Whether it is a black-tie event or an office party, whether it is your best friend’s wedding or your own, whether you are attending a conference or simply going to your office, you need formal outfits all the time.
We are out of the pandemic, and formal outfits will be a norm again. Wearing a dress shirt on top of shorts and attending zoom meetings is just not going to cut anymore. So, we’re here to help you make the right choices for the right occasions.
Without further ado, let’s have a look at 20 formal outfit ideas for men.
Formal Outfit Ideas For Men:
- Light blue shirt and grey pants outfit
Let’s start with the most basic formal outfit of all time. If this is your first formal clothes-wearing experience, then go for this combination. It works well for men with all skin colors, heights, and builds. This is probably the OG of the formal outfits. Pick out a light blue colored shirt. The grey pants can be a slightly darker shade of grey trousers. Always remember to wear socks matching the pants and pair them with formal black oxfords. Wear a faux leather or leather belt that matches your shoes, and you’re done! Your first look is ready.
- Light blue shirt and blue trousers outfit
A well-fitted light blue shirt will go a long way. And you cannot go wrong with a pair of perfectly tailored blue trousers. It’s worth investing some money in good quality pants as they have a longer shelf life. You can choose between chino, traditional pleated trousers or cotton pants depending on your preference. You can always mix and match with other plain shirts that go with navy blue trousers. For a daytime event, conference, or meeting, go for lighter shades of shirts.
- White shirt and khaki trousers outfit
Again, sticking to the traditional office dress code, a crisp white shirt is a must-have. It is the most versatile and timeless piece of clothing that you’ll ever own. So, it is worth stocking up on two to three white shirts. Now, khaki trousers complement the white shirt wonderfully. For a routine office day or a day meeting, this can be a great ensemble. Accessorize with a brown leather belt and brogues shoes with a subtle pattern. For a formal setting, stick to a metallic watch or a simple leather watch.
- White shirt and navy-blue trousers outfit
A pair of navy-blue trousers is the next best to the black one. As a rule of thumb, for office wear, pick a darker/ boring shade than the shirt. It is advised to get your trousers tailormade to your fittings. Try to get the ends tapered so that it gives you a sleek appearance. A basic shirt like a white one looks the best with these navy-blue pants. A black or a brown belt and a matching pair of shoes would complete this look.
- White shirt and checkered trousers outfit
Your appearance plays a big role in how people perceive you. People always notice a great dresser. A white shirt looks fabulous with checkered trousers. Remember that office wear is all about subtlety. So go for sober checkered patterns. Greys on greys, beige and browns on browns, and such. Stay in the neutral zone while picking your checkered bottoms. For a formal event, wear a complementing tie and waistcoat for a stylish appearance.
- Stripe shirt outfits
For an official event, stay away from wearing bold and eye-catching colors and patterns. Stripes are, however, welcome. Whether they are pinstripes or chalk stripes, they look dapper on men. You could either go for single stripe shirts or complex striped shirts too. So long as they match the office memo or the party theme, you’re good. Pair the striped shirts with pants that are either neutral colors or that match the color of the stripes. This would ensure that the outfit is tied together.
- Checkered shirt outfits
Remember that the top half of your outfit gets the maximum attention. Small size and thin-striped checkered shirts make for great formal shirts. And here, you have the liberty of choosing slightly darker shades of shirts too. Navy blue, purple, pink, red, etc., you can take some risks. However, choose only neutral-colored pants with these shirts so that it doesn’t look outlandish. Don’t wear cotton belts in a formal setting. Also, avoid wearing digital watches with formal outfits. Stick to the classics.
- Navy blue blazer and grey pants outfit
This is one outfit that ticks all the boxes. We are now introducing jackets or blazers in the mix. Whether it is a cocktail party, your friend’s engagement party or an event that calls for a dinner jacket look, this outfit meets the brief. As mentioned above, grey pants look elegant with a light blue shirt. Now throw on a neat navy-blue blazer. You may choose the blazer pattern per your comfort. Also, unlike suits, blazers are a little forgiving and easy to find.
- Blue blazer and white trousers outfit
Conventionally, formal wear is all about choosing darker shades for pants. However, currently, white pants are trending in the formal clothing section. Be it chinos, vintage pleated pants, or even cotton jeans. For day events like a wedding, a beach party, or a business lunch, they work wonders. Coordinate your white pants with a white or light-colored tucked-in shirt, and then top it off with a blue blazer. A striped shirt also looks sophisticated with this combination.
- Pastel formal outfits
Pastels are slowly making their way into men’s clothing. If you have been following recent beach wedding trends or what groomsmen have started opting for, then you’ll understand why pastel suits have made it to our list. Firstly, they look uber-stylish, and they go with a classy and chic color palette. Secondly, they click amazing pictures. So, for people who want to try something different than the classic beige and khaki shades, pastels serve as a fun formal option.
- The formal sweater outfits
Cold winter days call for warm sweater outfits. Also, layering is a great way to style clothing and is underrated. For this outfit, we recommend you give V-neck sweaters and cardigans a try. Choose neutral-colored pants like grey and pair them with a light-colored shirt. Put together a tie and top it off with a navy blue or maroon sweater. Select a V-neck buttoned-down cardigan or a V-neck pullover jumper. If you plan to wear a jacket on top, then a formal sleeveless sweater vest is also a great option.
- Dark green suit with a black turtleneck outfit
Having looked at a lot of formal daytime outfits, let’s explore some evening outfit options now. Bottle green is an unconventional color choice for suits. But it looks dapper when worn right. This formal attire is perfect for a business dinner or an ice-breaker session, or a cocktail night. It looks great with a black shirt and a tie. However, if smart formals are acceptable, then you must experiment with turtleneck shirts. Wear cashmere or woven black turtleneck beneath the bottle green suit.
- Khaki suits outfit
Unlike their blue, grey, and black counterparts, khaki suits are not as popular. Khaki suits have a vibe of their own. They are wonderful neutrals to work with. For people who admire unconventional fashion choices, khaki suits are brilliant to try out. They look great with light blue shirts and dark blue ties. Black and brown colored shoes go well with khaki suits. Be it loafers, or monk strap shoes; if they are of great quality, they look rich and formal.
- Pinstripe suit outfits
We agree with Neil Patrick Harris’ song -Nothing suits me like a suit. Because a well-tailored suit gets you noticed, so, if stripes are your thing, then you must give pinstripe suits a go. They are every bit formal and look just as dapper on every body type. Especially if you love black suits and already have a plain one, then go for a black pinstriped suit. Wear it with a black shirt and a matching tie. Alternatively, you could also wear a white shirt with a black waistcoat and a pinstripe suit.
- Checkered suit outfits
If patterns excite you, then you will find checkered suits interesting. To carry checkered suits confidently, you’ll need one hell of a suit. The key is to pick sober colors. Go with the basic grey or shades of brown or blue. Wear a plain white shirt inside and choose a tie that goes with the suit colors. Tweed or silk or a blend of synthetic fibers adds textural element too. If you love experimenting with your wardrobe, then checkered suits are worth trying.
- The customary brown suit
This is probably the OG of all office suits. The earthy-colored suits, because of their neutral tones, make for ideal formal clothing. Although it has an old-school vibe, brown suits are making their way back into mainstream fashion. You could use a lighter tannish shade or a darker cinnamon shade. Brown suits pair well with warmer colors like yellows and other base hues too. And like always, you can choose stripes or checkered patterns or try different textures.
- Grey suit outfit
Grey suits are truly timeless. Light grey, dark grey, or the 50 shades in between, grey suits will give you plenty of opportunities to fashion formal outfits. They are the classics of the men’s department. Based on the occasion, pick a single-breasted or a double-breasted grey suit. Just with a white shirt or a simple printed shirt inside, you can make a dapper first impression. A business wardrobe is incomplete without a decent grey suit. Wear a striped or textured tie to go with it.
- Formal navy-blue suit outfit
A formal navy-blue suit outfit is yet another wardrobe staple. Growing up, each one of us owned at least one navy blue blazer. Because of the inherent cool nature of the color, it makes for a unique option. Go for a basic shirt so that the suit stands out. A maroon, mustard, blue, or pink tie goes well with a blue suit. Don’t hesitate to pick different textures and subtle patterns for your blue suit. For a cool evening look, wear it with a black turtleneck.
- All-black outfit
If you had the option of picking only one outfit, we say go with this one. Firstly, the black color is slimming. It gives a sleek look to the wearer. Secondly, black is a color of power and strength. So, if you’re trying to assert dominance, then a black outfit is your best chance. Reserve this outfit for formal cocktail parties or special occasions. When we say all-black, we mean black shirt, shoes, tie, belt, watch, and suit. It creates a coherent and sophisticated look.
- Black tie wedding guest outfit
If the memo says black tie wedding guest outfit, then there is little left for imagination. It’s a tuxedo event! So, go all out with the tuxedo pants, tuxedo jacket, and a bow tie. For a black-tie event, choose a proper shirt to wear inside. Wearing a dark color tuxedo is customary. However, many celebs have made the white tux jackets work too. Wearing a perfectly fit tuxedo is a key to making the look work. Smart leather shoes or velvet loafers make for elegant shoe accompaniments.
