I would suggest not wearing the purple shirt with a tie....ever. I think you'd be well served to revisit some of the shirt/tie combos you were considering (after all the good advice) for the wedding in April. A charcoal or medium grey suit needs a white or light blue shirt.

As for shoes, I think the ones you posted are too light. By the way, I have that exact suit in both grey and navy. I would wear black, cordovan/merlot, or dark brown.

 

Money,

That is a very nice suit and I don't doubt it will give you lots good use. As for accessories I think you will find this to be a relatively (okay, more than relatively) conservative forum. Flcracka's suggestion of white or light blue shirt is definitely the way to go for a work function. I also think a more somber tie would be appropriate as well.
As for shoes, here is my personal rule of thumb:
Beginner = Black and simple.
Intermediate = Cordovan color or similar.
Sartorial post graduate studies = Brown's.

I have just started wearing Cordovan colors with a conservative suit and really like the contrast. I am not nearly ready to jump into Brown's yet.
Keep it simple and conservative and let the suit quality do the talking for you.

Good luck,

 

White or light blue shirt. It's a nice suit, don't mess it up by going wild on colored shirts. A light pink can work, as can a lavender, but that is an in your face purple, and will detract from the suit. Same advice with the tie, complement the suit, don't overwhelm it.

Those monks in tan are too light, wear black. Don't make the shoes the center of attention. IMO good looking shoes should not demand your attention, just be incidentally noticed and appreciated. When not in a suit,(and lately sometimes even in a suit), my shoes and boots are sometimes the single most expensive part of my wardrobe, but only I know that.

 

I also favor a white or light blue shirt, with a conservative tie, solid, pin dot, small stripe. I think you should go with black or burgundy shoes. Regardless, it sounds as though you will be dressed as well as, or better than, almost everyone there and will not look out of place.

 

Let me say something not as an experienced suit-wearer, but the opposite. I just my first suit (charcoal worsted, Madison fit) in 30 years (this already got incredulous responses here, but it's true). I really wanted to do the most basic thing: black shoe, white shirt, navy pindot or burgundy grenadine tie. I was delighted with how I looked, though it was nothing extraordinary. Keep it simple: assuming that your suit fits, you will be pleased when you look in the mirror.

Darker shirts say "Regis Philbin."

 

Let me say something not as an experienced suit-wearer, but the opposite. I just my first suit (charcoal worsted, Madison fit) in 30 years (this already got incredulous responses here, but it's true). I really wanted to do the most basic thing: black shoe, white shirt, navy pindot or burgundy grenadine tie. I was delighted with how I looked, though it was nothing extraordinary. Keep it simple: assuming that your suit fits, you will be pleased when you look in the mirror.

Darker shirts say "Regis Philbin."

excellent advice. The burgundy grenadine is my go to look for charcoal. As is a bb burgundy #1 silk and twill.

 

Darker shirts say "Regis Philbin."

But I DO want to be a millionaire!!! And that is my final answer.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It seems I am good on everything but the tie. I have white and light blue shirts, but most of my ties are of the bold-ish design. I may feel the need to scoop up some new shoes this week, but I do have black ones that will do the trick if I don't find any. How about this for a tie?
https://www.thetiebar.com/product/3...qOlBRDAn8K5qen65joSJADRvlbqjPZ_aREBiqikU0F6xVGmhhCYx7xXbVMwFOAgfseNhxoCny7w_wcB
I have a white pocket square, would that be good with that, or a navy blue to match?

 

Pet peeve - feel free to ignore: cordovan isn't a colour, it's a material. One that comes in a great many colours.

 

The square should pick up a color of the shirt, not the tie. If your shirt is white, finding a square should be easy!

 

Scratch the previous tie. I'm liking the burgundy tie better. https://www.thetiebar.com/product/13509
Charcoal BB suit, that tie on a white shirt, white pocket square, black belt and shoes... Do I win?

 

But I DO want to be a millionaire!!! And that is my final answer.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It seems I am good on everything but the tie. I have white and light blue shirts, but most of my ties are of the bold-ish design. I may feel the need to scoop up some new shoes this week, but I do have black ones that will do the trick if I don't find any. How about this for a tie?
https://www.thetiebar.com/product/3...qOlBRDAn8K5qen65joSJADRvlbqjPZ_aREBiqikU0F6xVGmhhCYx7xXbVMwFOAgfseNhxoCny7w_wcB
I have a white pocket square, would that be good with that, or a navy blue to match?

I think that tie would look good with a white or light blue shirt. Speaking as a newbie myself, I would pick the white pocket square. It's a very safe choice would work 90% of the time. Navy tie with navy pocket square would look too similar IMHO. Besides, white would stand out much more than navy with a charcoal suit.

 

This past weekend I visited a Brooks Brothers store and ended up buying a new charcoal herringbone suit...I intend to wear it to a work "party" on Saturday night, assuming the alterations come out correctly...

...Now questions...Shoes...Shirt/tie colors...

...If that doesn't work, what are good shirt colors to go with a charcoal suit? I have a few different options, and can do some shopping if needed.

My company is calling this formal, but their version of formal is at least a collared shirt and no jeans. About half will be wearing shirt/tie and dress slacks. The other half, that actually care, will be in suits. Then my boss will be in a tux, just for fun I think.

Nice suit - really a great choice.

You seem to be saying you won't wear it if the alterations aren't spot-on, and that's an excellent decision too. If there's something off when you pick it up (and don't be timid about this) ask them if they can fix the issues on the spot. Tell them about the party. Also make sure the tailor will be on duty when you plan to pick it up. They will likely be as accommodating as they can if you explain why you need it ASAP.

Black shoes, I think. The monkstraps you linked to are fine, but go with the black rather than the brown.

As far as the shirt/tie, you could do a lot worse than the model on the BB website. I think , and you can't go wrong with their forward-point, white dress shirt. Someone else here mentioned a burgundy grenadine, and that's a good choice, too. Navy would work as well with a white shirt.

The pocket square is strictly optional with the outfit, but if you can pull it off (i.e., iron the damn thing and learn to do a proper TV fold) you may very well look better than your boss in his tux.

Finally: If that purple shirt is 100% cotton, tear it into 2" x 18" strips and use it to apply polish to your shoes. Otherwise donate it to charity or burn it.

 

I agree that the burgundy tie is a much better choice. The dark blue or black one would be passable, but not nearly as nice as the burgundy.

 

Scratch the previous tie. I'm liking the burgundy tie better. https://www.thetiebar.com/product/13509
Charcoal BB suit, that tie on a white shirt, white pocket square, black belt and shoes... Do I win?

Yes, a very nice, classic look. With one caveat....we haven't seen your black shoes. I like black far better than tan with that suit, but there are many kinds of black shoes.

 

Roger,

Sorry about using cordovan to describe the color. I do understand what you are saying and will use Oxblood as a replacement in the future. This will be much easier for others to look up anyway now that AE carries that beautiful shade.

And by the way, a newbie says thanks for all of your shoe contributions. You and a few others were who I was referring to as the post graduate level.

 

Pet peeve - feel free to ignore: cordovan isn't a colour, it's a material. One that comes in a great many colours.

Roger,
I understand your peeve. However Kiwi is the shoe polish most used by the general public, and they have taken it upon themselves to denote it as a color. I never knew cordovan was a type of material until joining this forum. After learning of this I felt like a horse's ass.:idea:

 

Pet peeve - feel free to ignore: cordovan isn't a colour, it's a material. One that comes in a great many colours.

We all know that shell cordovan is a type of leather, but according to the world wide web,

Cordovan is a rich shade of burgundy and a dark shade of rose. Cordovan takes its name from the city of Cordoba, Spain, where the production of shell cordovan leather was first practiced by theVisigoths in the seventh century.[SUP][2][/SUP] The term cordovan has come to describe the color of clothing, leather in particular.
The first recorded use of cordovan as a color name in English was in 1925.[SUP][3]

[/SUP]Maybe it's not a colour, but I'm pretty sure it's come to be known as a color, if just in the past 90 years.

 

We all know that shell cordovan is a type of leather, but according to the world wide web,

Cordovan is a rich shade of burgundy and a dark shade of rose. Cordovan takes its name from the city of Cordoba, Spain, where the production of shell cordovan leather was first practiced by theVisigoths in the seventh century.[SUP][2][/SUP] The term cordovan has come to describe the color of clothing, leather in particular.
The first recorded use of cordovan as a color name in English was in 1925.[SUP][3]

[/SUP]Maybe it's not a colour, but I'm pretty sure it's come to be known as a color, if just in the past 90 years.

Interesting bit of Visigoth history! Did not know that.

 

I completely agree that a charcoal suit looks best with a white or pale blue shirt. However, since this is for a work PARTY, I would not dissuade the OP from choosing a bold tie. Except for maybe certain shades of brown, I think all colours go with charcoal. However, not all bold ties are necessarily tasteful and stylish. Gmoney - why don't you post a pic of your tie selection and we'll pick one out from that. Cheers.

PS: Here are some ties that may be considered "bold", but I think would look great with a charcoal suit.

 

With a charcoal suit, if a light blue shirt is worn, it should be sky blue (which has 150 shades) or baby blue (which also has 150 shades).

Just don't wear powder blue (which also has 150 shades) with charcoal as it is too much of a contrast between blue and gray (which makes this combination of blue and gray garish looking). However, ice blue (which is bluish off white) is so difficult to distinguish from white that the maximum contrast between blue and gray is not garish. Therefore, ice blue (which has 57 shades) looks good and not garish with charcoal.

 

I completely agree that a charcoal suit looks best with a white or pale blue shirt. However, since this is for a work PARTY, I would not dissuade the OP from choosing a bold tie. Except for maybe certain shades of brown, I think all colours go with charcoal. However, not all bold ties are necessarily tasteful and stylish. Gmoney - why don't you post a pic of your tie selection and we'll pick one out from that. Cheers.

PS: Here are some ties that may be considered "bold", but I think would look great with a charcoal suit.
View attachment 13751

How is this for a bold collection?

Most of those were bought for matching date's dresses for high school dances, and most of the rest were gifts. And yes, there is a Scooby Do tie in there, and no I have never worn it.

 

How is this for a bold collection?
View attachment 13752

Most of those were bought for matching date's dresses for high school dances, and most of the rest were gifts. And yes, there is a Scooby Do tie in there, and no I have never worn it.

Yeah...hmm...well, if I had to choose from those, I'd personally go for the pink with the small dots (9th from the left).

If you feel that you are in the need of some new ties, these guys are having a sale starting tomorrow (but shipping from Europe). It's where I scooped one of the photos from my example. I like most of what they have on offer.

 

How is this for a bold collection?
View attachment 13752

Most of those were bought for matching date's dresses for high school dances, and most of the rest were gifts. And yes, there is a Scooby Do tie in there, and no I have never worn it.

I would also pick the pink with dots. And I think the right most one would also work. I like the deep red color and the pattern is not too garish.

 

Yeah...hmm...well, if I had to choose from those, I'd personally go for the pink with the small dots (9th from the left).

If you feel that you are in the need of some new ties, these guys are having a sale starting tomorrow (but shipping from Europe). It's where I scooped one of the photos from my example. I like most of what they have on offer.

As you can see from that picture, I AM in need of new ties.

That pink one is one of the oldest ties there and made of some pretty cheap stuff. It has seen better days and I would only wear it if it was the only only option with no time to go shopping.

 

The tie issue is taken care of. I ordered that burgundy tie and got a tie bar to help spread out the $6 shipping.

FLCracka, my black shoes leave quite a bit to be desired. They are cheap department store black shoes that I have had for 6ish years. That's why I was hoping the brown shoes would work. But that's why I said I will be looking for some new black shoes this week. I am hoping to find out how the Allen Edmonds seconds thing works and how fast I could get a pair. If I can't find any that are worth it, my current ones can be worn, even though they aren't the best.