Your First Suit Should Be Blue

Why Birmingham’s bespoke community steers first-time buyers away from black

By Tres’ Washing | Tres’ Fine Clothing | Birmingham, AL

BIRMINGHAM – If you’re buying your first suit, traditional wisdom often points to black. Most custom suit tailors say that’s the wrong call. In Bespoke Suit and Custom Suit Tailors across the US, especially here at Tres Fine Clothing, makes the same case to new clients: start with blue, preferably a classic navy in a year-round wool. It’s more versatile, more flattering, and easier to style for real life.

The case for blue (and against black)

In menswear, color signals context. Black suiting is historically tied to evening events and somber occasions. Blue, by contrast, flexes across day and night without announcing itself. In offices with shifting dress codes, at church on Sunday, in interview rooms and wedding aisles, a navy or mid-blue suit looks appropriate without feeling severe. It also photographs better in natural light, where black can turn flat and boring.

When you speak with a stylist, blue pairs cleanly with what most men already own. White and light-blue shirts, brown or black shoes, knit or silk ties. That lowers the total cost of looking pulled together, one suit, many combinations.

Fit over flash

Washing’s process underscores a broader truth, the most noticeable thing about a suit isn’t the brand; it’s the fit. Shoulders must sit smoothly without divots. The jacket should cover the seat and show a sliver of shirt cuff. Trousers should fall with a slight break, not puddling over the shoe and not hovering above it. Sorry millennial, that means you. These details, adjusted to posture and proportions, create the “effortless” look first-time buyers try to achieve with trendy cuts or shiny fabrics. They rarely need either with a blue bespoke suit. 

Fabric, weight, and weave—what to ask for

For your first suit, Birmingham’s climate argues for a year-round wool in the 260–300 g range, with a twill or serge weave to reduce wrinkles and hide wear. Ask for matte over sheen, please no Diddy Shinny Suits! Stick with a solid color over heavy pattern. Make a checklist, those choices keep the suit in rotation from courthouse steps to reception halls, from August heat to January meetings.

Silhouette that stays in style:

For your jacket, go with a single-breasted, two button jacket, Notch lapel, dual vents, and flap pockets. For your pants, pick a flat-front with side adjusters or discreet belt loops.

Five dependable way to wear one navy suit?

1. Interview: white button up shirt, navy or burgundy small-pattern tie, dark oxford dress shoes, white pocket square.
2. Wedding: light or pale blue shirt, wine or forest grenadine tie, brown brogues dress suits, linen pocket square.
3. Client Meeting: light-blue shirt, navy knit tie, brown derbies, subtle patterned square.
4. Smart casual: open-collar white or chambray, suede loafers; in cooler months, a fine-gauge merino crew under the jacket.
5. Evening out: black knit tie, black whole cuts, crisp white square, dim accessories, let the tailoring speak.

Common first-timer mistakes to avoid:

Shiny blends or high stretch fabrics. They age quickly and read “evening wear” on camera.

Extreme silhouettes. Ultra-skinny or boxy fits date fast; tailored and balanced lasts.

Rushed alterations. Hem and sleeve errors can undo good cloth. Use a specialist who sets sleeve pitch and balances the hem to your shoe height.

Why blue first, gray second

Ask three tailors for a starter wardrobe and you’ll hear the same order: navy suit first, charcoal or mid-gray suit second. Navy’s social range is wider; gray joins quickly to expand your weekly rotation. Add texture and sport coats later. But the first brick of any good wardrobe, the one that does the most work for the longest time, is blue suit.

A 60 Second Quick Guide for Your First Suit

Color: Navy (matte), solid

Fabric: 260–300 g wool, twill/serge

Jacket: 2-button, notch lapel, dual vents, flap pockets

Trousers: Flat-front, slight break

Fit tells: Clean shoulders, jacket covers seat, 1/4″ shirt cuff showing

Bottom line

For men building from zero or rebuilding with intention, a blue suit is the highest-value purchase in tailored clothing. It meets the moment without shouting, adapts to almost any setting, and rewards proper care with a decade of service. In Birmingham’s growing bespoke scene, that’s not a trend; it’s consensus.

Thinking about your first fitting? Tres Washing and the team at Tres Fine Clothing in Birmingham, AL tailor navy and mid-blue suits. Schedule your appointment today.