The best navy suits for the office, weddings and just about everywhere else

Mr P.

• Fabrication: Corduroy
• Sizes: 36-46
• Shape: Double-breasted

Dressing for the transition of seasons can be tricky, but if there’s one fabric that can see you through winter to spring with ease, it’s corduroy. Perfect for keeping you cosy during unpredictable weather days, Mr Porter offers a stunning take on the texture through this navy suit. Blended with cotton and cashmere, its soft finish is fitted with a partial lining and deep pockets at the front. A-grade style score upon wear.

• Fabrication: Wool
• Sizes: 36-48
• Shape: Single-breasted

This very nicely-priced set from Massimo Dutti comes in at under £350, making it a shoo-in for our line-up of affordable suits. Nothing is compromised in the pursuit of the perfect suit here, either: lovingly cut from 100 per cent wool, it follows a regular, darted silhouette with a double vent for added mobility. The trousers, meanwhile, keep things comfortable and contemporary in a matching loose fit.

• Fabrication: Linen
• Sizes: 36-48
• Shape: Single-breasted

Easy and breezy, this may resemble a linen suit, but it’s a Marks and Spencer miracle. 'Italian Linen Miracle', to be precise – a proprietary textile with linen’s lightweight and good looks, but less of its irksome creases. Just the kind of suit you call on for a sunny social it's also vented for motion and comfort, leaving you free to be first to the buffet or dancefloor and forgiving all misguided moves. And with spring officially sprung, its selling fast, so we’d suggest you get a move on.

• Fabrication: 8 wale cotton corduroy
• Sizes: 34-48
• Shape: Single-breasted

A suit from Drake’s may not be the cheapest item you ever bought, but it will be one of your proudest. In line with its evergreen collections aimed at the coolest prep you know, this old money corduroy set is boxily cut for a slightly less formal finish, an intention followed through by the relaxed trousers in matching Yorkshire-sourced, Italy-made 8 wale cotton corduroy.

• Fabrication: Wool blend
• Sizes: 36-50
• Shape: Single-breasted

If you’re searching for a navy suit that’s made for business, pleasure, and everything in between, John Lewis has you sorted. Styled with a notch lapel, double vents at the back, and plenty of pockets to speak of, you can’t go wrong with this timeless combo. What really sets this suit apart from the rest though, is the fact that you can just throw it in the washing machine whenever the need arises.

• Fabrication: Linen
• Sizes: XS-XXL
• Shape: Single-breasted

Daniel Craig’s James Bond is known for sporting a Sunspel polo in Casino Royale, but we reckon the brand's linen suit would have worked just as well in the Miami heat. Unstructured and in a regular fit, the jacket uses narrow lapels and darting to keep things balanced, while the matching trousers are single pleated for a similarly relaxed finishing picture. Both are made of 100 per cent linen sourced from an Italian mill, making this a summer wedding and holiday mainstay.

• Fabrication: Textile blend
• Sizes: 34-44
• Shape: Single-breasted

A fuss-free navy suit at a more budget-friendly price? It’s a yes from us. This is ensured by Mango, whose latest addition to its new suit department is this single-breasted set. Structured to sit with a slim silhouette (and therefore promising to flatter all types of frame), it's infused with a slight stretch and incorporates recycled fabrics in its construction. Timelessly stylish and crafted with consciousness in mind, it gets our vote instantly.

• Fabrication: Cotton/linen blend
• Sizes: S-XL
• Shape: Single-breasted

With three-buttons and a boxy cut, Toast's cotton/linen set exemplifies the relaxed sophistication of the sustainable brand. Patch pockets bring an extra dose of casualness while a subtle grid check donates a slightly more unique flavour to the affair. Wear with chunky loafers or your favourite boots.

• Fabrication: Textile blend
• Sizes: 36-48
• Shape: Single-breasted

Wrinkle and abrasion-resistant in knitted ponte, Theory’s staple two-piece comes in several neutral shades, three of which fall roughly under the navy umbrella. “Basalt”, “Deep Sea Blue” and the example used here, (our favourite) “Baltic”, all follow the same relaxed formula: a double-button, single-breasted jacket with a darted waist and a chino-inspired slim-straight trouser, both in a breathable honeycomb structure. Since the performance material is machine washable and resistant to creasing, it’s the perfect set for travel.

• Fabrication: Linen
• Sizes: 36-48
• Shape: Single-breasted

Famed for his mastery of unstructured suiting, Oliver Spencer is a top port of call for a navy set to see you through daytime excursions in comfort and style. Fresh to the British designer’s seasonal offerings, this ‘Theobald’ ensemble is crafted from 100 per cent linen cotton and takes cues from the workwear wardrobe through its relaxed frame, high cut notch lapels and series of front patch pockets. The ultimate casual companion, if you ask us.

• Fabrication: Wool
• Sizes: 36-46
• Shape: Single-breasted

You might observe the neat worsted wool of this Paul Smith suit, admire its darted waist and classic notch lapel (with wool underlay, by the way) and think: yes, this is a perfect suit. But that’s before you’ve learned the crucial detail here: this is a suit made from crease resistant material that recovers swiftly from rumpling. A suit designed to travel in.

• Fabrication: Wool
• Sizes: 46-60
• Shape: Single-breasted

It’s hard to go wrong with a simple navy suit, especially when it’s cut with the expertise of Italian house Canali. Crafted from a quality wool texture, this fresh set features all details associated with a classic sartorial stance: from the jacket's notch lapels and double vent at the back to the trouser's front pressed creases and slash pockets at the side. One to last for years to come.

• Fabrication: Cotton blend
• Sizes: 44-58
• Shape: Single breasted

The perfect balance between premium and preppy, Gucci’s latest single-breasted navy suit is as elegant as they come. Tailored in Italy, it’s emblazoned with the house’s distinctive GG motif across both the blazer and trousers: the former of which is fitted with excellent notch lapels and deep patch pockets, and the latter, an elastic waistband for a more nonchalant base. An ensemble which will remain fashionable for the long run.

• Fabrication: Wool blend
• Sizes: 34-48
• Shape: Single-breasted

Slimline and sleek, you wear this DKNY suit when you want to make an understated impression. A classic three-piece, it’s kept contemporary and knife-sharp with pressed pleats and a pared-back design. Lean into the minimalist design style with a crisp pair of slim white trainers, and you’ll have an ensemble that’s youthful and fresh for all the smart casual occasions in your calendar.