A tobacco linen suit is a classic summer outfit for men. The linen fabric gives it a casual feel while wearing cool in warm temperatures. This type of suit would be appropriate for all but the most formal of offices. It can be quite a striking look, though, so you wouldn’t want to wear it in a formal business meeting. For normal day-to-day professional wear, it can be a great choice for the summer months.

The colour tobacco is a more casual choice. This is partly why this type of suit is becoming more popular for mens’ wardrobes now that they want to look smart and sartorial, but veer away from the more traditional colours of navy and grey. The tobacco colour can also come in different shades – it can run from a brighter, more orange tone to an earthier, more brown tone. The latter tones will make the suit less conspicuous while the former tones will be more conspicuous. This type of outfit is an excellent choice for summer events such as weddings. 

The styling of this example is fairly conventional. It has a modest amount of shoulder padding and canvassing – just enough to give it some structured shape but not enough to make it feel heavy. It has medium width lapels, a 3-roll-2 button stance and patch hip pockets. The trousers are flat front with turn-ups. The fabric weight is 12/13oz which puts it more in the heavier, Irish linen category (rather than the lighter Italian style).

One of the advantages of a tobacco linen suit is that it can easily be worn as separates. The jacket would go with lighter coloured trousers such as white or cream as well as olive green. The trousers could also be worn alone, maybe with a polo shirt or knitwear. 

Overall, this type of suit is one of the most versatile suits you can own. See our article on casual suits for more ideas.