Charcoal is probably the most useful suit colour a man can own for actual professional purposes and the reason is that it reads as serious and competent without the austerity of black or the relative informality of navy. It photographs well which matters more than people admit. It works with a wide range of shirt and tie combinations. It can be dressed down with a more casual shirt and no tie for smart casual situations without losing its inherent authority. We’d suggest a charcoal suit as the first proper suit purchase for someone building a wardrobe for professional life because it covers more situations more convincingly than any other single colour. A mid charcoal in a fine wool is the fabric and shade combination we’d start with. It works year round in a way that a very heavy charcoal flannel or a very light summer weight doesn’t quite manage.