Men's Style Tip: Socks and the Navy Blue Suit

Navy. A timeless traditional. The loyalest of blues. And the navy suit? An absolute must-have for any man. From work to weddings, every day to events, a well-fitted navy suit is always effortlessly elegant. It commands attention yet is entirely unostentatious. Crucially, it is also simple to stylishly pair with an array of shirt colours and sock shades. Basically, a wardrobe all-rounder.

In honour of this sartorial staple, we have created these signature style tips. The pick of the pairs and some extra that will take any navy suit to the next level.

Pick a pop of pink

Navy loves pink. Pink loves navy. Naturally this makes styling these two colours together rather easy. Great news for streamlined dressing in the morning.

You can’t go wrong with a light pink shirt and navy tailoring. Go for a classic Oxford or Poplin. If you are going for more of a smart casual look, you could even opt for a subtle striped Oxford.

For socks, Simply Sartorial in Pink Friday is failsafe. Playful but polished, pink socks show confidence and personality without being showy.

Orange socks add warmth

Whether it’s an important meeting, an interview with the board of directors or a lunch entertaining clients, when the situation calls for professional, a navy blue suit is your best bet. Self-belief and confidence follow when you look great, so make sure you dress the part. That doesn’t mean you have to play it safe head-to-toe.

Keep your outfit simple by combining your dark blue suit with a crisp white shirt, but add a twist with a polished oxford shoe in brown rather than traditional workwear favourite black. To complement the warmth this brings, complete the look with orange socks, like our popular Ottaway Style in Burnt Orange, with its modern twist on a Prince of Wales check pattern. Simple but cool.

Tried and traditional in grey socks

Sometimes something tried and traditional is best. Long maligned as dull but a dependable dapper colour choice, great socks look darn good with a navy blue suit. We would recommend our sophisticated Simply Sartorial in Cannon Ball Grey. Keeps things simple and distinguished. No fuss.

Dressing down a navy suit

If the situation calls for something more relaxed, feel confident enough to mix with the colour combinations. Try a crew neck cashmere sweater in light grey on top for a laidback but smart look. You can stick with a plain navy suit or even go for something patterned: a classic subtle pinstripe or check. Our choice of the shirt here is a crisp something simple like a white slim-fit cotton. And go for a nice brown loafer with a bit of a playful patterned sock, like Ilaria Urbinati’s Sky Blue Diamond.

Colour block socks add a touch of the unexpected

The sharp navy suit is perfect for business, but will look dapper when you step out for the evening straight after work. The right socks can take you from day-to-night. The Block Collection by celebrity stylist Michael Fisher features organic cotton ribbed socks in two-tone blocks. Try Mediterranean Olive, with its midnight blue and olive green combination, for something stylish yet unexpected.

Spot the different

We love a double-breasted suit. It is a cut that is universally flattering and timeless. There is a reason Prince Charles is never seen in any other style. A double-breasted navy blue suit is eternally stylish. For a bit of contemporary flair, pair yours with a pair of socks from our Spot of Style collection. Try Spot of Style in Bordeaux – wine not, we say. For the shoes, a chocolate suede loafer feels rather daring in it’s laidbackness. Rakish and devil-may-care. We love it. But of course, you can swap these for a nice brown or black Oxford of your choice.