Green Suit Color Combinations with Shirt and Tie

The green suit is on the rise in the world of fashion. You may have already noticed a few of them yourself.

But, if you think that green suits are for other guys, not you, think again. Anybody can pull off this trendy suit, and it’s easier than you think.

Green suits may be a little intimidating because they’re harder to match colors to.

Also, since they aren’t a neutral shade, more thought is needed to make this color work; but it’s very worth it.

About Green Suits

I get it; you’re probably recoiling in horror right now. You’re asking, “Green suits? Really??” Yes, really!

Sure, green suits haven’t always been cool. In fact, there may have been a time in not-too-distant history that they were downright ugly. (I’m looking at you, the 1970s.)

However, green suits have come a long way since then. This is a new millennium, and green suits have indeed found their place in it. They can be incredibly elegant, professional, or stylishly daring.

When done correctly, green suits can be among the most beautiful options out there.

They began their well-deserved comeback in 2018 when runway designers orchestrated their return to splendor. Others quickly realized how beautiful this shade could be for suits and soon followed their lead.

Since then, everyone from celebrities to successful businessmen has embraced this unique trend in suiting up.

Green Matching Colors

Aside from the obvious pairing options of black and white, there are more colors to match with a green suit than you likely realize.

Most green suits look best when matched with earthy, neutral colors such as brown, navy, or charcoal grey.

However, if you’re looking to make a bold fashion statement with your green suit, you can also wear brighter shades with it.

For example, a light blue shirt can look surprisingly fresh, or you could even match yellow for a very audacious mix.

Different Shades of Green Suits

One quick glance at different offerings of green suits, and you’ll soon see how many there are. There are almost too many green hues to name, and they certainly have an enormous range.

Emerald green, olive green, turquoise green (with some blue hints), mint green, pistachio, and aqua green (not to be confused with turquoise!) are some of the choices. All are attractive options for a green suit.

If you’re struggling to figure out which shade you should wear, let the season and time of day guide you.

Lighter shades of green are best suited for summer temperatures or daytime outings. The darker green is perfect for colder weather and nighttime.

Best Materials

The three primary materials that are best for green suits are twill, wool, and linen. Just as with your suit’s color, the fabric of your suit should be appropriate for the setting.

For example, a green linen suit is so light and breezy that it’s ideal for summer. It would look impeccable at an outdoor summer wedding; just watch out for linen’s famous wrinkles.

Color and material also should complement each other. A thicker, heavier material such as wool should be reserved for dark, rich colors. Lighter-weight fabrics like twill are best suited for lighter tones.

Shop the Look

Choose the Green Suit by Fit

You know already that the style and color of your suit sends a message. But did you know that the fit of your suit also sends a message?

The suit fit demonstrates more than just your personal taste and how much attention and care you give your appearance.

Your suit should look as if every single part of your it was designed just for your body. So it isn’t just a question of if your suit fits you, but how it fits you.

Classic-Fit

This suit cut is the gold standard, the traditional way it has almost always been done. In fact, for decades, it was the only way a suit was cut.

It has worked for so long because it can accommodate all body types. There isn’t much shaping involved, leaving the wearer lots of room to move about freely.

Classic-fit suits may seem boxy because they leave generous amounts of fabric on the suit. The legs are cut straight, and there’s no tapering in the chest or waist, either.

Slim-Fit

Slim-fit suits are a modern, trendy look. It’s a contemporary suit style that hugs the body closer and has more shaping to it. Most men can wear this style unless they have a large middle area.

This cut of suit uses less fabric; it’s tapered at the waist and the ankle. You’ll also notice that the armholes are higher up, meaning the torso is less baggy.

Because of these adjustments, there is a little less room for movement in a slim-fit suit.

The Formality of the Green Suit

As with any suit, the darker the shade is, the more formal it is. A green suit is no different.

You can wear a dark green suit in most of the same places you would wear other dark suits. For example, if a navy or charcoal grey suit would be appropriate, then a dark green suit would also be acceptable.

Light green suits, on the other hand, are naturally more casual. You certainly wouldn’t wear a light green suit for a formal evening event, but plenty of other opportunities are available.

Lighter shades are excellent for business casual ensembles or also smart-casual outings.

Green Suit and White Shirt Color Combination

You can pretty much expect that a white dress shirt will always be a good pairing with any suit color. Green suits are no exception.

White dress shirts are the quickest way to dress up a suit. It must be crisp and fit very well to elevate your suit to the next level.

Your white dress shirt will stand out, especially against a darker suit color, so you want it to be in excellent condition.

Ties for Green Suit and White Shirt

A brown or black tie would look best with a darker green suit when paired with a white shirt. Ideally, you’ll want the tie to match whatever color tie you’re wearing.

For example, a black tie and brown dress shoes would be unsightly. So make sure you keep the shades similar.

A light green suit will work best with a lighter-hued tie. For example, a light brown or khaki tie would look very earthy and natural.

You could also match a darker green with your suit, but be sure that the greens have the same undertones and don’t clash.

Shop the Look

Suit: Green wool-blends suit by Hockerty.
Shirt: Slim-fit white shirt by Calvin Klein.
Tie: Solid black tie by Kissties.
Shoes: Black cap-toe Oxfords by La Milano.

Shoes for Green Suit and White Shirt

Ideally, brown or black dress shoes are your best choice for a green suit and a white dress shirt.

If you are wearing a dark green suit, remember that dark shades are more formal. This means that a more traditional style of dress shoe is going to be best with this suit.

Oxford dress shoes are the number one choice, but you can branch out. For example, you could make your suit more contemporary with a pair of monk strap shoes.

Lighter green suits lean more casual, so you’ve got more casual dress shoes to choose from. For example, a pair of brogued dress shoes can look very stylish, while loafers are very relaxed.

Green Suit and Pale Blue Shirt Color Combinations

Adding a pale blue dress shirt is a pretty bold move. It makes a chic combination, but it can be challenging to pull off successfully.

You need to carefully coordinate all other aspects of your outfit for the pale blue shirt to look just right.

The light blue of the shirt tones down the green of the suit; it makes the green feel more neutral.

You’ll have better results pairing your pale blue dress shirt with a dark green suit. A light green suit may compete too much with the blue of the shirt.

Ties for Green Suit and Blue Shirt

Ideally, subdued shades are the best choices to wear with this green/blue combination. Muted colors will reduce the risk of looking like a cartoon character.

Instead, these colors will blend well together with the earthy shades of blue and green.

A dark brown tie or a maroon tie lends a very mature sense to the suit. A black tie would also be a fantastic way to tie the colors together.

Shop the Look

Suit: Three-piece olive green suit by Danny Colby.
Shirt: Slim fit light blue shirt by Kenneth Cole.
Tie: Striped tie in navy/blue color by Bows&Ties.
Shoes: Black loafer Magnus slip-ons by Calvin Klein.

Shoes for Green Suit and Blue Shirt

Unless you have chosen to wear a black tie, dark brown shoes are a natural match for these colors. However, for an elegant twist, consider a pair of oxblood or burgundy dress shoes.

The reddish tint can be a lovely complement to the dark undertones of the green suit. Just make sure that there’s more brown than red in the shoes; too much red may make you look like a Christmas present.

If you’ve added a black tie to this ensemble, you can wear a pair of black dress shoes instead. The black will make a sharp contrast.

Green Suit and Black Shirt Color Combinations

A black dress shirt will only look appropriate with a darker shade of green; it would overwhelm anything light.

On the other hand, the black shirt will help accent the green in the suit and make the green tones more visible than they would generally be.

This combination can be used for a formal setting with startling effect.

An emerald green suit, for example, really pops when paired with a black shirt. That’s because there are no brown undertones in the emerald suit to mute the green tint.

Ties for Green Suit and Black Shirt

For this combination, there’s only one acceptable tie you can wear – a black one.

It may seem like a green tie should work, too, but that would be a mistake. It risks looking very retro, like a 1980s suit or maybe even a teenager headed off to prom.

So avoid the youthful image and stick to a more mature look with the black tie.

Shoes for Green Suit and Black Shirt

The best dress shoes for this ensemble are black Oxfords or Derbys. The thing is, it makes sense to have your shoes match a significant component of your attire.

You can probably get away with super dark brown shoes if needed. However, be sure that they don’t make too great a contrast from your black shirt. Otherwise, they’ll be too distracting.

Where to Wear a Green Suit

If you’ve got a light green suit that you’ve been longing to wear someplace, look no further than next summer.

A wedding would be the ideal place to debut your new light green suit. That isn’t the only function you can wear it to, though! Any semi-formal event would be appropriate for this suit.

If you’ve got your eye on a darker green suit, you’re in luck. Fall and winter are the exact right times for this shade. If you’ve got a cocktail party in the evening, you will stand out wearing this dark green suit.

If you dress it up, you can wear it to any semi-formal occasion. You can also tone it down and wear it to an office or business meeting. It all can be done with the proper dress shirt and accessories.

Reducing the Formality of the Green Suit

If you want a more casual approach to your green suit, you can separate the jacket and pants to create a new look.

Wear just the trousers with a button-down shirt, and leave off the tie for a business-casual day at the office.

If you’re aiming for an even more casual look, try a high-quality t-shirt. You could also add a separate blazer of a different color to alter the style a bit.

Or, wear just the jacket with a pair of dress pants from another suit. For example, light grey dress pants with a green suit jacket would make the green less formal.