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Colored Suits: How to Stand Out with Bold Choices

Style

Colored Suits: How to Stand Out with Bold Choices

The world of men's formal wear has experienced a vibrant revolution. While classic black and navy suits will always have their place in a well-rounded wardrobe, more men are embracing...

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The world of men's formal wear has experienced a vibrant revolution. While classic black and navy suits will always have their place in a well-rounded wardrobe, more men are embracing bold colored suits to make memorable statements at weddings, formal events, and even in professional settings. This colorful shift represents one of the most exciting evolutions in modern menswear.

We've been helping men navigate these exciting new options — whether you're considering a rich green suit for an upcoming wedding or a sophisticated burgundy number for your next important presentation. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about choosing, styling, and wearing colored suits with confidence.

We'll explore the versatility of green suits, the sophisticated appeal of maroon and burgundy options, plus essential styling tips to ensure your bold choice translates to undeniable elegance.

Why Choose a Colored Suit?

The decision to step away from traditional black, navy, and gray suits isn't just about following trends—it's about intentional self-expression. Colored suits offer several compelling advantages:

Make a Memorable Impression
In a sea of conventional suits, a thoughtfully chosen colored suit immediately sets you apart. "The right colored suit communicates confidence and style literacy," says Joseph Knoop, Master Tailor and Style Director at Savile Row. "It tells people you understand the rules well enough to know exactly how to break them."

Express Personality Through Formality
Formal occasions often come with strict dress codes that can feel limiting. A colored suit allows you to honor the formality while injecting your personality into the look. This balance is particularly appealing for modern weddings and creative professional environments.

Versatility Across Seasons
Different colored suits naturally align with seasonal aesthetics. Lighter greens and burgundies work beautifully in spring and summer, while deeper, richer tones complement fall and winter perfectly. This seasonal adaptability gives colored suits practical versatility throughout the year.

Complement Your Complexion
While traditional suits are universally flattering, colored options can be specifically chosen to enhance your natural coloring. Certain shades of green complement warm skin tones, while burgundy and maroon often bring out the best in cooler complexions.

Many men hesitate to try colored suits because they worry about looking too flashy or inappropriate. The key is understanding context and execution. A well-fitted maroon suit in a sophisticated shade isn't about seeking attention—it's about elevating personal style while respecting the occasion.

Green Suits: A Versatile Bold Choice

Green suits have emerged as one of the most popular colored options, with "green wedding suit" searches increasing by 135% over the past two years. This surge in popularity isn't surprising—green offers remarkable versatility across various settings while maintaining a distinctive presence.

 

Emerald Shawl Tuxedo - The Black Tux

Understanding Green Suit Shades

The spectrum of green suit options covers everything from subtle to striking:

Sage Green
This muted, grayish-green has become a wedding favorite thanks to its understated elegance and natural aesthetic. Sage green suits complement outdoor and garden wedding settings and pair beautifully with numerous accent colors.

Olive Green
Slightly darker than sage with warm undertones, olive green suits project sophisticated masculinity. This shade bridges the gap between formal and casual, making it ideal for versatile dressing.

Emerald Green
Bold and vibrant, emerald green suits make a confident statement. This jewel tone works beautifully for special occasions and creative formal events where distinctive style is appropriate.

Forest Green
Deep and rich, forest green offers the perfect balance of distinctive color and professional restraint. These suits work exceptionally well in fall and winter months and project mature sophistication.

Green Wedding Suits: A Modern Classic

The "green wedding suit" has become a legitimate modern classic, particularly popular with grooms looking for something distinctive yet timeless. Here's why green has become a wedding go-to:

Complements Natural Settings
For outdoor, garden, or destination weddings, green suits harmonize beautifully with natural surroundings. This environmental compatibility creates a cohesive visual story in wedding photography.

Versatile Coordination Options
Green suits pair wonderfully with various wedding color schemes—from rustic earth tones to vibrant florals or even traditional white and gold palettes. This adaptability makes green an accommodating choice for complex wedding aesthetics.

Seasonally Adaptable
By adjusting the shade and fabric weight, green suits work year-round:

  • Spring/Summer: Lighter sage and mint greens in lightweight fabrics
  • Fall/Winter: Deeper forest and olive greens in textured or heavier materials

Groomsmen Coordination
Green suits offer creative options for visual cohesion among groomsmen. Options include having all groomsmen in the same green suit, varying shades of green, or keeping groomsmen in neutral suits with green accessories that complement the groom's full green suit.

Men's Green Suits in Professional Settings

While weddings represent the highest search volume for green suits, they're increasingly appearing in professional environments as well. The key to wearing a men's green suit professionally lies in selecting the right shade and styling it appropriately:

Appropriate Workplace Shades
For conservative environments, stick with deeper olive or forest greens that read as sophisticated alternatives to navy. More creative workplaces allow for the full spectrum of green options.

Professional Styling Approach
Keep accessories simple and classic—white shirts, solid or subtly patterned ties, and traditional footwear help balance the distinctive suit color with professional restraint.

Context Considerations
Save lighter or brighter greens for creative client meetings, company events, or industries where distinctive personal expression is valued. Stick to deeper, more subdued greens for high-stakes meetings and conservative client interactions.

Maroon & Burgundy Suits: Sophisticated Statement Pieces

Maroon and burgundy suits have established themselves as the sophisticated rebels of the colored suit world. These rich, deep reds convey luxury, confidence, and thoughtful style sophistication. With consistent search interest for both "maroon suits for men" and "burgundy suits men," these warm, rich tones have proven their staying power.

 

Burgundy Shawl Tuxedo Home Try - On - The Black Tux

Maroon vs. Burgundy: Understanding the Distinction

While often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between these shades:

Maroon Suits
Maroon contains more brown undertones, creating a slightly muted, earthy red that's extremely versatile. This shade tends to be more adaptable across various skin tones and styling combinations.

Burgundy Suits
Named after the wine region, burgundy incorporates more purple undertones, creating a richer, slightly more dramatic red. This jewel-like quality gives burgundy suits a particularly luxurious appearance, especially in plush fabrics like velvet or wool.

Both options project sophistication, but burgundy tends to read slightly more formal and evening-appropriate, while maroon offers marginally greater daytime versatility.

Ideal Occasions for Burgundy Suits Men

Burgundy suits shine in numerous formal and semi-formal contexts:

Fall/Winter Weddings
The rich depth of burgundy perfectly complements autumn foliage and winter celebrations. For weddings during these seasons, burgundy suits offer seasonal appropriateness while remaining distinctively formal.

Evening Formal Events
The slight purple undertones in burgundy catch light beautifully in evening settings, making these suits exceptional choices for galas, formal dinners, and upscale nighttime events.

Creative Professional Settings
In industries where personal expression is valued, burgundy suits project creative confidence while maintaining professional polish—ideal for media, design, entertainment, and marketing roles.

Styling Maroon Suits for Men

Maroon suits offer exceptional styling flexibility:

Best Shirt Pairings

  • Crisp white: Creates maximum contrast and formal propriety
  • Light blue: Offers subtle contrast and approachable sophistication
  • Pale pink: Creates a harmonious color story for more creative settings
  • Light gray: Provides understated elegance and contemporary styling

Tie Combinations

  • Solid navy or dark blue: Classic complement to maroon
  • Forest green: Creates rich color depth through complementary colors
  • Gold or champagne: Adds luxurious warmth for special occasions
  • Patterned options: Navy and burgundy patterns create sophisticated cohesion

Ideal Footwear

  • Dark brown leather: The most natural and versatile pairing
  • Oxblood/burgundy: Creates monochromatic sophistication
  • Black: Appropriate for the most formal settings

For a perfectly styled maroon suit combination, consider a tailored maroon wool suit with a crisp white shirt, navy knit tie, white pocket square with burgundy edging, and polished dark brown oxfords. This combination works across business settings, evening events, and special occasions with universal appropriateness.

How to Accessorize Colored Suits

The art of accessorizing colored suits requires thoughtful restraint and understanding of color theory. With the suit itself making a statement, accessories should enhance rather than compete with your bold choice.

Color Theory Fundamentals for Suit Styling

Understanding a few basic color principles helps create harmony in your outfit:

Complementary Colors
Colors opposite on the color wheel create vibrant contrast when paired. For green suits, selective use of burgundy/red accessories creates powerful accent points. For burgundy/maroon suits, strategic green elements provide beautiful contrast.

Analogous Colors
Colors adjacent on the color wheel create harmonious flow. Green suits pair naturally with blue or yellow-toned accessories, while burgundy suits work beautifully with purple or orange-leaning accessories.

Neutral Anchoring
When wearing colored suits, incorporate sufficient neutral elements (white, black, gray, beige) to ground the look and prevent color overload.

Specific Accessory Recommendations

For Green Suits:

  • White or cream shirts provide the cleanest canvas
  • Gold or bronze metal accessories complement the warm undertones in most greens
  • Burgundy leather accents (shoes, belt, watch strap) create sophisticated contrast
  • Patterned ties incorporating the suit's green tone create cohesion

For Maroon/Burgundy Suits:

  • Crisp white shirts create classic contrast
  • Silver or platinum metals complement burgundy's cool undertones
  • Navy or midnight blue accessories create depth without competition
  • Subtle patterns incorporating burgundy maintain sophistication

Balancing Statement Elements

The key principle: when your suit is the statement, keep accessories refined.

For colored suits, limit yourself to 1-2 additional statement elements maximum. If you choose a patterned tie, keep your pocket square simple. If you opt for distinctive shoes, keep your tie solid or subtly textured.

This restraint ensures your colored suit remains the focal point of a cohesive, intentional look rather than competing with too many statement pieces.

Buying Guide: What to Look for in a Quality Colored Suit

Colored suits require special considerations beyond those of traditional navy or gray options. Here's what to evaluate when investing in a quality colored suit:

Fabric Considerations

Color Consistency
Quality colored suits display even, consistent color throughout the garment, without streaking, fading, or patchiness. Examine the suit in natural light to assess true color consistency.

Dye Fastness
Superior colored suits maintain their vibrancy over time. Check the manufacturer's reputation for colorfastness or look for specific guarantees regarding color retention.

Natural Fibers
Wool, cotton, and linen take dye more beautifully than synthetic materials, displaying richer, more sophisticated color depth. Prioritize natural fibers for the most elegant colored suits.

Construction Quality Markers

Beyond standard suit construction quality indicators, colored suits benefit from:

Full Lining
Fully-lined colored suits maintain their shape better and prevent color transfer to shirts. This is particularly important for deeper colors like burgundy.

Reinforced Stitching
Quality colored suits feature reinforced stitching at stress points, which helps maintain structural integrity through cleaning processes that can be harsher on colored fabrics.

Natural Shoulders
Colored suits look most sophisticated with natural shoulder lines rather than heavily padded or structured shoulders, which can make bold colors appear costumey.

Investment Expectations

Quality colored suits typically require similar or slightly higher investment than their classic counterparts:

  • Entry-level colored suits: $500-700
  • Mid-range quality: $800-1,200
  • Premium options: $1,300-2,500+

Our rental options provide access to premium-quality colored suits at a fraction of purchase prices, allowing you to experiment with bold choices for specific occasions without full investment. And if you're looking to own a bold suit, our fully-canvassed, 100% merino wool suits are the best choice if you want to avoid the pitfalls and compromises common in comparable options under $1000.

Seasonal Guide to Colored Suits

Colored suits express themselves differently across seasons, with certain options shining in specific times of year:

Spring/Summer Colored Suit Options

Light Green Suits
Sage, mint, and lighter olive green suits thrive in warmer months, particularly in lightweight fabrics like tropical wool, cotton, or linen blends. These breathable options work beautifully for outdoor weddings and summer formal events.

Lighter Burgundy Options
For summer, consider rosewood or lighter burgundy shades in breathable fabrics. These warmer-weather appropriate versions maintain the sophistication of burgundy while feeling seasonally appropriate.

Warm Weather Styling Approach:

  • Lighter colored shirts (white, cream, pale blue)
  • Minimal layering
  • Loafers or dress shoes without socks
  • Lighter metal accessories

Fall/Winter Colored Suit Selections

Deep Green Suits
Forest, hunter, and deep olive green suits in textured wools or flannel create rich, seasonal looks perfect for fall and winter weddings, holiday parties, and cold-weather formal events.

Rich Burgundy/Maroon Options
The full depth of burgundy and maroon expresses itself beautifully in winter-weight wools, flannel, and velvet. These richer fabrics enhance the natural luxury of these red tones.

Cold Weather Styling Approach:

  • Layer with vests or appropriate outerwear
  • Incorporate seasonal textures (knit ties, wool pocket squares)
  • Choose substantive footwear with proper socks
  • Add cold-weather accessories that complement the suit color

Common Questions About Colored Suits

"Can I wear a colored suit to a formal event?"
Yes, with consideration for the specific event. Black tie events still require traditional black tuxedos, but most modern formal events welcome sophisticated colored suits, particularly in deeper tones like forest green or burgundy. When in doubt, deeper colors read more formal than lighter ones.

"How do I match shirts with colored suits?"
White shirts provide a fail-safe option for any colored suit. For more creativity, light blue works with most greens and burgundies. Pale pink pairs beautifully with burgundy, while light cream complements forest green. The key principle: the shirt should be lighter than the suit for proper contrast.

"Are colored suits appropriate for work?"
Industry and workplace culture determine appropriateness. Creative fields welcome thoughtfully styled colored suits, while conservative environments may prefer subtle colors like deep olive or navy-adjacent tones. Consider deep greens and burgundies as your entry point into workplace colored suits.

"Which body types look best in colored suits?"
All body types can wear colored suits successfully with proper tailoring. Larger frames often benefit from deeper colors like forest green or burgundy, while slighter builds can carry the full spectrum including lighter options. The most important factor is impeccable fit, not body type.

"How do I care for a colored suit?"
Colored suits require gentle care to maintain vibrancy. Dry clean sparingly (2-3 times per year maximum), using reputable cleaners experienced with colored garments. Between cleanings, use a garment brush and spot clean when necessary. Always store on proper wooden hangers in breathable garment bags to prevent color fading.

Making Your Statement with Confidence

Colored suits represent one of the most exciting evolutions in modern menswear, offering unprecedented opportunities for personal expression within formal structures. Whether you're considering a green wedding suit that harmonizes with natural surroundings or a burgundy statement piece for your next significant event, the key is approaching your choice with intention and confidence.

Remember that the most successful colored suits are those worn with genuine confidence. When you select a shade that resonates with your personal style, invest in proper fit, and style your colored suit with thoughtful restraint, you create a memorable, sophisticated impression.

We're proud to offer a carefully curated selection of colored suits that balance bold choices with timeless elegance. Explore our collection to discover how the right colored suit can transform not just how others see you, but how you see yourself.


Ready to make a statement with a colored suit? Browse our collection of premium green, burgundy, and other distinctive suit options designed for unforgettable style moments.