Colours for a linen suit

"The brute covers himself, the rich man and the fop adorn themselves, the elegant man dresses!"

-Honore de Balzac

Post Reply
SM67
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Riyadh KSA
Contact:

Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:24 am

All
I am about to commission a SB linen suit and am agonising over colours. I like the idea of white/cream (W.Bill 60149) but am concerned about amount of use I could get out of it and the issues of pale fabrics staining and being see through in harsh sunlight. The other option I'm considering is a mid blue (W. Bill 60142). Your advice, comments or alternatives are very welcome.
Many thanks
Simon.
uppercase
Posts: 1769
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:49 pm

Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:24 pm

Simon, I think that you've answered your own question.

Linen is no longer just a Summer cloth, unless you choose Summer colors.

So blues and browns are definitely going to extend the period of wear and usefullness of your linen suit.
sartorius
Posts: 255
Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:32 am
Location: London
Contact:

Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:42 pm

Simon - I have a linen SB in W Bill navy blue (the W Bill is a great choice by the way). The dark colour has two great advantages - it is versatile (wearable for work as well as play) and the creases are much less prominent.

As a general rule, the lighter the colour the more the creases will stand out. I have noticed that white linen is everywhere at the moment - it will clearly be the colour to wear this summer - but to my mind it is just not at all practical. I would be very careful if you're going to be spending big on bespoke - you don't want something you'll have to dry clean after every wear. Aside from the cost and hassle, dry cleaning will take its toll after a while.
manton
Posts: 647
Joined: Sun Feb 20, 2005 3:37 pm
Contact:

Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:06 pm

Off white is definitely the classic color and the first one I would go for. After that, there are some lovely mustardy yellow-tans and light browns. Then the olives. All of those would appeal to me more than blues and grays, at least until I had a few. The blues and grays would make a nice DB spring suit, however; I would leave the lighter shades for the heat of summer (SB for additional coolness). I think, too, that if I wanted elephant gray, I would get that in Dupioni before linen.
Last edited by manton on Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SM67
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Riyadh KSA
Contact:

Tue Mar 27, 2007 6:59 pm

Gentlemen, thank you for your wise words. I live in a very hot country (Saudi) and can get a lot of use out of a more casual suit at receptions and informal parties. I am also thinking about a suit as an alternative to a club blazer for regattas back home in the summer. I have to say I'm leaning towards the paler colours.
Again, thank you for your advice.
smoothjazzone
Posts: 279
Joined: Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:13 pm
Contact:

Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:12 pm

W. Bill has a beautiful butter cream color

Also, one of the best colors for a linen suit is a pale light blue
Sammyo77
Posts: 65
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:02 pm
Location: London
Contact:

Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:11 pm

Mine is from Cordings in Petrol Blue. Outstanding.
geebee
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 1:06 am
Location: Quezon City, Philippines
Contact:

Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:31 am

Since you want to use this for informal parties and receptions, I would have to agree on the pale blue. Navy would be a too safe and obvious choice.

GB
SM67
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Riyadh KSA
Contact:

Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:44 pm

I finally ordered a 2 button SB suit in a W. Bill pale cream / off white linen. All being well I should have a first fitting in mid May.
Thanks for all the very helpful advice.
Post Reply
  • Information
  • Who is online

    Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests