Every Man Needs a Black Suit—So Get Yours Right Now

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MOST MEN don’t think they need a black suit, until they need a black suit. Navy and charcoal suits are a go-to for a lot of guys, but the best black suits for men are reliable options for when you need to look dapper with minimal effort. After all, it doesn’t take much accessorizing to turn a black suit into a sharp formal or business casual look. At the same time, a black jacket and trousers can put a sleek edge on a t-shirt and casual shoes—like sneakers, loafers, or mules. That versatility is what makes it a secret weapon that every man should have in their wardrobe.

And don't worry, wearing a black suit won't make you look like a bodyguard, secret agent, or a funeral attendee. Just make sure to accessories it with fun sneakers or a crisp tee for a relaxed vibe. Or if you're going full formal, make sure to tailor your black suit for an impeccable finish. Nowadays, you don't have to drop thousands of dollars for a great black suit. Plenty of our favorite menswear brands offer decent jackets and trousers at sub-$1,000 prices. At the end of the day, a great black suit is what you make of it, and there is virtually no limit to where you can take it. Read on for our favorite picks.

Classic Black Suit

Shopping for a suit can get complicated, but Suitshop has streamlined the process as much as possible. Just pick a color, size, and one of two preferred fits, and boom—you're done. Need help finding your size? Suitshop has a guide to walk you through the process. A direct to consumer model paired with a modern fabric blend makes this great fitting suit incredibly affordable. There is even a wedding and events section where you can set up a suit groups like groomsmen.

Ludlow Slim-fit Suit

Matching Suit Pants: Ludlow Slim-fit suit pant in Italian wool

$225 at J.Crew

When J.Crew launched the Ludlow suit a little over a decade ago, it set a new standard for formalwear. Men were already starting to dress up again, and the store brand provided an approachable entree to great tailoring. We've come a long way since then, but the Ludlow remains a steadfast example of how a suit should fit and feel. What was once game-changing suit is now a reliable classic.

AirSense Jacket

Matching Suit Pants: AirSense Pants

$50 at Uniqlo

Uniqlo is known for great looking basics at very friendly prices and this black suit is a perfect example. With a lapel that isn't too wide and not too skinny, a relaxed body, and a comfy soft shoulder, you've got an easy to style and easy to wear suit. To keep the price down, Uniqlo used 100% polyester, which will also save you dry cleaning bills because it is much easier to clean than traditional suiting wool.

Linen Tailored Blazer

Matching Suit Pants: Straight Leg Linen Trousers

$195 at Percival

While most men go with lighter colors with their summer suiting, go rogue with some black linen. Patch pockets and an unstructured finish place this black suit on the more casual side, which makes it perfect for warm weather parties and events. A shirt and tie will always work, but you can keep it chill with a camp collar shirt and loafers.

Black Perennial Havana Suit

Off the rack, the Havana suit fits like a dream. The body is slim but not tight, a medium shoulder is squared off but not bulky, and the lapel is perfectly on the wider side. The super 110 wool from Italian mill Reda has a nice matte finish. However, if that doesn't meet your specifications, you can go to town customizing it for an extra charge and $150 and up. Lapel style, button arrangement, vent count, shoulder size, lining type, pocket style, and a number of other details are all available for alteration.

Italian Seersucker Madison Drawstring Suit in Black

Texture is key the breathability of seersucker. It is also really nice to look at, especially in a black finish like this. The jacket is only quarter lined and has no canvasing so it is super light and flexible. A drawstring waist on the pants adds another degree of comfort, almost giving the feel of athletic pants. Even though Todd Snyder is based in New York, the vibe of this suit is unmistakably Italian: chic and nonchalant at the same time.

Jetsetter Stretch Wool Suit

You don't need to go full athletic fabric to make a suit optimal for travel. In fact, sticking to mostly wool will retain the shape of the suit longer and provide a more refined look. Bonobos built their travel suit almost entirely out of wool, with only 3% elastic. Comfort is key to travel, and Bonobos offers three different cut options to nail down your most comfortable fit. An extra large interior pocket to stash your passport, wallet, or anything else is a nice little bonus.

Read more: Best Men's Travel Blazers

Natural Stretch Twill Suit

Twill is the type of fabric weave you usually find in chinos, but Charles Tyrwhitt uses a 100% wool twill to make the brand's most popular suit. That distinct weave gives a natural stretch to the fabric without adding any other materials. You're getting a bonafide classic fit with this suit: medium width notch lapel, two buttons, rope shoulder, and standard fit. You can even make it a three piece by adding the vest. For anyone who has to wear a suit to work for long hours, look no further.

Jay Trim Fit Solid Wool Suit

Thread count might be a myth in bed sheets, but it certainly matters in suiting. Super 130, which is the grade of wool Ted Baker uses for the Jay Trim Fit suit, is about as fine as suiting wool gets. This classic bit of British tailoring is a James Bond worthy fit. The shoulder is slightly boxy, coming down to slightly tapered body. A moderately narrow notch lapel keeps everything proportional.

Classic Fit Solid Wool Suit

Classic fit doesn't just mean baggy or boxy. A truly classic fit suit has a commanding squared off shoulder, broad lapel, and straight leg pants, but the body should still follow your silhouette. Canali absolutely nails it here, as you would expect from one of the most respected tailors in the world. This is a "board room suit," as they say. Once it is fit to your body, it makes you feel like a super hero.

Venture Blazer

Matching Suit Pants: New Venture Trouser

$148 at Lululemon

With snaps instead of buttons, no chest pocket, and no cuff buttons, this suit almost resembles a coach's jacket. The lightweight and flexible fabric feels like activewear as well. Yet a knock lapel, soft suiting shoulder, and matching pants make this a proper suit. Trading formality for comfort isn't always a bad thing. This is a great set for a business casual dress codes or mixing it up on the weekends.

Signature Italian Hopsack Suit Jacket

Matching Suit Pants: Signature Italian Hopsack Suit Pant

$200 at Banana Republic

Hopsack is a weave that makes suits wrinkle resistant without any added material. It also causes a nice natural drape where it hangs from the body, where most suits can be rigid. Banana Republic makes a beautifully cut black hopsack suit with a square shoulder, medium lapel and and slim fit. This is the perfect wedding suit because it gives you room to dance while still looking formal. It also makes a great work suit because of its hard-to-wrinkle fabric.

Read more: Best Wedding Suits

Black Twill Slim Suit Jacket

Matching Suit Pants: Black Twill Slim Suit Pants

$100 at Hawes and Curtis

A sturdy wool twill suit works great double duty as a casual fit. The distinct weave matches well with sneakers, denim shirts, and t-shirts. Of course, the matte texture also provides a nice finish with a dress shirt and tie.

Highbridge Herringbone Black Suit

Solid black herringbone is not easy to come by, but it really should be when it looks this good. Indochino works with some amazing fabrics and every suit you buy from them is custom made. Bespoke tailoring ensures the best fit every time. The base model comes with a medium width lapel, rope shoulder, and flap pockets, but all that can be tweaked if you want to.

100% Wool Suit

Zara offers a very modern cut suit, which means a looser body, slouchier shoulder, and broad lapel. A single vent back keeps the jacket hugging to your torso. The pants are straight leg but still trim. This is a great suit to dress down with bold patterned button down shirt or a hoodie underneath. A wider tie is recommended to stay proportional.

Robert Graham Wool & Mohair Slim Fit Suit Jacket

Matching Suit Pants: Wool & Mohair Slim Fit Suit Pants

$248 at Bloomingdales

Blending wool with mohair gives a rougher looking texture that is actually soft to the touch. You don't see it often in suits and it adds a nice little detail to a well tailored fit. The wool/mohair blend is also warmer than a full wool, so this is a great fall and winter suit. A soft rope shoulder and medium width lapel add a classic look.

Slim fit double-breasted suit blazer

Matching Suit Pants: Suit Pants

$90 a Mango

Double breasted jackets are definitely back and better than ever. More often than not, you'll find them in navy blue, but black is the sleekest option. You could dress it up with a shirt and tie, but wearing a crew neck t-shirt or sweater lets the jacket do all the work. A great fall and winter look is to wear a turtleneck underneath.

What to Look for in Black Suits for Men

Fit and fabric are the top priorities for any color suit, but none more so than black. It doesn’t matter if you go with a soft shoulder or fully padded, a slim fit or boxy fit, tailored pants or wide leg, as long as fit and proportions complement your body then you’re good to go. If you are unsure of your side, most brand websites have a size chart. Which is always good to reference anyway, since sizing can fluctuate from brand to brand.

For maximum versatility, stick to a black suit that checks all the fundamental boxes: two button front, notch lapel, double vent, and flat front trousers. Smaller details can vary, but as long as you have those classic suit elements included, you can do anything you want with your black suit.

What to Wear With a Black Suit for Men?

Full black and white is definitely a high fashion look, but off the runway, you run the risk of looking like you’re in Men in Black. Think outside the “professional uniform” box by mixing up your shirt, shoes, and accessories. Rock an oxford shirt: top button unbuttoned, a bold tie, and a flashy gold watch for the office. Go high-low with a hoodie and your favorite running shoes for a night out. Despite what you may have heard, you absolutely can wear brown shoes with a black suit, but it is a delicate balancing act so proceed with caution. When in doubt, put on a chambray or denim shirt.

Are Black Suits Too Formal?

Black suits are absolutely not too formal. They have a reputation for formality because black is just the easiest color to use for work uniforms and the best color for blending in. Black is also the color of choice for pretty much every high fashion brand ever. However, that doesn't mean you can’t make black suits light hearted and fun. Anything you can do with a navy suit, you can do with a black suit. Ironically, you will stand out by going semi-casual in a black suit because most men haven’t tried it yet. Once you do though, you'll have it in your repertoire for life.

Read more: How to Wear Suits With Sneakers

Read More About the Best Suits to Shop Now

Summer Suits | Seersucker Suits | Suits for Men | Linen Suits | Wedding Suits | Blazers

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