Monochrome 101: Navy

Words by Ben Brewster, Creative Director, The Cuff
Photography by Liz Aquilino

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As casual tailoring gains popularity, and the shirt and tie remains less than practical in the short term, one of the easiest ways to get wear out of your suits is to dress them down. I like to replace the shirt and tie with a sweater. This offers a refined look that doesn’t feel out of place in today’s casual-skewing fashion climate. While a t-shirt is also an option, a knit v-neck is preferable this time of year before the summer temperatures (and humidity) arrive.

To complement the suit I like to add a minimal accessory in addition to a watch—typically a necklace or ring. The Talismanic Amulet necklace from Tateossian combines just the right amount of detail to add some intrigue to the ensemble while its clean lines blend are in line with the rest of the outfit. With such an intricate fabric pattern by Vitale Barberis Canonico on this Proper Cloth suit, it’s important to keep the rest of the look minimal, both in terms of color and design, so the pieces aren’t competing but instead complementing one another. Hence, my take on monochromatic navy.

Shot on location in Montauk, New York. Spring 2021.

Suit by Proper Cloth
Sweater by John Henric
Watch by Rado
Necklace by Tateossian
Slippers by Shutiq