What colour shirt to wear with a black suit

A The black suit is an undeniable classic. Timeless, stylish, and works well for all skin tones and hair colours. However, a black suit paired with the wrong shirt choice can quickly leave you looking mismatched.

So, which shirt colours are best to pair with a black suit?

Black suit with white shirt

Let’s be honest, you can’t really go wrong with a black suit and white shirt – but you can mess up the colour of your tie!

With the traditional black of the suit and white of the shirt, it’s best to go for a classic tie colour or pattern, think ginghams, plaids and checks. Colours like emerald, soft blues and muted purples are failsafe options too. These colours will help to brighten up your suit and add a pop of personality while keeping it classy. One thing to note, steer clear of shiny materials as they can sometimes look tacky.

Black suit with blue shirt

The powder blue shirt is always a safe bet; it’s a livelier version of the classic white shirt.

Try matching black and white printed accessories with your black suit and blue shirt combo to create a sleek, colour-coordinated ensemble.

Most people tend to avoid black ties with black suits, unless it’s for a more sombre occasion such as a funeral. However, we think a solid black tie can work well with a blue shirt and black suit, especially if the fabrics are textured.

Black suit with black shirt

This is often seen as a no-go, but don’t disregard this combo just yet – a black shirt under a black suit can put an edgy spin on sophistication. We say ditch the tie on this one, but if you’d prefer to wear one then stick to a matching black style. Try to avoid pairing up any other colours with this look, as this can instantly look mismatched and dated.

Black suit with pink shirt

Layer a black suit over a pink shirt for a unique formal look. A light pink is the more traditional choice, but there’s nothing stopping you from opting for vibrant hot pink if you’re feeling quirky.

In terms of ties, choose lilac, soft blue or black with this combo.

Not convinced? The key to perfecting this look is choosing youthful textures and sleek fits, otherwise your suit could end up looking dated.

Black suit with grey shirt

A grey shirt always works well with a black suit – try out different tones, such as charcoal, slate and dove grey.

Matching different shades of grey together can look nicely elegant, so opting for a tie in a different shade to your shirt could be a good move.

A grey shirt works well as a base colour, too, so you could also try out bolder colours in other elements of your look.

If you prefer playing it safe, stick to a black tie for a more classic formal outfit.

Black suit with purple shirt

Your mind may jump straight to those deeper shades of purple, but we recommend pairing your black suit with a lilac-coloured shirt. A softer version of purple, it will offer you more freedom when it comes to matching a tie with your outfit.

You could even consider adding in a bold pink tie with your black suit and lilac shirt – crucially, keep the tie plain to avoid a tacky look.

Extra styling tips

Choose colours that won’t look too overwhelming with your black suit.
Make sure your suit is tailored to fit your body – this makes all the difference to a colourful look!
Liven up your black suit and shirt combo with a pocket square.
If bolder pocket squares aren’t your thing, then stick with a white pocket square in a presidential fold.
Try to avoid shiny black suits, as they can sometimes look dated.