Every man should own at least five essential suit styles. The foundation begins with core colours such as navy, black, and grey, with lighter shades like tan offering more relaxed options for warmer months. Once the basics are covered, a patterned or textured suit adds depth, personality, and visual interest to your wardrobe.
For maximum versatility, look for single-breasted jackets with two buttons and a classic notch lapel. This combination works across body types and occasions, making it suitable for everything from office meetings to weddings and formal events.
1. The Black Suit – Essential for Formal and Evening Wear
A black suit is one of the most important suits for men, functioning as a wardrobe anchor whenever you need to look immaculately tailored on short notice. This is the suit you turn to for formal occasions, evening events, funerals, or any setting bordering on a black tie event.
Its sleek, understated style gives a refined appearance that never feels overly formal when worn with intention. A well-fitted black suit pairs perfectly with a white dress shirt, creating the sharpest possible contrast.
It may not be the suit you reach for every day, but when the dress code demands simplicity, precision and impact, the black suit remains unmatched. Many men choose a lightweight wool or textured fabric for improved comfort through the seasons.
How to Style the Black Suit
The classic pairing is still unbeatable: a white dress shirt, a black tie or even a bow tie, and polished black footwear.
To introduce subtle personality, incorporate textured fabrics such as a woven tie, satin lapels or a lightly patterned pocket square. Keep accessories minimal to preserve the formal, powerful silhouette that defines this timeless option.
2. The Navy Suit – The Ultimate Versatile Staple
Among all suit styles, the navy suit stands out as the most flexible and universally flattering choice. It is appropriate for everything from a job interview to weddings, corporate meetings, and semi-formal dinners.
As one of the most enduring business suits, navy strikes the ideal balance: formal enough for important events, yet relaxed enough to avoid feeling overdressed.
Australian style publications like GQ consistently highlight navy as a perfect suit colour because it works across body shapes, seasons and personal preference.
The navy suit also pairs beautifully with colourful accessories, whether you prefer bold silk ties, patterned pocket squares or a striped shirt for variation.
How to Style the Navy Suit
Start with a crisp white shirt and brown leather shoes for timeless balance. For a more casual outing, wear the navy suit jacket with chinos. Accessories offer endless variation, introducing texture, patterns, or wool and silk ties to express your personal style.
Navy is easy to adapt throughout the year, making it suitable for both summer suits and winter suits styling when the fabric weight is chosen carefully.
3. The Grey Suit – Workhorse for Business and Social Events
Grey suits offer an exceptional blend of professionalism and modern style. A charcoal or dark grey wool suit serves well in more serious business settings, while light grey or medium grey versions are excellent wedding suit options for spring and summer.
Grey strikes a perfect middle ground: refined, contemporary and incredibly easy to accessorise. Whether you’re navigating business attire expectations or attending special occasions, the grey suit’s neutrality allows it to work with everything from a pale blue shirt to bold ties.
It also pairs well with various jacket lining colours and textures. As far as suit types go, grey is one of the most adaptable, giving you both classic and modern styling opportunities.
How to Style a Grey Suit
Grey suits look exceptional with white, blue and pastel shirts. Light blue and pale blue shirts sharpen the look without overwhelming it.
If you like patterned shirts or textured fabric, grey handles stripes, checks and herringbone beautifully. This makes it an excellent choice for both traditional workplaces and more contemporary environments where more casual suits are acceptable.
4. The Tan or Khaki Suit – Perfect for Warm Weather and Outdoor Events
A tan or khaki suit offers relaxed sophistication and a refreshing alternative to darker colours. Ideal for summer suit styling, it excels at daytime weddings, vineyard events, beachside ceremonies and outdoor celebrations.
In Australia, lighter colours are increasingly embraced as classic suits evolve into more climate-appropriate choices.
Tan suits create a natural, contemporary feel that works well across many body types, especially when crafted from breathable textiles such as linen or cotton. They also align with current trends, highlighting the charm of earthy tones and textured fabric in menswear.
When Tan Works Best
These suits shine in warm months and at outdoor venues where comfort and style must work together. Whether paired with loafers, a soft blue shirt or accessorised with subtle patterns, a tan suit always feels modern and elegantly understated.
5. The Patterned or Textured Suit – Add Personality and Depth
Once you own the foundational styles, it’s time to explore patterned and textured suits. Patterns such as glen plaid, windowpane, houndstooth or subtle checks introduce depth and interest without compromising refinement. These options pair well with double-breasted suits, three-piece suit variations, and even casual suits when styled with softer accessories.
Patterned suits are particularly effective during cooler months when heavier fabrics enhance the visual dimension of the outfit. They’re ideal for work functions, cocktail events and settings where you can express your style preferences without appearing flashy.
When to Wear Patterns
These suits are best for social occasions and creative professions where individuality is appreciated. Their refined appearance makes them great choices for engagement parties, evening gatherings or events with flexible dress codes. Patterns also make a perfect suit stand out without feeling overly formal.
Fit, Lapels, and Button Styles: What Matters Most
No matter how many suits you own, the way the suit sits on your frame is determined by fit and construction.
Choose between slim fit suits, modern fit suits, or classic fit suits based on your body shape and comfort level.
A two-button jacket remains the most versatile style, balanced in proportion and suitable for a wide range of formal events and business attire settings.
Lapels also influence formality. Notch lapels define most suits and work for corporate wear, while peak lapels and satin lapels add visual sharpness for more formal settings, such as a dinner suit, morning suit, or sophisticated off-the-rack suits when you want a stronger presence.
Other details like patch pockets, soft shoulders, trouser hem length and jacket lining play a role in both function and aesthetics.
Whether you prefer Italian suits, a made-to-measure suit, or high-quality suit construction, proper tailoring always outweighs brand names.
Care, Maintenance, and Longevity Tips
Good suit care ensures long-term performance. Dry clean sparingly to avoid breaking down fibres, especially in wool suiting. Allow suits to rest between wears to maintain their shape and longevity. Rotating suits is essential, whether you own one suit or a larger collection.
Use cedar hangers to protect shoulders and fabric, especially for winter suits or heavy styles like a cotton suit or linen suit that benefit from breathing room.
Over time, have tailoring adjustments made to maintain the perfect fit as your personal preference or body type changes. With proper care, your suits remain versatile and ready for any dress code or event life brings.
Learn More About Essential Suit Styles that Every Man Should Own! Contact Penguins Formal Wear Today!
Building a well-rounded wardrobe begins with owning the right suits, and these five timeless styles ensure you’re prepared for every occasion, season and dress code. Whether you lean toward classic colours, warm-weather tailoring or statement textures, the cornerstone of great suiting is always fit, construction and thoughtful styling. With the right care and expert guidance, your suits will deliver confidence, versatility and long-lasting performance.
To explore the perfect suit for your needs, visit or speak with us today!
