I don’t know about you but I’m never excited about wearing a black suit, especially with a white shirt. When I put them on I look like a kinder, gentler Grim Reaper. So on a recent trip to Philly, I took particular note of a guy who managed to make black and white stand out in a room full of color. He made the color combination interesting by wearing a black and white glen plaid topcoat and he personalized it with his accessories. It was balanced and stylish. Here’s my take on it and a few pointers on how to achieve a similar look.
1. Break it up – Keep the solids to a minimum. Instead of a solid white shirt, try a vertical stripe or one with a windowpane design. For your necktie, if you have to wear a black one, select one with a small pattern. It’ll add the subtle interest need.
2. Add some texture – There are a couple of ways to do this but I chose to ditch the black jacket in favor of grey with a mini-check. You could also wear a knit or wool tie with a complimentary pocket square.
3. Make it your own – The guy in Philly had on a great bowtie and was carrying a brown leather messenger bag. I wore a two inch tie-bar on the underside of my tie and an Irish linen handkerchief for balance.
So there you have it. Black and white doesn’t have to be so black and white.
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