Formal checked shirt?

If it's a formal ball I'd stay away from checked shirts- they always look to me like office wear if under a suit.

I'd go with a white shirt under the 3 piece and you can afford to go a bit out there with your tie and pocket square if you want, but I'd recommend keeping it classic for formal occasions. Would you wear a bow-tie?

If it's black tie you really should wear a tux, although there are some decent alternatives if it's not your thing. Check out The Style Blogger's post on non rental options. I love the first option!

Well this is a nice check: http://www.thomaspink.com/jermyn-street-shirts-the-beaufort/content/fcp-content

But good for wedding / office / stylish night out. Maybe not a ball. Depends what the dress code is though, if its "black tie" you have to wear a white shirt and a black tie or bow tie. You COULD get away with a pink shirt, depends.

TBH I don't see how a pink or coloured shirt is any less 'office wear' than a non-casual check shirt.

While I agree solid shirts are more formal than patterned ones (in the same way a solid suit is more formal than a patterned one), you should really be going with a white shirt, even if the dress code isn't black tie.

It's more or less a blank canvas - particularly when paired with a medium to charcoal grey suit - and these are very unlikely to clash with your partners outfit either. You can brighten things up with a well textured tie and square combination.

Arguably, a pale blue shirt achieves all this too but blue for me really is the colour of business wear so would avoid that for a ball.

I think younger guys at times tend to focus on shiny suits, completely horrid tie colours and accessories like tie clips and pocket squares as a means to stand out. However, the wearing of these items (though I will always hate polyester, sheen-like suits) are usually poorly executed.

I would instead focus on getting your suit tailored to fit as well as possible. Learn to tie a proper tie knot (I recommend the half Windsor or Pratt knot) and choose a good quality tie and polish the best pair of black shoes you have.

A classic combination of colours and textures, together with clothes that actually fit you well and attention to detail will make you stand out far more, particularly when compared to the average male attendee at a college ball!

Bit of a tangent there OP but hopefully there's some useful information buried in there somewhere!

Duff wrote: »

Thanks for the replies and input guys. It's not black tie as such just formal wear. Think I'll stick with the white shirt and maybe try and jazz it up with a different colour bow tie or something.

Thanks again.

If you're gonna go with a bow tie get a real one and learn how to tie it. When it comes to undoing it you'll feel and look so much better than the guys with their pre-tied ones! :cool: