A suit for all builds and ages, all seasons and occasions (except funerals, R.I.P): when it comes to the ultimate do-it-all piece of tailoring, navy cannot be bested.

But it can get a bit... boring.

In the name of new beginnings, we've taken your humble navy suit and upgraded it - demonstrating five fresh looks for every eventuality.

1 | The new formal

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From left: Suit jacket, £920; trousers, £375, both by Alexander McQueen; Monk strap shoes, £525, by Church's; Tie, £140, by Tom Ford; Tie bar, £135, by Dunhill; Shirt, £250, by Burberry.

To mix up your conventional, day-to-day navy suit look trying swapping in a silk knitted tie in dark green, maroon or even brown which are all very complimentary to dark blue. Monk strap shoes in a deep burgundy also make a style-conscious and smart alternative to plain old Oxfords.

We'd personally recommend against a pocket square in an outfit that features a square knit tie - which is where the subtle flash of the gold tie bar comes in.

2 | The 'easy to get wrong' t-shirt and trainers

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From left: Suit, £100, Topman; Trainers, £265, Common Projects; T-shirt, £70, Sunspel.

Dressing down your navy suit is a remarkably easy look to get wrong, but, done well, it's is a stylish uniform for all seasons.

Regarding your suit, opt for something with both a slim fit and narrow lapels - you don't want to overcrowd the simplicity of the t-shirt, which should always be kept in a neutral shade without any branding whatsoever.

When it comes to trainers, white and high quality leather are the only way to go. And be sure to have your suit trousers cropped above or right on the ankle. Pooling legs become even more apparent when draped over bright white trainers.

3 | Upgraded air tie

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From left: Suit jacket, £175; trousers, £79, both by COS; Shirt, £400, Gucci; Shoes, £410, Common Projects.

Mastered by a new breed of stylish Hollywood leads, with Ryan Gosling the high priest of them all, the air tie offers an easy way out for those who can't stand the thought of the ol' noose around their neck.

While plain white offers guaranteed success; offsetting it with subtle print or embroidery is no bad thing. Especially floral shades for when the sun comes out.

4 | If you're feeling brave...

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From left: Suit, £500; Shirt, £265; Loafers, £325, all by Paul Smith.

As well as being the perfect fodder for classic styles (see Stage 1), navy can also lend itself to a more extravagant aesthetic; a canvas to experiment with print, colour and fresh textures.

Omitting any and all other accessories, inject some Sprezzatura into your wardrobe with a bold print shirt ('Air tie' or 'Riviera playboy with three buttons undone' both work); rounding off the look with suede embroidered loafers, like the ones above from Paul Smith, the king of modern dandies.

5 | Go Collarless

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From left: Suit, £550, Hugo Boss; Lapel pin, £45, Ted Baker; Shirt, £30, Topman; Shoes, £430, Dries Van Noten.

A more stream-lined, contemporary take on office tailoring, change out your regular white shirt for something with a granddad collar - that is, no collar at all - for an easy navy upgrade.

Another aesthetic that benefits from minimal accessories; here we've chosen a simple gold lapel pin to add some contrast, while patent leather derbies with an on-trend commando sole add some work-appropriate edge to the overall look.

Headshot of Finlay Renwick
Finlay Renwick
Deputy Style Editor
Mother, blogger, vegan, model, liar