Grey runs an enormous distance, from a charcoal that is nearly black all the way out to a pale silver. Mid-grey sits in the middle of that range and it is the shade most men end up wearing most. It dresses up more easily than navy, takes a wider spread of shirt and tie colours, and carries a quieter authority than charcoal does. Once you have the charcoal and the navy in the cupboard, a grey suit in a decent worsted is the third one to order, and plenty of our customers find it becomes the favourite.
Mid-grey, light grey or silver
Mid-grey, a true medium tone that is neither dark nor pale, is the practical choice. Dark enough to hold up in a formal room, light enough to wear through a Chennai summer without looking like you have dressed for the wrong hemisphere. It is also the most shirt-friendly grey there is, sitting happily under white, pale blue, cream and most colours you might want to try.
Light grey, or silver-grey, is the more distinctive pick. It feels cooler in every sense, and it reads as assured rather than loud. It is not the suit for the most serious professional settings, but for formal daytime events, for weddings where you are a guest, and for the hot months when anything darker feels heavy, it is excellent. A light grey in a fine tropical worsted is one of the nicest warm-weather jobs that comes through our workshop.
Then there is grey flannel, in a medium-light shade, which is one of the great classics and always will be. It drapes like nothing else, softens beautifully with wear and looks its best in the cooler weeks. Just be realistic about how many months of the year you will want it on your back.