Prom Trends For Guys: What To Wear This Year

More teens are swapping traditional tuxedos for suits this year, and honestly, it makes a lot of sense. Suits are timeless, practical, and a smart long-term investment. He can wear the same suit to dances, graduation, job interviews, and beyond. Accessories like ties, bow ties, and pocket squares completely change the vibe, so the same suit can feel fresh every time he wears it.

Move over, navy. Brown is the breakout color of 2026. It's warm, photogenic, and surprisingly versatile. A brown suit pairs beautifully with brown, champagne, pink or even black accessories. Lighter tan suits are also trending for a more relaxed formal feel and pair with those same colors.

Brown is the breakout color of 2026: Warm, versatile, and yes, still perfectly formal.

If he wants a polished, photo-ready look without committing to a full tuxedo, a dinner jacket is the move. These tuxedo-style jackets feature satin lapels and structured shoulders that create a sleek, formal silhouette. Pair with matching trousers or dark contrasting pants, then finish with a tie and pocket square that make it his own.

Patterns aren't just for dresses anymore. Floral jacquards, subtle metallic weaves, and tonal brocades are trending for guys who want to stand out without going over the top. The key is keeping the pants solid so the jacket remains the clear focal point of the look.

Velvet is back in a big way this year, and it's easy to see why. It adds texture, depth, and a sense of luxury that photographs beautifully. Black, burgundy, emerald, and navy are all strong choices. Keep the rest of the outfit simple: A crisp shirt and a classic tie or bow tie, and let the jacket do the talking.

Wearing velvet? It’s trending this year and looks sharp paired with classics like a black bow tie.

Red, royal blue, and emerald green are popping in photos this year, especially in dinner jackets. Pair with black or dark trousers to keep the look grounded. This looks especially great when date's dress is the same bold color. To get the look with a more traditional suit, use a tie or pocket square to tie into your date's dress color without going head-to-toe in one bold hue.

Some things never go out of style. A black suit or tux with a crisp white shirt is prom-ready no matter what year it is. The trick to keeping it fresh in 2026? It's all in the details. A fitted suit, 2.5" to 3.25" wide tie, flat-fold pocket square, or even clean white sneakers can modernize the look without losing that classic feel.

Don't overthink it. The classic black and white prom look never goes out of style.

This year's prom palette is all about colors and patterns that look incredible under venue lighting and in HD photos. Think rich, saturated, and intentional.

Jewel Tones: Sapphire, dark purple, burgundy, emerald, fuchsia, and navy are all strong this year. These shades photograph beautifully and work especially well in ties.

Chocolate Brown: Warm and versatile, brown pairs well with tan, champagne, gold, or black. It even coordinates nicely with pink or floral dresses.

Champagne & Ivory: Soft, warm neutrals that work beautifully as tie or pocket square colors. Perfect for coordinating with a metallic or off-white dress.

Opal & Iridescent: These shifting, multi-toned pieces are eye-catching on their own, but difficult to match. If she's wearing something iridescent, keep his accessories simple: White, silver, gold, or ivory.

Liquid Metallics: If her dress has metallic tones, a solid tie in the same tone or one with subtle metallic threads is a sleek, coordinated choice.

Bold Primary Colors: Red, royal blue, and green are perennial favorites for a reason. They pop in photos and are easy to work into a tie or pocket square, or even your jacket for a bolder look.

Soft Pastels: Blush pink, lavender, butter yellow, and pale blue are all having a moment. A pastel tie that matches her dress color is an easy, elegant coordination move. Floral ties work really well here too.

Polka Dots: Small-scale polka dot patterns feel high-fashion and confident. Choose a dotted tie that pulls one color from her dress for a fun, coordinated look.

Florals: A floral tie or bow tie is a great personality piece for solid-colored dresses. Floral ties can be packed full of multiple colors, so don't overthink matching. Just make sure one of the flowers matches her dress. If she's already wearing florals, skip the floral tie and go solid instead.

Black & White: Clean, sharp, and always in style. A black suit with a white shirt is a safe, polished choice, and accessories are where you can have fun and make it feel fresh.

Coordinating doesn't mean matching exactly. It means complementing. Here's a simple guide based on what she's wearing:

• Chocolate Brown Dress: Brown or tan suit with champagne, gold, or black accessories
• Sequin Dress: Solid tie or velvet bow tie; keep it simple so neither look competes
• Metallic or Iridescent Dress: Silver, gold, black, navy, white, or ivory accessories
• Velvet Dress: Textured tie like herringbone or jewel-tone solid color to echo the richness of her look
• Pastel Dress: Match the same shade or choose a complementary hue; floral ties work great here
• Black Dress: Classic neutrals, or use a tie or pocket square to add a pop of color or pattern
• Floral Dress: Skip the floral tie; pick one color from her dress for a coordinating solid tie or accessory

The tie and pocket square are honestly the easiest way to pull this coordination together. A well-chosen tie can make a simple black suit feel completely intentional and put-together.

This is where the outfit really gets finished, and where the details matter most.

Both are having a moment in 2026. Neckties feel modern and versatile, especially in standard or slim widths. Bow ties lean more formal and pair especially well with dinner jackets and velvet. (Read more about the great necktie or bow tie debate here.) Jewel tones, chocolate brown, champagne, subtle metallic threads, and polka dots are all strong choices this year.

On tie width: Standard width ties works with most suits and is a safe, reliable choice. Slim width looks sharp with tailored fits. Skinny is trendy and best for very slim or fashion-forward looks. When in doubt, go standard.

For prom, you can go with a necktie, a bow tie, or skip the tie altogether. Neckties tend to feel more modern, while bow ties lean more formal.

A pocket square is a small detail that makes a big difference in photos. Solid white is timeless and always works. Patterned or polka dot squares are gaining popularity again this year and add a little personality. The rule of thumb this year: Coordinate with the tie, but don't match it exactly.

Smaller, more natural styles are trending this year. Think a single bloom or a touch of greenery rather than an oversized floral. Pull one subtle color from her dress to keep it cohesive.

Clean white sneakers are a genuine trend with suits right now and look great in photos. Black or brown dress shoes remain the classic choice. Velvet loafers are a fun complement to statement jackets if he wants to lean into the look.

Sneakers with a prom suit? It’s a 2026 trend. Just make sure they’re clean and still look fresh out of the box.

Don't underestimate the socks, especially if he's sitting down in photos. Solid neutrals keep things clean and polished. Patterned socks add personality and are a fun, low-stakes way to show some style. Just avoid athletic crew socks with dress shoes, and go with no-show socks if he's wearing sneakers.

Prom style has come a long way from the one-size-fits-all black tux. Whether he goes with a rich jewel tone, warm chocolate brown, a classic black and white, or a bold statement jacket, 2026 has a look for every personality and budget.

The key is coordination, and most of that coordination happens in the accessories. A great tie, a well-chosen pocket square, and the right socks can take any suit from fine to genuinely memorable. Shop our prom collection to find the pieces that'll bring the whole look together.

TieMart is an online retailer of men’s neckties, bow ties and other accessories. A wide selection of ties are available at TieMart, including classic solid colors and patterns like paisley, as well as trending patterns like florals and velvet. TieMart ties are affordable and ship quickly from their Midwest location.