John Airasian’s first navy blue suit wasn’t exactly his idea.
His brother was graduating, and since John had to give a short speech, his father insisted he wear a suit. Not just any suit, either. He remembers his father telling him, “You got to have a navy blue suit.”
So he got one. And from then on, navy became his go-to. “That was the first time I wore it, and I loved it,” says John, owner of Eastern Clothing. “I found it easy to match and appropriate for pretty much anything.”
Years later, not much has changed. John recently looked through his closet and had a realization: “I’ve got to mix in something different. My sports coats are all different, but my suits are all blue.”
It didn’t take long for John to see why navy was such a good choice. You can wear it to a job interview without looking overly formal, dress it up for a wedding, or pull it out for a business meeting. If you’re a guy who doesn’t want a closet full of suits, one good navy suit can take you pretty much anywhere.
Why choose navy over black for an everyday suit?
There may be another reason the navy suit works so well in professional settings besides being easy to wear. Research on color has linked blue with perceptions of trustworthiness and quality. Research into first impressions in business found that people tended to put more trust in someone wearing gray or blue.
Of course, wearing a navy blue suit isn’t going to close a business deal for you. But if blue can help you come across as more dependable and honest, that’s a great thing to have working in your favor.
John’s love of a navy blue suit is a bit more practical.
“I think navy blue is universal. Sometimes people think a charcoal gray can be a little too serious. And black doesn’t work great with many business things — it’s much more formal. But blue can kind of take you wherever you need to go, anywhere from a job interview to a funeral to a wedding.”
Most guys only need one good suit they can rely on for different occasions.
That’s also why John usually starts with blue when someone comes into the store looking for a first suit. “It’s usually the first one I would take off the rack. I just feel like it looks good on most people, whereas some grays can wash people out. So blue is an easier starting point for sure.”
What Makes a Good Navy Suit?
A good navy suit doesn’t need a lot going on.
Take one of the best-selling navy suits Eastern Clothing carries year-round. It’s all wool, Super 140s, with a really nice weave, a two-button jacket, side vent, and flat-front pants. It’s a simple and polished style that makes it wearable in a wide range of occasions, with a silhouette that isn’t going out of style anytime soon.
If you’re buying a suit you plan to keep for years, that style is a pretty safe place to start. Men’s styles don’t change that quickly, so it won’t look outdated a few years from now. Add navy to that, and you have a suit that works for just about anything.
Where to Wear a Navy Suit?
A navy suit can get a lot of use outside of the occasional formal event. For work, you can wear one to business meetings, networking events, and job interviews. It’s particularly well suited to interviews for leadership positions, where dressing more professionally is usually the safer call.
Outside of work, you can bring it out for dinners, celebrations, and other social events.
And then there are weddings.“We do a lot of blue for weddings,” says John. “There’s so many different shades of blue now, but the navy blue suit remains an absolute staple.”
So this isn’t a suit that has to sit in the back of your closet waiting for the next wedding invitation. Chances are, you’ll have another reason to wear it before long.
What Colors Look Best With a Navy Blue Suit?
Browns, reds, and shades of orange all pair well with navy when you want some contrast. They stand out instead of getting lost in the rest of the outfit.
Lighter blues work too. A light blue shirt, for example, pairs well with a navy suit. Just make sure the blue is light enough to give you some contrast, or it can start to blend into the suit.
We generally wouldn’t recommend accessories that are too close to the color of your suit. A navy tie can make the whole outfit look more muted and serious.
There are times when that makes sense. At a formal business meeting or a funeral, you probably don’t want your tie to be the first thing people notice.
How to Accessorize Your Navy Suit
A simple rule for shirts and ties is to work from light to dark. Keep your shirt lighter than your jacket, then choose a tie that’s darker than the shirt but lighter than the suit.
There’s a reason that combination looks right. The lighter shirt brightens the area around your face, while the tie adds contrast between the shirt and jacket.
Outerwear is a little different. A black jacket can pair well with a blue suit depending on the style and fit of the jacket.
Texture matters too. With a wool suit, a silk tie is a good choice when you want a smoother, dressier look. When you’re transitioning your wardrobe for fall, a coarser knit tie is another option and adds some texture to the outfit.
For pocket squares, you can match the color and shade to your tie while choosing a different pattern. That keeps the two connected without making them look exactly the same.
Mistakes to Avoid When Wearing Navy Blue Suits
We’d generally stay away from pairing a navy suit with a black shirt. The colors are so close that they can start to blend together, making the outfit look less intentional.
If you still want a darker shirt, charcoal gray will give you a little more contrast from the navy. A black shirt is also easier to pair with a royal or light blue jacket, where there’s more contrast between the layers.
Be careful with going too far in the other direction, especially with your shoes. Very light or bright shoes against a navy suit can pull your eye straight down to your feet. You want people looking at you, not your shoes.
For a more formal occasion, go with black shoes. For everything else, dark or muted shades of brown are a good choice.
A Navy Blue Suit Is One You’ll Keep Wearing
One of the most practical things about men’s fashion is that you don’t have to replace your wardrobe every season.
“In men’s fashion, once something comes in, it stays for a while. It doesn’t move that quickly,” says John.
That’s part of what makes a navy blue suit such a good purchase. It has been a staple for a long time, and you can change the shirt, tie, shoes, and accessories depending on where you’re headed while continuing to wear the same suit.
For men who want to stay in style without constantly cycling through clothes, that kind of longevity matters. It’s also one of the reasons choosing well-made clothing over fast fashion can make sense.
If you’re looking for your first navy suit or think it might be time for a new one, stop by Eastern Clothing. John and the team can help you find one that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color shoes go with a navy blue suit?
Black shoes work well for formal occasions. For most other events, dark or muted brown shoes are a good choice.
What color shirt goes with a navy blue suit?
White and light blue are two of the easiest options. Lighter shirts give you enough contrast against the navy and work for both business and formal occasions.
Can you wear a navy blue suit to a wedding?
Yes. Navy is a popular choice for weddings because it can easily be dressed up with the right shirt, tie, shoes, and accessories.