When then-US president Barack Obama wore a tan suit at a press conference in the summer of 2014, his choice of outfit created a stir among political pundits and fashion watchers alike. Known for sticking to a classic colour palette of grey and blue, Obama opting for a more summer-appropriate tan suit paired with a white shirt and tie made headlines. It didn’t take long for the outfit to go viral on social media, with mocking tweets such as “Yes, we tan!” and “The audacity of taupe” – references to one of his campaign slogans and the title of one of his books, respectively.
As the strength of the reaction showed, the tan suit is one of the most controversial menswear staples. It is notoriously hard to pull off and often not very flattering, which is why fit is extremely important. Opt for a sharply tailored one if you don’t want to look like a dishevelled schoolboy or a frumpy slob.
“Tan suits can feel intimidating outside of summer, but if you choose the right fabric and colour then they are a great new addition to your wardrobe; it can just take a bit of confidence the first time you wear it,” says Sophie Jordan, menswear buying director at luxury online retailer Mytheresa. “They can be tricky to pull off as there are many colour variations, so it’s important to find the right shade to flatter your skin tone. It can also be a question of what accessories to match, and I would recommend a dark brown belt and shoes over black, which can feel too harsh against the tan.”
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Almost a decade after Obama’s take, several Hollywood celebrities have recently given the tan suit another chance on the red carpet. At the Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles earlier this year, This is Us actor Justin Hartley wore a crisp beige suit with satin lapels from Italian brand Nana Sartoria paired with a gold Rolex watch. Not to be outdone, Abbott Elementary star Tyler James Williams offered a bolder take on the tan suit with a pinstriped number from Dolce & Gabbana with a floral boutonnière pinned to his lapel.
The instigator of the recent renaissance of the tan suit, however, is Brad Falchuk, a writer, producer and director who is less of a household name, but is married to one of the most famous and fashionable women in Hollywood: Gwyneth Paltrow.
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At the premiere of his Netflix show The Brothers Sun in Los Angeles, Falchuk showed up in a classic pinstripe suit with a slightly shiny finish that was a great counterpoint to Paltrow’s crimson outfit from Vietnamese designer Cong Tri.
Meanwhile, rising actor Chris Briney, who had his big break with hit show The Summer I Turned Pretty, showed the importance of fit in a Tod’s suit paired with a V-neck knit that could have been a major faux pas but instead was a success thanks to the sharp cut of the ensemble.
