How to wear Green Suits & Jackets

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Today, fellow Gentleman’s Gazette reader Ahmed Sajeel will discuss the color green in menswear:
Now what is style without a personal signature? An idiosyncrasy, a subtle personal note; that bends the established rules ever-so-slightly; will tell the well-dressed man from the one who has lovingly invested years fidgeting and eventually arriving at – for want of better expression – a signature.

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While I am a number of ‘country’ miles away from the second gent, I have exceedingly been inspired by nature in putting together my outfits. As interest created the illusion of evolved understanding over the years, asymmetrical and unpredictable assortments of colours, shades and textures have continued to fascinate me to no end. Is it not how the arrangements of nature are at their most epic … feigning to have not paid too much attention, which in turn ought to be the very essence of a gentleman’s outfit? Picture if you will the fuchsia of a full bloom in proximity to something as unassuming … as a random stone (please feel free to thank me when you try a fuchsia tie with a light blue shirt and stone hued suit).

In much the same way and without noticing explicitly; that colour green – in all its delightful manifestations – found its way into my ensembles, and has gratifyingly stayed there. Though oft neglected in the male wardrobe in favor of the city blues and grays, hints of green pop up in country clothing. Which brings me back to the rather important point here; correlating to one’s opening statement … It certainly was the Duke,

Green mottled donegal tweed
Green mottled donegal tweed

who left his most definitive mark by infusing elements of country sportswear into his city clothing; including – and certainly not limited to – the Glen Urquhart check suit. Inarguably, his wardrobe has drawn more word and imagery than the correctness of a grey suit, white shirt and navy tie.

And I digress … or do I?

Individuals of discerning taste will concur – I am tempted to believe – that this much dash of sportiness in formal city attire is far more the point, than Mr. Paul McCartney’s annoyingly spotless, white sneakers with his black suits.

And what really makes green work is its natural affinity with blue, the most commonly employed colour in the city wardrobe. It has worked for me to the point where I perhaps overdo these permutations (was there a sigh of ‘signature’). Experiment and one will inevitably notice that juxtaposition of the two creates enough contrast to keep the nonchalance flag flying high; and yet sufficient harmony to make the effect pleasing to the eye.

Is there a sight richer than lush grass along the blue of a serene lake? Bested perhaps only by a horizon of green mountain tops against the clear blue sky.

And when speaking of green on its own; there is something undeniably majestic about Emerald; or the freshness of Wild Apple or Lime; or the depth of Olive; or the rich enigma of Forest.

So get to work please. One at a time though for optimum effect and also because elementary as it may sound, only successful outings will ensure courage and subsequent continuity. Accessories make for the best starting point and pocket squares are anyhow generous to otherwise quiet outfits. Ties are next step in that logical sequence, to be

Grey, Blue & Yellow with Green Pocket Square
Grey, Blue & Yellow with Green Pocket Square

followed by shirts in the right shades once things have started to find their own course. Now if a gentleman has his regular share of gray and blue suits in seasonal fabrics,

Green makes for a delightful change of pace. Though caution in putting together such an ensemble must never be thrown to wind. Dusty green linen for summers and olive tweeds for fall / winter are as timeless, as they are season appropriate. Fortunately this reminds me of a unique length of lime green tweed that has rather patiently been awaiting its turn to the tailor’s.

For monre information about how to match colors with blue & brown garments, look here.

Like with everything else do add a personal nuance; or an idiosyncrasy. Make it your own, if you please … after all what is style if not with a personal signature.

Reader Comments

  1. Thanks for the post. The green pocket square and glen plaid suit is a great combination.

  2. Dear Mr. Sajeel,
    I couldn’t agree more to this your pleadings in favor of the color green. I can tell out of my own experience that it is a most underrated shade that enriches every gentleman’s wardrobe, even of those fearing to appear to womanly in shades like purple or pink. Your example of a navy pin stripe suit combined with a green striped shirt proves how a most conservative piece of clothing can be turned into an outstanding and yet not flashy eye-catcher. The combination of grey, as shown on your combinations of grey glen suit and the grey herringbone sports coat, the power of green is almost unleashed.
    The master of balance has proven himself again.
    Thanks a lot for this article and greetings.

  3. Dear Mr. Donnerbalken,

    It clearly takes a gentleman of evolved taste to appreciate and understand the delicate balance. Green has mostly been absent since the roaring ’20’s and the dashing ’30’s, which can partly be contributed to mass produced rather than individually selected, tailored and donned fine menswear. General decline of mens’ interest in finer clothing more than made up for the rest.

    Thank you yet again for such generous praise and acknowledgement.

  4. Dear Mr. Sajeel, your article is absolutely wonderful. Personally, I never wear green, but after reading your article I am thinking of including green in my wardrobe.
    Your style of writing is lyrical, are you into poetry by any chance?

  5. Thanks a lot Mr. Sharma and I’ll be most delighted to have added another dimension to your wardrobe. Me, I generally wax lyrical about things I’m passionate about :-)

    One does enjoy poetry, yes. There have been times of some random ramblings too.

    Thank you again

  6. Dear Mr. Lux,

    Thank you for your generous words … the olive suit is very present day and will be completing only its second year this coming March. Bespoke and the fabric possesses a rather interesting textural and tonal depth.

  7. The best more formal green combo I know is charcoal grey suit, bold blue and white striped shirt (big stripes) and solid palish jade green grenadine tie.

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