Gray Suits

The professional standard

Gray is the second suit every man should own and the first suit many should have bought. It carries the same range as navy in a slightly cooler, more serious register, which is precisely why it dominates in law, finance, consulting and every other room where the objective is to be taken seriously rather than remembered.

It is also the most flattering suit color under artificial light. Office lighting is unkind to almost everything, and gray is the one formal color it does not distort.

Varrison gray suits are cut in a tailored fit and arrive ready to wear, made from high quality fabric.

The shades, and what they are for

• Charcoal: the most formal gray, close to black in weight without the severity. The strongest interview suit there is, and correct for evening events and formal weddings.
• Mid gray: the everyday business suit. Appropriate year round and in almost any professional setting.
• Light gray: a daytime and warm-weather color. Excellent for spring and summer weddings, and noticeably less formal than charcoal.

If you own navy and are buying a second suit, buy charcoal. It covers everything navy does not.

Wearing it

Gray is the most accommodating suit color for shirts and accessories. White and light blue are the professional core; pink, lavender and patterned shirts all work without looking forced. Black shoes suit charcoal and read more formal, while brown works well with mid and light gray and softens the whole outfit for daytime.