Should Your First Suit Be Navy or Charcoal?
The Foundation of a Wardrobe
18 March 2026Christopher Kelley4 min read
If there is any item in a man’s closet that needs no further discussion, it is the blue suit.
So let’s discuss it!
The navy blue suit is the staple in most mens’ wardrobes. It has been the go-to uniform for over a century that provides elegance, professionalism, and confidence for millions of men around the world from 14 years of age to those who have chosen it as the final outfit for their earthly shell resting stylishly in peace.
So let’s discuss it!
The navy blue suit is the staple in most mens’ wardrobes. It has been the go-to uniform for over a century that provides elegance, professionalism, and confidence for millions of men around the world from 14 years of age to those who have chosen it as the final outfit for their earthly shell resting stylishly in peace.
It is no wonder that this timeless garment has gained such popularity. A dark blue suit has it all - the sobriety for the office, the sincerity for a date, the solemnity for a funeral, and the flare for a wedding. While many consider grey to be a more serious colour, a dark blue suit is equally as serious as grey and more formal, while never crossing over into the drab. If all this wasn’t enough, it’s a colour that looks good on everyone!
Many of our customers at Cavour are stylish and experienced fashionistas in their own right. We even have a few that can be graced with the title of “menswear nerds". For these dandy dudes, a plain navy suit may seem boring, but a plain dark blue suit is as necessary to your closet as a screw driver is to your toolbox.
At Cavour, all of our suits are made with a full floating canvas which means that the suit will move with you and form itself to your body over time, offering more comfort and a longer lasting garment. Our suits also contain many hand sewn details such as button holes, pick stitching, collar attachment and armholes (which are placed higher for a better range of motion).
Navy blue suits can come in many different fabrics. At Cavour we offer multiple options for the different moments in a person’s life. The most traditional and formal is of course a dark blue in 100% wool in either a twill weave or a hightwist weave.
A suit like these is recommended for anyone who will only have one suit. It is the perfect choice for the office and the more formal occasions one might find themselves in.
A suit like these is recommended for anyone who will only have one suit. It is the perfect choice for the office and the more formal occasions one might find themselves in.
For a slightly more laid back Summer suit, we recommend something in Wool, Silk and Linen.
This suit is of course a bit more casual, but the blend of wool, silk, and linen gives it strength, a nice drape, shine from the silk, and the lightness and breathability that only linen can provide. In the warmest months, nothing does it better.
This suit is of course a bit more casual, but the blend of wool, silk, and linen gives it strength, a nice drape, shine from the silk, and the lightness and breathability that only linen can provide. In the warmest months, nothing does it better.
Lastly the most casual, and summery… the linen suit. There is something almost mystical about a linen suit and the effect it has on people. Men and women alike are drawn to this old, and treasured Summer fabric. While it is certainly too casual for some events, the shrubbiness of a wrinkled linen suit is exactly why people love it. We can’t all holiday on Lake Como, but with this suit, you’ll feel like you are anyway.
How to Style a Navy Suit?
The Shirt
But what to wear with my beautiful Cavour Navy Suit? As stated above, the benefit is that you can wear anything with it. While a white shirt is the most classic and formal, a light blue is tried and true. If you want to make it a bit more interesting, a blue and white stripe is equally classic and works in seemingly endless combinations. For the real rakes out there, a denim shirt will add a little devil may care casualness to this traditional suit. Once you have the basics throw in a pink, a green, a beige…
Have fun with it!
Have fun with it!
The Tie
The navy blue suit is the perfect backdrop to all of your favourite ties. Whether colours like yellow and pink or understated neckwear like dark blue and burgundy, they’ll all work with a blue suit (and for that matter, also with a blue or white shirt). If you’re not looking for a monochromatic look, keep the blue tie a different shade than the suit. A little contrast can go very far. Take a look at some of our current recommendations for a bit of inspiration.
The Shoes
Traditionalists will insist that with a navy suit, black shoes are the only way to go. They certainly will compliment your outfit, and the most formal would be a black cap toe Oxford. But these days, a black penny loafer can play just as well. For occasions that require a bit more personality and some daytime colour, dark brown shoes in calf or suede can be quite a handsome combo. Maybe not right for the opera, but a great choice for a business lunch or a night out on the town. Our only recommendation is that you leave the cognac coloured light brown shoes for the beige linen, for a navy suit… keep it dark.
If you don’t own a blue suit yet, now is the time. If you don’t own a suit yet, get a well made navy blue workhorse suit that (with proper care) will last you the next 10 Christmas parties, confirmations, weddings, and court hearings. It’s an investment that will pay off in dividends, and better yet, make you feel like the dashing figure you are.