In terms of colour, neutral is a 'colour' that contains more white or black than it'd dominant hue, but all neutrals will have an underlying colour tone. Which will have just as much governance as to what they will match even though they are neutral. But I do agree that these more muted or greyed colours are less flamboyant, but can be used to great effect design-wise. They don't have to be boring at all, but on the other hand they don't shout for attention.

Last edited by Oo Bop Sh'bam (2011-07-25 03:10:30)

Grey trousers, blue shirt, brown jacket. (Warmer weather: substitute khakis for flannels.) I've been trying to fight this orthodoxy, by getting trousers made in navy blue and chocolate brown, but in retrospect I should have just got them in greys. The blue shirt of course is not essential, and tan trousers work well instead of flannels, but with a brown tweed jacket, it seems other colours just don't quite do it.

Last edited by Yuca (2013-11-25 04:16:16)

All colours (re. knitwear and shirts) work with jeans imo. Shoes to be worn with jeans is a lot trickier though.

Jeans still a casual trousers and don't work with formal shoes in my opinion. Suede shoots or boots are fine with jeans, loafers are okay, brogues could just edge it depending on the rest of the outfit. Anything smarter in a leather shoe and you are risking what Hepcat said.

Since throwing out my only PTBs due to cracking, longwings are the smartest shoes I own. The pebblegrains are somewhat casual, however the black or cordovan look good with a suit, so if they're not formal then I don't see what that's worth (although if that's the consensus it's worth knowing).

Likewise longwings with jeans rarely works, although Chet Baker pulled it off whilst decorating an Italian Xmas tree.

I wouldn't do gunboats with jeans either.  I would however, maybe on a really casual I don't give a crap day, wear some pennies with jeans.  Maybe even sans socks.  Put that in yer pipes and toke it.

Well techincally I suppose what type of suit it is an what occasion I guess one of the wardrobe boys would know.. I thought a derby again was more casual than a plain toe or capped oxford

As autumn seems to be moving rapidly into winter...  sensible Ivyists like us begin cursing the dreaded moth and hoping the little fuckers have left us something to wear... 
My tastes have altered very little since those days: the emphasis is upon navy.  There seems to be something of a consensus on it being an almost perfect Ivy colour - an exception being (perhaps) in shirts (other than polo shirts).  So: excellent knitwear and polo shirts.  The traditional blazer.  Keydge/Vetra style corduroy jackets.  Cords (a la some Ivy Shop/J.Simons dressers).  Socks.  Anything I've missed out?  It's become my go-to colour.

I like a navy shirt. Summer they look great with yellow tone chinos. I think there’s a Delon pic with Jane Fonda where he has a navy burin down.
A navy ocbd also looks good under Seersucker at night
Winter they look great under a dark grey jacket.
I know it’s not a typical Ivy look but it still looks sharp.