How To Wear A Green Suit: The Most Underrated Men’s Color

Wearing A Green Suit Is Not As Hard As You Might Think

Ah Green. The colour of vitality, nature, ecology and harmony is everywhere around us. It makes perfect sense then for business casual and today we are going to showcase “How To Wear A Green Suit” with the help of Suitsupply’s Limited Emerald Capsule Collection.

Unfortunately Green is such an underrated colour because everyone tries to stick with the classic blue and grey theme. It is extremely versatile and can dress an outfit up or down while creating a mesmerizing colour palette.

Not only that, but it can help you develop that signature style that everyone will recognize and admire. In a sea of blue and grey you can be the elegant exception.

But There Are A Million Shades Of Green

You are probably right for thinking that and it is a regular occurrence amongst men. We tend to put all the different shades of one colour into one basket. However, say that this is pink next to a woman and she will correct you by saying “No, it is salmon pink“.

Likewise, Green has many different beautiful shades. In the darker side of the spectrum we find shades like Hunter Green, Emerald Green or Forest Green. On the other hand pastel colours are lighter like Neon, Lime and Sage Green for a more summer look.

If you are one of those who crave attention or regularly visit Pitti Uomo, you can literally wear anything but that does not mean it looks good in my book. In Misiu Academy we do dare to differ while also trying to apply the ground-rules.

What does that mean?

It means that if you want to wear a Green Suit for Business there is only one choice and that is darker shades.

Green is already a more informal tone inappropriate for Business Formal, so a darker colour will keep it well in the formality range for Business Casual. Simply put, the darker, the better.

Today’s Participants

In an effort to better showcase how I style Green Suits I have kept the core the same, while changing the accessories and the shirts. My choice was the Emerald Green Double Breasted Suit by Suitsupply from their Limited Emerald Capsule Collection. Here are some quick specifications:

• Product Code: P5550
• Fit: Havana
• Material: Pure Wool
• Composition: 100% Wool
• Woven By: Vitale Barberis Canonico (IT)
• Collection: Fall/Winter
• Price: 4399 SEK (485$/380£/425 Euro).

And here are the rest of the choices I made with these outfits:

• Brown Polka Silk Tie: Suitsupply
• Purple Floral Silk Tie: Charles Tyrwhitt
• Pocket Square: Granqvist Sweden
• Brown Cap Toe Oxfords: Loake 1880 Aldwych
• Brown Chelsea Boots: Loake 1880 Chatsworth
• Light Brown Shirt: Brothers Sverige
• Light Blue Prince of Wales Shirt: Charles Tyrwhitt

Remember To Always Start With Fit

No matter what fabric you choose, which type of lapels or colour the most important aspect of clothing is fit. A 1000$ suit will look terrible if is too big or too tight, while on the other hand a cheap polyester H&M Suit that fits well will look much better.

The idea is not to rush to H&M and waste your money (you might as well burn them) but to understand the importance of a good fit. This is further complimented by taking it to a tailor and altering some spots. It is very hard to find perfect fitting Ready-To-Wear clothes so hemming the pants or shortening the sleeves can be the cheapest yet most effective value purchase you will ever make.

To make your life easier, stores like Suitsupply offer in-house alterations and they are pretty good at it. For more information check out our very first suit buy guide.

Single Breasted Or Double Breasted?

This is a matter of personal preference but both jackets will look great. I am a huge fan of Double Breasted Suits so for such a bold piece I wanted to make a statement but also look effortless. I really feel it blends classic and modern at the same time.

As for the lapels, Peak will always look better on a Double Breasted version.

What About The Pockets?

Now this is something that can stir up a lot of debate. Jetted and Flap Pockets are always going to be more formal while Patch Pockets make for a better sports jacket.

In my opinion when you go for a green suit you are conscious that it is always going to be more informal. You could argue that Flap Pockets will improve that, but in my opinion this is the one occasion where I think Patch Pockets fit perfectly.

Not only you can use this as a suit separate and essentially a sports jacket/blazer but I also believe it blends well with the colour and the construction.

As aforementioned, this is personal preference so if you are unsure what to look for I would advise starting with Flap Pockets since you can never go wrong with them.

Great, Now Tell Me About Pants!

For younger guys I believe a slimmer cut and no-break is the best option when it comes to these colours. You want to look sharp and well-tailored, especially with such an unusual colour that ensures looks coming your way.

Therefore go hem these pants to have a no-break or slight-break for a more preppy clean look.

But Can You Tell Me Which Colours Compliment Green?

Versatility is the beauty of green and the combinations are endless. Shades of white, orange, blue and brown go extremely well with green. Here is a visual illustration of some colours that compliment it exceptionally.

For a slightly more detailed explanation I will break it down to categories.

Shirts

In our detailed Essential Shirt Guide we have outlined the most important shirts you need to start your business wardrobe. These include white, pink and light blue.

Green is already a strong unusual colour so you would do well to not draw attention with your shirt. I would choose either a white or light blue shirt while for a more casual day light brown is a fantastic choice.

All three will compliment a Green Suit perfectly so always think about the occasion and do not be afraid to dare a little.

Pro Tip: Wear it with a grey turtleneck and let the fireworks begin.

Suit Separates

What was written above also applies here, however with different colours.

In the world of business the real choices are navy blue and grey. When it comes to blazers or pants you can never go wrong with them.

If you are looking for a different more business casual approach you can always opt for a brown pair of pants or jacket. I have a pair of flannel brown pants that I love and you can read about them here.

And here is a beautiful Suitsupply Jacket that would work great with your green pants.

For the really adventurous and confident, you can always rock white or beige pants. If you are just starting however, begin with the basics.

Coats

This is an area that you can make a little difference. Any grey or navy coat will work with green, as we have established many times already.

A colour that will make a superb contrast is camel which is a very dapper look in my opinion.

Kinda makes me wish I had one of my own, but I do have a navy one I love already.

Ties

As my examples demonstrate it is very easy to pick a tie for a Green Suit. They can be made from silk for a more formal look or wool/grenadine for some texture and flair.

Gold accents and orange tints are fantastic with green, but also pink and purple. A tie is a way to express yourself so floral and geometric patterns or polka dots are appropriate and fun.

Brown is another personal favourite of mine, but I would generally avoid a green tie to not appear uniform. Burgundy could possibly work but I would avoid any kind of strong red colour.

Needless to say that navy and grey are always safe options.

Shoes

Another playground with many possibilities! If you have read our Dress Shoes Guide you will know that Oxfords, Derbies, Chelsea Boots and Monk-Straps are ideal for suits.

Your choice is dictated by the occasion but Chelsea Boots and Monks have been my go-to shoes lately. In summer months you could even wear loafers for a more casual look.

Darker shades of brown work best in my opinion though I would avoid lighter accents such as tan. Burgundy is once again very flexible and for those who have nailed the basics, blue shoes can also work well. I am uncertain about black as it is a very formal color that I reserve for different occasions.

Pocket Squares

Last on the list is Pocket Squares. There is not much to write about colours that has not been mentioned before and you can go wild with patterns and shapes or different folds.

However, what needs to be said is that you should not match your pocket square exactly to your tie. Instead, try to use something that has a little bit of your shirt and tie colour.

Remember that gold, yellow, orange and blue are great choices.

Now I Feel Ready To Wear It!

And you should!

Do not listen to the narrow-minded people that tell you that brown is for car salesmen and blue or grey the only options you have. Unless you work in a very strict environment like a law firm the rules are more relaxed these days. This is especially true in Europe.

Dark Green is perfectly fine for your workplace and if anything you will get many compliments if done right. I got one from my boss last week and a local bartender on a night out.

It is versatile, beautiful and represents vigor, growth and prosperity in many cultures. Once your collect all the basics for a minimalist wardrobe, it is time to explore your sartorial boundaries and a green suit is definitely a way to do it.

Remember to not go overboard, be confident and have a good fit and you will appear effortless and masculine.

Concluding Remarks

This concludes our guide on “How To Wear A Green Suit” and I hope you are as excited as I am! Not only did I give you a nice business alternative but also gave you the tools to pull it off. What a pep talk huh?!

I have been talking a lot about the minimalist wardrobe but I never really talked about what it consists off. So look forward for a Free PDF incoming in the near future with a simple guide to make your life easier.

In addition to that, I have another great interview coming up in February and hopefully a very special delivery from the US. Don’t forget to take a look at our 2018 year in review!

Would you wear a green suit? Leave a comment down below, subscribe for more content and follow us on Instagram!

Thank you for reading,

Kostas Mandilaris,
Misiu Academy