Drinks parties, dates, dinner and beyond. These are the awkward limbo events for which a full suit is little much, but smart casual could be seen as a cop out. Thankfully, for the style-conscious man, there exists another option. Albeit one that tends to strike fear into the hearts of those who\u2019ve never attempted it.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re talking, of course, about suit separates.<\/p>\n
The majority of gentlemen tend to write separates off as some sort of advanced-level style move, reserved only for the street-style elite and Pitti peacocks. However, we\u2019re going to let you in on a secret: it\u2019s not anywhere as hard as they\u2019d lead you to believe. The trick lies in knowing when to wear them, which colours work well together\u2026 and which ones don\u2019t. Once you\u2019ve got that pinned down your wardrobe options will increase dramatically. So allow us to fill you in on the fundamentals.<\/p>\n
At their core, separates are any items of tailoring \u2013 i.e. blazers and trousers \u2013 that don\u2019t come from the same suit. Mixing the colours up keeps things more laid back than wearing a two-piece, without straying into sports jacket and jeans territory.<\/p>\n
It can be a little more complex than that, though. For example, the trousers don\u2019t always have to be tailored. A pair of suit trousers could be swapped out for chinos in most cases and still be classed as separates. It\u2019s all about how it looks as a whole, and pairing the correct colours is a big part of that.<\/p>\n
Any time the dress code is a little bit fuzzy would be a good time to opt for separates. They\u2019re always a great option for weddings, business casual offices and cocktail attire. As long as you don\u2019t work in a corporate office, and the invite doesn\u2019t state black tie, you can consider yourself good to go. And if in doubt, check with the host.<\/p>\n
Done right, suit separates are the perfect vehicle for flexing your sartorial chops. Done wrong, you\u2019ll look like you got dressed in the dark. To insure you always get the most out of mix-and-match menswear, these are the rules that should be adhered to.<\/p>\n
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Obviously, colour is hugely important when it comes to separates. That\u2019s why they call them separates, right? But there\u2019s another dimension to consider if you want to take your casual tailoring game from good to godlike.<\/p>\n
Texture is often overlooked but highly impactful when deployed with a little thought. The key lies in selecting fabrics that work together and the crucial thing to pay attention to here is seasonality.<\/p>\n
Generally speaking summer and winter fabrics don\u2019t pair well, so pay attention to the temperature and mix your textures accordingly. That means a big no to voile cloth with moleskin and a big yes to corduroy with heavy cotton twill or pique cotton with linen.<\/p>\n
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When talking in terms of dress pants, blazers and Derbies, it\u2019s easy to fall into the trap of thinking separates should be formal. This is far from the truth.<\/p>\n
At the core, suit separates are casual. Smart? Sure. But would you wear them to Buckingham Palace Garden Party? Probably not. For this reason, structured tailoring is best avoided in place of more relaxed pieces. Anything that is very obviously part of a matching two or three-piece is a big no no.<\/p>\n
Instead stick to more laid-back jackets with natural shoulders and think outside of the box in terms of materials. Also remember to exercise your freedom in terms of footwear. You might be constrained to leather Oxfords or Derbies with a formal suit but there\u2019s much more room for manoeuvre where separates are concerned.<\/p>\n
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It may sound obvious but it\u2019s worth repeating: nailing the perfect blazer and trouser combinations is all about creating contrast. Colours should look good together but shouldn\u2019t be too similar in tone. Get this wrong and you risk looking like you were trying to match and failed.<\/p>\n
Of course, tonal separates can work but it\u2019s important to make the colour of top and bottom different enough from each other to retain some semblance of contrast.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also a good idea to use a unifying colour theme to bring your outfit together as a whole. This can be achieved through accessories or pattern. For example, olive pants could be worn with a patterned blazer featuring olive as a base colour in the pattern. It\u2019s a subtle yet effective way of creating visual cohesion.<\/p>\n
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This really is menswear 101 but it\u2019s relevant here too. Fit is the most important part of any outfit. It doesn\u2019t matter what you paid or whose name is stitched into the label, if the garment doesn\u2019t fit it\u2019s meaningless.<\/p>\n
However, when it comes to wearing separates it\u2019s not just a good fit that\u2019s important, it\u2019s that the garments have uniformity in the way they hang on your body.<\/p>\n
For example, wearing an oversized blazer with slim-fit jeans would be a mistake. Instead, pay just as much attention to matching your fits as you would to colour and textures. It\u2019s just as important, if not more so.<\/p>\n
Some colours work beautifully with one another. Others, not so much. Here we look at the failsafe options you can keep referring back to time and time again to ensure your separates are perfectly matched, no matter what.<\/p>\n
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There are very few colours navy doesn\u2019t work with, but there are a select few that it complements so wonderfully it was almost as though they were designed to sit next to each other. One such hue is khaki. The beauty of this combination is that it works both ways round (top or bottom), but we\u2019re going to focus on a navy blazer with khaki trousers.<\/p>\n
First, use a base layer to anchor the outfit. A white shirt, earthy roll neck or dark T-shirt would work nicely. If the occasion calls for it you could even add a waistcoat \u2013 something autumnal like a brown or beige textured wool would work well. Then it\u2019s just a case of matching the suit trousers to your shoes. Try going for Oxfords or loafers in either a deep brown or black.<\/p>\n
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White trousers and tailoring is a bold style move, but one that can really pay off. So don\u2019t let the Italian menswear mavens have all the fun, grab yourself a slice of the high-contrast action too \u2013 just watch where you\u2019re sitting when you\u2019re out and about.<\/p>\n
This one is best pulled off with a hearty dose of sprezzatura<\/em>. Jacket wise, why not go double-breasted? If it\u2019s colder weather you could even introduce a tonal waistcoat to give this combo an extra dimension. Other touches like a Panama hat, a scarf and\/or a vibrant pocket square will help you to achieve that sense of effortlessly nonchalance, without coming across try-hard (it\u2019s a fine balance).<\/p>\n In terms of shoes, your options are numbered but black, dark brown or oxblood will always look great with this tried-and-tested pairing.<\/p>\n For spring and summer occasions, there are few blazer and trouser combinations better suited than green and white. Shade-wise, the jacket should be somewhere between olive and forest green, but equally important as colour is texture.<\/p>\n Thick, tactile fabrics like heavy cotton twill or tweed work very nicely when paired with a light-coloured pair of pants. If pure white feels a bit too showy, opt for cream instead and go for something with a high waist and pleats for bonus style points.<\/p>\n In terms of the footwear, leather and suede will both work nicely, anywhere between beige and chestnut brown. If in doubt, a pair of brown suede loafers is a foolproof option.<\/p>\n Suit separates don\u2019t have to sit at opposite ends of the colour spectrum. In fact, both jacket and pants can be the same colour, provided the shades are different enough from one another to create some contrast.<\/p>\n This is what\u2019s known as tonal dressing and it\u2019s a good option for events and occasions that sit on the dressier side of things. Think cocktail parties and evening dos as opposed to summer weddings and outdoor daytime affairs. A light blue jacket and navy pants is a good place to start. If you want to add another element, a waistcoat can work either in navy to match the pants, grey, or in a different shade of blue altogether.<\/p>\n Brown is best for the footwear and stick to something classic like leather Derbies, loafers or Oxfords to keep it smart.<\/p>\n Perhaps the best option (and the smartest) when going tonal with your separates is to work with neutrals and grey is king when it comes to those. Piecing together an entire look around a grey colour palette may sound sinfully boring but it can be surprisingly eye catching when executed well.<\/p>\n Dark upstairs and light downstairs is the best approach here. Go for a dark jacket and light grey pants for maximum contrast. Again, the addition of a waistcoat can work well to bring things together, particularly when chosen in a shade that sits between that of the jacket and the pants.<\/p>\n Black leather is the obvious choice where footwear is concerned. However, that\u2019s not to say a brown shoe can\u2019t be worn, provided the shade complements the pants.<\/p>\n As previously mentioned, a summer wedding presents the perfect occasion to wheel out your separates. But unless you want to be on the verge of passing out from heat exhaustion by the time the speeches start, you should avoid dark colours and heavier materials.<\/p>\n A beige jacket in linen, layered over a blue chambray shirt, is a good place to start. It\u2019s smart yet summery and will keep you cool. Match this with a pair of crisp white tailored trousers or chinos.<\/p>\n Then it\u2019s just a case of nailing the footwear; black, dark brown or oxblood loafers are a solid option here.<\/p>\n From a summer favourite to a winter one. Mixing black and grey may not sound like the most festive combination around but keeping your jacket and trousers low key and muted gives you some leeway to create a focal point elsewhere within your ensemble.<\/p>\n A good place to start is with your base layer \u2013 i.e. whatever you\u2019ve elected to wear beneath the jacket. A roll neck is a sophisticated choice and as the rest of your clothes aren\u2019t screaming for attention, you can opt for a bold colour or even a pattern \u2013 a seasonal Fair Isle perhaps?<\/p>\n As for your shoes, keep things nice and simple with black Derbies, brogues or monk-straps.<\/p>\n When dressing for impact, a statement jacket is your best friend. A colourful top layer is a foolproof way to bring an outfit to life, making it ideal for parties and functions that allow you a little room for manoeuvre in the dress code department.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve said it before many a time, but it\u2019s worth repeating: if you\u2019re going to wear a statement item \u2013 be it a jacket and shirt and tie or whatever else \u2013 you need to ensure the rest of your getup is pared-back. Nothing should be fighting for attention. That\u2019s why a pair of grey trousers is such a good accompaniment in this instance. Grey is classic, understated and will complement a statement burgundy jacket without stealing any of the limelight.<\/p>\n On your feet, you\u2019ll need to make sure the colour of your shoes is a good match for grey. To get this right, always opt for either black or dark brown.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Drinks parties, dates, dinner and beyond. These are the awkward limbo events for which a full suit is little much, but smart casual could be seen as a cop out. Thankfully, for the style-conscious man, there exists another option. Albeit one that tends to strike fear into the hearts of those who\u2019ve never attempted it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":456,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-outfit-inspiration"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=455"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3184,"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/455\/revisions\/3184"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nadigitalboss.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Green Blazer With White Trousers<\/h2>\n
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Tonal Blue Blazer & Trousers<\/h2>\n
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Tonal Grey Blazer & Trousers<\/h2>\n
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Beige Blazer With White Trousers<\/h2>\n
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Grey Blazer With Black Trousers<\/h2>\n
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Burgundy Blazer With Grey Trousers<\/h2>\n
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