I think it's fair to say that if you were to ask most gents to reach for a suit from their wardrobe, they'd probably emerge with either a navy or dark grey option. There's nothing wrong with the classics, but as we head towards the warmer months, and with the shift in tailoring trends over the past few years, it's never a bad idea to start thinking about lightening up and making a shift away from the dark side (yes that was a Star Wars reference). I've never been a fan of the traditional charcoal or grey suit, and have always had numerous alternative neutral tones to hand. My go-to shade has always been 'stone' and think it works for numerous situations throughout this time of year.
This particular three piece suit is one of the latest tailoring offerings from Marks & Spencer (gifted), one of the UK's go to highstreet suiting destinations. With a subtle vintage look and classic tailored cut, it's versatility is superior to your original corporate styles and drab tones. I think a three-piece is the way forward when picking out a light-weight suit and this also gives you more styling options for summer events; weddings, races etc, with the option to ditch either the jacket or waistcoat in favour of a slightly different look to the last wear. The linen blend in this suit also makes it a lot more comfortable to wear, with more breathability as the weather warms up.
Jacket: £99, M&S | Trousers: £50, M&S | Waistcoat: £39, M&S, Shirt: £39.95, Charles Tyrwhitt, Tie: £25, M&S | Barkby Monk Shoe: £79.95, Moda In Pelle | Ultra Slim Watch: £149, Rotary Watches
I think this suit works with either a white or blue shirt, even a navy if you're ditching the tie, and accessorising the look is where you get the chance to add more character and flair. I went for a standard pair of tan monk strap shoes as I find this continues the warmer tones, and went for a subtle striped tie in shades of navy and green to really pop against the neutral background. Again, I think this style of suit lends itself to a slightly more retro and sartorial look, so a classic styling option is always best in my eyes (all items linked above).
