braces, umbrellas and socks.

In terms of the pocket squares, it is truly a great joy wear a piece of art in your pocket. They feature carefully selected artwork motifs, beautifully printed on high-quality silk and well handcrafted with nice hand-rolled edges etc. I find that the size of 42×42 cm of the Rampley & Co. pocket squares works really well, it sits well in the pocket and allows various folds. The different folds, combined with a lot of colours in the motif, makes the pocket square really versatile in terms of complementing an outfit..." Click to read full review.

The Grey Fox - David Evans - United Kingdom

"I've used Rampley & Co pocket squares, socks and ties for a few years now. All are well-made and stylish. I believe in buying few and buying well - it's the only sustainable way to avoid piles of stuff going into landfill.

The pocket squares are exceptional; in fact I'd collect them all if I could. Those based on old paintings and prints have the advantage that you can fold them in infinite ways, effectively giving you scores of squares in one.

The ties are the ideal width and length and their quality enables me to tie a full knot - always important. It's always worth keeping an eye on their website as the best designs come and go quickly..." Click to read full review.

"I was elated when I received the most elegant and exquisite pocket square I had ordered from Rampley & Co! It is absolutely gorgeous. The color and clarity of the scene depicted, and the quality of this accessory are truly exceptional." Read more reviews... 

Tom - United Kingdom

"Very impressed by both the quality of the product and the customer service. The team fulfilled a last-minute request and got a beautiful pocket square to me via international shipping nearly instantaneously." Read more reviews... 

Thorvaldur - Iceland

"I recently purchased a scarf for my wife´s Birthday and a pocket square for myself. We could not be more pleased. The items arrived promptly, beautifully presented and I received a surprise with my pocket square." Read more reviews... 

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