How to Wear a White Suit for Men: From Weddings to Summer Parties

Style doesn’t follow the trends set by Hollywood’s most famous TV and movie personalities, but can be influenced. The most significant style moment for men at the Emmys this year was the white suit, which, until recently, has almost exclusively been saved for that special day. Now, it seems the lines have been blurred once again. Pedro Pascal, Taika Waititi, and others all chose to don the sparkly white suit in various shades, so before the trend takes over, we will explain the best way to style, wear, and pull off a white suit for men.

We’ll start by answering the best occasions for wearing a white suit before discussing the fabrics, the fit, and some tips on what to look for when shopping for one. Lastly, we’ll look at the best footwear, accessory options, and common mistakes to avoid.

White suits aren’t for everyone, and we understand that. But if you’re in the market for another suit, consider these things before taking the next steps.

When to Wear a White Suit

White suits have always been reserved for weddings, especially in Australia’s summer months. However, as styles change and men take more fashion risks, it’s become an honest alternative to traditional navy, grey, or black suits.

Wear a white suit only in the warmer months, and save your brown, green, and autumn-coloured suits for the cooler months.

It is best worn at garden parties, rooftop soirées, yacht outings, destination weddings in tropical locations, etc., and only at cocktail parties and formal occasions where a suit is required. Unless asked, we don’t recommend simply stepping out to something like a bucks night in a white suit, as you will stand out, and the attention in the room is not yours to demand.

Cocktail parties, red carpets, and similar events are the best times to wear this type of suit, but you can get away with a white suit on a semi-formal occasion, too, if you stick to these rules. Nights out in coastal cities on vacation are a great opportunity to put one on, but consider a looser-fitting linen or cotton version, potentially a casual double-breasted jacket that’s more of an off-white colour. Wear the suit sockless, with loafers in a brown colour, boat shoes, or espadrilles.

It almost goes without saying, but don’t wear a white suit at a black-tie event. You also shouldn’t wear one to a business meeting, nor should you wear one to a sombre occasion like a funeral unless asked. Oh, and don’t forget that it’s white! If your plans involve eating a lot of food, drinking a lot of red wine, etc., it’s probably not the most practical choice.

Choosing the Right Fabric for a White Suit

Blended fabrics are the most common fabrics used in a white suit. They’re versatile and affordable, which makes them a great halfway point between cotton and linen or wool and cotton, and you can typically wear them all year round. When shopping for a blended fabric suit, focus more on the style of the suit, the cut, and the colours. You won’t have control over the quality of the blend like you would the quality, thread count, or mill like cotton, but you’ll save a lot of money and even reduce creasing in the process.

Check out cotton or wool if you want to invest in a high-quality white suit. Cotton is preferred as it’s better suited to warmer months, when you’ll wear your white suit. However, a lightweight wool suit can provide a lovely textured finish. Cotton is the best choice when you want to wear your white suit to more formal occasions in summer, as linen won’t cut it visually.

Choose a linen material if you’re after the lightest-weight white suit for casual events in warm weather. You can get away with a cotton and linen blend here, but pure linen is always the best choice, despite the hefty price attached. You’ll struggle to keep it crease-free, but layering a white linen suit with a crispy white t-shirt and a pair of loafers is a simple yet effective summer outfit for pool parties, etc.

Silk is another option, but it’s probably something we’d avoid in white suits for men, as they’re not really on trend at the moment and prohibitively expensive. If the party premise is a white suit (e.g. a “white party”), then silk is the way to stand out amongst the crowd.

Finding the Perfect Fit

White suits are on trend right now, and so are relaxed-fit suits. Thankfully, the two go hand in hand. We highly recommend choosing a wider-fit white suit for semi-formal occasions and a classic fit or slim-fit white suit for formal occasions. While the idea of suiting is quite simple on paper, you’ll want to keep these four ideas in mind before you choose your cut:

• Shoulders: Should fit snugly without pulling or sagging, no matter the cut.
• Jacket length: It should hit around the mid-to-lower seat for balanced proportions.
• Trousers: Cropped (casual) or with a slight break for a modern look, don’t bunch.
• Sleeves: Look for 2.5 centimetres of shirt cuff on show for a refined touch.

You don’t have to be the skinniest guy to wear a slim-fit white suit. When tailored to fit the body, slim-fit suits can have a slimming effect on bigger men. If you’re after a slim-fit white suit, consider the occasion, as you’ll only be able to wear it to formal events.

Classic fit suits are the best all-around option when buying a white suit for men. You can dress them up with a collared shirt, dress them down with a white t-shirt underneath, or even take things to the next level with a singlet in really warm weather, e.g. on a boat with a linen suit.

When you’re shopping for a white linen suit for men, consider a relaxed fit. It’s a versatile modern cut that works well for semi-formal occasions. You can take that to the next level with a double-breasted cut linen suit or a cotton alternative. When looking at relaxed fits and double-breasted options, you should also consider the buttons and intricate details, as they’ll really pop against the white blazer and trousers. Finally, consider a contrasting pair of black trousers and black dress shoes.

Styling White Suits: Shirt & Tie Combinations

The most popular white suit combination is the white blazer, white shirt, and black tie option, often worn at weddings. However, with a new trend comes a new opportunity to style something that fits you and the situation in which you will be wearing the suit.

We’ve put together a scrollable table below to help you decide on a white suit combination for the occasion.

Style	Shirt Choice	Tie Options	Best For	Style Tips
Classic	Crisp white shirt	Black tie, bow tie	Evening events, cocktail parties, modern weddings	Pair with black leather shoes and a belt for a polished monochrome look.
Summer	Light blue, blush pink, lavender	Neutral tones (grey, navy) or no tie	Outdoor weddings, daytime parties, resort events	Skipping the tie gives a relaxed feel.
Bold Statement	Dark/navy, burgundy, or patterned shirts	Simple tie or no tie	Fashion events, parties, standout occasions	Let the shirt be the centre piece. Keep your accessories simple: a watch and a silver bracelet.
Open-Collar	White, light blue, or linen shirt (no tie)	None	Rooftop drinks, summer evenings, relaxed receptions	Unbutton the top two buttons of your shirt and use structured fabrics to avoid sloppiness.
Contrast	Solid light-coloured shirts	Stripes, polka dots, textured ties in navy, burgundy, charcoal	Smart-casual weddings, formal day events	Keep the shirt simple and let the tie add personality.

Scroll horizontally to view full table

Shoe Choices That Work With White Suits

Black dress shoes (oxfords or derbies) are the go-to when wearing a white suit on formal and informal occasions. Not only do they match your tie, but they leave all the attention on the suit.

When you’re wearing a relaxed-fit, white linen suit, pair it with brown loafers, as this is a more casual occasion. You could also get away with a pair of tan or beige shoes, particularly if they’re designer shoes from a brand like Golden Goose or Valentino, but this should only be done casually.

If you’re heading to a semi-formal event and don’t want to wear loafers or brown shoes for men, the best option is a pair of like-new white shoes or sneakers.

Espadrilles or slip-ons are another great alternative to loafers, but we’d save these for boat parties and vacations as they lean very casual.

Accessorising the White Suit

Keep your accessories minimal when wearing a white suit.

That means minimalist watches, such as dress watches, not chronographs. Optional pocket squares, wire-frame sunglasses like aviators, wayfarers, skinny belts, or no belts.

Leave your jewellery at home, or put on a single cuff. Swap out the traditional jewellery for a boutonnière, such as a small flower on the lapel.

If you must, wear a Panama hat or fedora, which can add flair for summer events. But tread carefully, as it’s easy to tip into costume territory when you’re wearing a white suit.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve figured out how to wear a white suit for men. Now, it’s time to own it. Doing so means avoiding these common mistakes:

• Wearing a white suit to formal black-tie events is inappropriate.
• Over-accessorising makes the clean white suit look cluttered and messy.
• Poor tailoring ruins the sharp silhouette, so always invest in alterations if it doesn’t fit.
• Dark shirts under white suits create harsh, dated, unflattering contrasts.
• Scuffed or chunky shoes instantly cheapen the overall polished aesthetic.
• Wearing linen suits in winter looks awkward and seasonally mismatched.
• Creases happen, but neglecting dry cleaning or pressing makes the suit look cheap.
• Wearing oversized sunglasses or flashy jewellery distracts from the suit.
• No stains!

Congratulations, you’ve mastered the white suit. But remember, you’re not an a-list Hollywood celebrity, so don’t act like one.