You could, but in these austere times black is best as you can use them with anything.

Well, ... if you've got to ask ...

Just playing Devil's Advocate here ... a tie offers the opportunity to accessorise, the chance to add contrast and colour to an ensemble that may be a little plain without it.
As does a pocket handkerchief ... as do cufflinks.

Despite saying all that (and meaning it, I guess), I rarely wear one myself despite owning many.

I draw the line at pocket handkerchiefs.

Like a p i k e y in court...

Racist.



If it's good enough for mensflair.com, it's good enough for me. Black shoes are boring.

I'm with Sally, black cherry boots go with most things and are far more interesting than plain old black.

I haven't worn a suit for any occasion in 20 years +. I don't require one for work, so I'll be damned if I'm buying a suit just to wear once every few years to events I don't really wish to be at.

Now I'm reluctantly attending a wedding in early September. My original plan was to attend in my black cherry Redwing 9011's, chino's, a pale green shirt, dark green tie, and top it off my Goodwear J A Dubow A-2 27998 in seal brown horsehide. However I've now been advised by my sister in law that I can't attend in the above, not if I wish too feature in the wedding photo's. Which I don't wish too, but my bother insists I do. So as not to rock the boat in comes a change of plan.

I still decided to not go down the suit route but rather buy a sports jacket that I can where time and time again and get some mileage out of. So out goes the A-2 and incomes a green Harris tweed jacket. With the only other change being dependent on the weather. Fine, and it'll be chino's. Anything but fine, and it'll be British racing green moleskin trousers( I'm going very much down the green route this year, with the key too it being different shades of green). This has thankfully been approved by all concerned.

I am however taking my capeskin A-1 for the reception. I'll wear a leather jacket at some point that day if it kills me.

Im the same as the above poster, I dont have to wear a suit for work or anything so its only the usual where I have to wear one, weddings and funerals.

Looks like everyones got varying tastes as well. Im going to check out the site that tb recommends and then ill decide.Thanks everyone!

Polished DM boots look good with a single breasted suit for some reason. But not with a tie, maybe a polo shirt or similar.

Anyone who only needs a suit for the odd occasion would be best off buying a 2nd hand one on eBay, wearing it and flogging the same suit on eBay again, after the occasion.

I'm about to list a load of separate tux jackets & pants for the forthcoming prom & end of term ball season. The selling point being it's cheaper than a rental.

Busted

what a load of tosh

Well thank you for that little gem.

You do realise fashion is subjective?

As I said, I can't stand ties. I think they're old-fashioned, restrictive, and largely pointless. They have their place but for me that's only in certain professional circumstances and events such as weddings and funerals.

I personally prefer a fashionable open-neck shirt than a tie.

Fashion will always be trumped by style - something that can never be bought over a counter