How to dress for a September wedding

Having had a disastrous outing at a recent wedding (as a rather clownish figure in a suit from Oxfam and winklepickers a size too big) I'd like to make a better impression at the next one. This will be in two weeks time.

As a first step I have bought myself a pair of Church's Oxfords, which although a tad over-formal for my taste, I understand to be the right shoe for the job. I now need to buy a decent suit.

I am 35 years old, six feet tall and have a slim build (so RTW does tend to fit). I have about £500 (maximum) to spend on the suit and maybe another £200 on shirt and tie and socks. Shopping should be no problem as I work in Soho in London, near Savile Row, Bond St, Selfridges etc.

From this site and Film Noir Buff I understand that a blue suit provides the basis of a man's wardrobe. Also I have reddish hair and a fair complexion, blue suits me rather better than grey. So if I am going to buy a suit I would rather buy a blue one than any other colour. So my first question is "˜can you wear a blue suit to a September wedding?'

If you can, then the next questions are: "˜What type' and "˜who from?' I personally favour a two button jacket (coat?) and as I work in the media and do not shoot, nothing too overly structured (I tried on a suit in Gieves and Hawkes, and had the impression it was wearing me rather than the other way around).

So far, I have found a very nice plain blue lightweight suit in Paul Smith, and am now thinking of looking in Nicole Farhi, and even in Marks and Spencer as I have heard that for simple suits they are not a bad choice. I might also look at Hugo Boss and Zegna (at Harrods or Harvey Nicks).

Finally, given an appropriate suit, what shirt and tie combination would work for such an event? I assume that if I have a blue suit I should brighten it up with a more celebratory choice of shirt and tie? I like the idea of a thinner tie with bold stripes (regimental?), but am confused about shirts (not overly sold on stiff spread collars) and not everything goes with my complexion.

Any advice would be gratefully received as the clock is ticking.

You tend to be more formal in the UK than on the continent. The oxford shoes is a fine choise. If you are going to a wedding in daytime a blue suit will be fine. However for a evening wedding maybe a black suit will be more suitable.

I would say if the groom and the best man are expected to dress up formally (stroller, frock coat) you should be wearing a black suit. If they wear black suits you can wear a less formal coulor like blue or grey.

Get the best quality charcoal wool two-button suit you can for your money. Pair it with a good a white cotton shirt and a nice silk tie. You might look at Ralph Lauren Polo and Brooks Brothers, then check out your big London department stores.

Originally Posted by Niels

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You tend to be more formal in the UK than on the continent. The oxford shoes is a fine choise. If you are going to a wedding in daytime a blue suit will be fine. However for a evening wedding maybe a black suit will be more suitable.

I would say if the groom and the best man are expected to dress up formally (stroller, frock coat) you should be wearing a black suit. If they wear black suits you can wear a less formal coulor like blue or grey.
Unless you find a black suit you fall in love with, choose charcoal over black. If it's a daytime wedding, I agree that blue works.

I wouldn't recommend BB, because if you're tall and slim, there's no way it's going to fit properly. Polo would work, but I think it's well over 500 pounds. London being as expensive as it is, you might consider Virtual Clothes Horse, STP, or Ebay, if you're comfortable with buying online. (It's worth noting that VCH and STP are much more forgiving about returns, and therefore "safer" than ebay sellers will be.)

Another slightly more offbeat option is to check out Bertie Wooster in Chelsea. I've not been, but I hear that there's quite a selection of vintage Savile Row, and you might just get lucky with something that fits perfectly.

I think you could go with a dark navy suit for even an evening wedding but charcoal would be a good choice as well. A regimental tie isn't a bad idea but I was under the impression that it's bad form to wear one in England if you weren't a member of the regiment? or has that restriction no longer in effect?

A plain white or light blue spread or point collar shirt sounds appropriate, or even cutaway. I think that'd make a good outfit with a striped tie and navy suit with oxfords...