A sartorial visit. What you can learn from King Charles' fashion style

James Powel, USA TODAYWed, May 6, 2026 at 1:43 AM UTC

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The king may be gone, but you may want to keep his sense of style.

King Charles III has long been regarded as one of the best-dressed men in the world, known for his distinctly British eye and natural ease in tailored clothing. The wardrobe he wore during his first state visit as king largely reflected that stylistic approach.

"There is a strain of unimpeachable taste that, regardless of who's making his clothes, has carried with him throughout his life," Derek Guy, menswear writer at large, said in an interview with USA TODAY.

While most Americans may not have access to Savile Row tailors or the resources of a king, there are still lessons to learn from Charles' regal outfits.

"You have something that is everlasting and remains, and if it's done properly, it remains relevant regardless of what the rest of the world is doing," said Tom Chamberlin, editor-in-chief of "The Rake" magazine and host of "The Luxury Dispatch" podcast.

Here's what you can learn from Charles' state visit to improve your fashion style.

Execute the basics well, and they'll stick around

Guy said that, for most of his adult life, Charles has dressed in a manner that has "a certain consistency" that has kept him from falling victim to chasing trends.

"You'll never find a photo of him in a Thom Brown suit or a Gucci suit," Guy said. "For the last 50 years, he's worn a moderate lapel, a jacket that bisects him about halfway from his collar to the floor and trousers that work with the overall silhouette of his jackets."

That consistency, according to Guy, allows Charles to stay largely immune to shifting trends and sharpen his ability to put together cohesive outfits

"If you're just starting to feel your way (and) haven't figured out your voice, it's good to focus on fit and silhouette and then go for more subtle accessories rather than have a suit that doesn't fit and then you're like, just like punching people in the face with all of these crazy, loud accessories gimmicks," Guy recommends.

Accessories provide completeness

Throughout the visit, Charles wore the correct number of accessories for the occasion. He was never spotted without a tie and a pocket square when in a business suit, a common fashion sin amongst lawmakers in the United States.

"(Charles) chooses really tasteful ties and pocket square combinations. There's a lot of ugly neckties in Washington," Guy said. "If you choose a tasteful necktie and you choose a tasteful pocket square. It's really quite remarkable how much better (an outfit) will look."

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Even in his outfit for the state dinner at the White House, Charles' use of accessories elevated him above the standard, though correctly executed, white tie Trump wore.

"It was the, the chain on the waistcoat, the medals and the embellishments that made it that much better," Chamberlin noted.

The lesson, according to the experts, is that a person does not need many accessories to complete an outfit.

Experts recommend that if one is wearing what Guy calls a "sincere suit," one appropriate for most major life events, make sure the outfit includes a tie and pocket square that fit the occasion.

A well-chosen tie — such as a patterned knit or a textured silk — or a pocket square worn with casual tailoring communicates that you are sartorially thoughtful, even in relaxed moments.

Suits can be sincere, but they don't have to be serious

During his visit, Charles showed that sincere suits do not have to be confined to corporate navy blue and charcoal grey.

Notable examples of this were the mid-grey solid he wore in Virginia and the Royal Air Force blue pinstripe suit he donned in Washington, DC, though Guy said upkeep of the latter was below what is normally expected.

"He's been witness to most of the way in which the world has changed after the end of the Second World War, and his suits, once he's grown up, have actually been a kind of co-witness with him," Chamberlin said.

Suits in mid-grey, Air Force blue, and brown make excellent additions once a standard navy or charcoal.

"There's a lot of unpleasant blues out there, RAF blue is not one of those," Chamberlin said. "It feels exciting as a color but without taking away any kind of formality."

Another option to consider is "break apart" suits that feature subtle yet distinct patterns that can be worn as separates.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: King Charles' visit offers style lessons for Americans

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