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You’ve got options, but not as many as you may think. It’s important to ensure you choose a tie color that’s appropriate for the setting and the dress code.
Here are some great tie colors you can wear with a grey suit and blue shirt:
- Red
- Pink
- Black
- Green
- Brown
- Navy
- Orange
But a simple list isn’t always enough.
It’s very likely that one or two of those tie colors would be the most appropriate for what you’re actually dressing for.
So, let’s go through each of them in a little more detail to help you choose the right one.
7 Tie Colors You Can Wear With A Grey Suit And Blue Shirt
You’ll notice how some of them look more formal/professional, while the others look more “smart-casual”.
Red
A grey suit and blue shirt can be worn with a red tie in a variety of different settings ranging from formal to smart-casual.
Appropriate Dress Codes: Formal, Business-Professional, Smart-Casual
It’s important to note that it’s an eye-catching and attention-grabbing choice.
Here’s why.
Blue is a “cool” color while red is a “warm” color. Refer to the color wheel to see what I mean.
Being on opposite halves of the color wheel, the contrast is high and the combination is likely to turn heads for this reason alone.
That doesn’t mean that a red tie can’t be worn in formal or professional settings.
In fact, it’s often called a “power tie” in the workplace due to its association with strength and authority (if you believe in all that stuff).
But be careful with the shade.
If you’d prefer a more subtle grey suit, blue shirt, and red tie combination, go for a dark and muted shade of red. This is often best for formal and professional settings.
Examples would include burgundy, maroon, or crimson ties.
If, on the other hand, you did want to take advantage of just how eye-catching a blue shirt and red tie combination can look, feel free to go for a brighter and bolder shade of red such as scarlet.
Just know that the more striking and eye-catching the tie looks against the backdrop of the shirt, the more casual it’s likely to look.
Pink
A pink tie could be a great choice when wearing a grey suit and blue shirt to a smart-casual event.
Appropriate Dress Codes: Formal, Smart-Casual
However, it’s important to note that the combination is unlikely to be suitable in professional settings such as corporate workplaces.
The blue shirt and pink tie combination has a noticeably “celebratory” appearance to it, ideal for weddings and other dressy social events.
While the light blue shirt, along with the white shirt, is a staple in professional settings, a pink tie is often a little too extravagant.
When choosing a pink tie, consider the shade of the grey suit you’re wearing.
In short, the combination looks great when the shade of the grey suit is coordinated with the shade of the pink tie.
If you’ve gone for a dark grey suit (eg. charcoal), consider a dark pink tie (eg. salmon pink).
In contrast, if you’re wearing a light grey suit, consider a light pink tie (eg. light blush or dusty pink).
Black
A black tie can easily be worn with a grey suit and blue shirt. It’s one of the most formal and professional options you could go for.
Appropriate Dress Codes: Formal, Business-Professional, Smart-Casual
Black ties are simple to coordinate given how neutral they are. In fact, coordinating it is something you don’t really ever have to worry about.
It’s also an effortlessly “formal” color that’ll sync well with practically any dress code you can think of.
When you’re worried there could be a risk of underdressing, a black tie would be a good way to go.
Compare the image above showing a grey suit, blue shirt, and black tie with the previous one swapping it for a pink tie and you’ll see what I mean.
A black tie would be a more subtle and understated alternative for those looking to make less of a statement and simply want to get by without drawing too much attention.
Green
Green ties work well with a grey suit and blue shirt, but the combination is unlikely to be suitable in business-professional settings.
Appropriate Dress Codes: Formal, Smart-Casual
Instead, reserve it for formal and smart-casual social events.
Blue and green coordinate very well with each other, given how they both fall firmly within the “cool” half of the color wheel.
It’s relatively low contrast with the cool undertones of each color syncing seamlessly, producing a laid-back and relaxed aesthetic.
The combination works especially well during the cooler months of fall and winter, with the grey suit providing a neutral backdrop to it all.
In dressier settings, consider a dark and muted shade of green such as forest, hunter, or olive green.
In more smart-casual settings where you’re looking for a more attention-grabbing combination, consider a light, bold, and vibrant shade of green instead.
Lime green and chartreuse come to mind.
Brown
A grey suit and blue shirt can be worn with a brown tie for a wonderfully earthy and neutral aesthetic.
Appropriate Dress Codes: Formal, Business-Professional, Smart-Casual
Brown ties aren’t as commonly worn as black, grey, and navy ties, but they’re actually surprisingly versatile.
While brown does have noticeably warm undertones, it’s muted enough to be considered neutral in most circ*mstances.
It’ll pair effortlessly with the blue shirt, as well as the grey suit.
As you’d expect, the earthy tones do work especially well during the months of fall, but the combination can comfortably be worn year-round with good effect.
With this neutral-ish suit and tie combo, the relatively colorful blue shirt will pop out in the background, becoming the focus and most attention-grabbing component of the outfit.
Navy
Navy ties work exceptionally well with a grey suit and blue shirt combination in settings ranging from formal and business-professional to smart-casual.
Appropriate Dress Codes: Formal, Business-Professional, Smart-Casual
In many ways, the navy tie could be considered to be in the same field or family as the black tie.
Simple, subtle, and dressy.
However, it does have a couple of advantages over the black tie.
For one, it’s a little less neutral and a little more exciting and vibrant.
In addition, a navy tie worn over a blue shirt is a monochromatic aesthetic. It’ll coordinate effortlessly.
The lighter the shade of the blue shirt, the more contrast you’ll get between the shirt and the dark and muted navy shirt.
Orange
An orange tie can be worn with a grey suit and blue shirt in smart-casual settings. The combination is eye-catching and high-contrast and wouldn’t be appropriate for events more formal than that.
Appropriate Dress Codes: Smart-Casual
Referring back to the color wheel, you’ll see that blue and orange are directly opposite each other.
They’re referred to as “complementary” colors for this reason. Other complementary pairs include purple and yellow, as well as red and green.
Complementary pairings are very high-contrast and very eye-catching as a result.
While it would work well, a blue shirt and orange tie pairing should really only be worn in smart-casual settings where that level of contrast wouldn’t be considered excessive.
Even in smart-casual settings, to produce a more subtle and sophisticated end result, choose a light blue shirt and a tie in a muted shade of orange (eg. burnt orange).
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a couple of FAQs on the topic to finish up.
Can You Wear A Grey Suit And Blue Shirt With No Tie?
A grey suit and blue shirt can certainly be worn without a tie, but only in smart-casual settings where a tie wouldn’t be considered necessary.
Wearing a grey suit and a blue shirt with a button undone can make for a gloriously laid-back smart-casual outfit in the right setting.
Can You Wear A Grey Suit And Blue Shirt With A Blue Tie?
A grey suit and a blue shirt can easily be worn with a blue tie, but it’s important to ensure that the tie is dark enough to easily be distinguished from the shirt.
We’ve already discussed how navy ties can work exceptionally well with this suit and shirt combination.
The reason it works is that navy is so dark that it’s bound to be easily separated from the blue shirt.
Ultimately, choosing a light blue shirt with a tie that’s in a shade of blue that’s darker is the easiest way to make it work.
It doesn’t have to be a lot darker. It just needs to be dark enough for people to easily notice that they’re different shades.
Conclusion
While a grey suit and blue shirt isn’t the most formal combination you could go for, it’s definitely more versatile than you might think at first.
This is also true when it comes to your choice of tie.
In general, darker and neutral tie colors are the best way to make a grey suit and blue shirt outfit appear more formal and professional.
In more casual settings, feel free to experiment with brighter and bolder tie colors.
Enjoy.
Axel
Ready Sleek founder. Obsessed with casual style and the minimalist approach to building a highly functional wardrobe. Also a fan of classic, vintage hairstyles.
