Official Wedding Attire Question/Answer/Picture Thread

[Firefox]

Love it; this is basically exactly what I want.

 

[Firefox]

Harry Rosen has their Samuelsohn MTM event going on right now. I looked through their swatches and asked if Samuelsohn carried grey cashmere stripe fabric that could be used for the trousers. The SA said that while there wasn't anything like this in the Samuelsohn fabrics, he was pretty sure that they could get something from Vitale Barberis that would work. It would jack the cost of the extra trousers up to around $500, though, so maybe I would be better off ordering them separately from somewhere overseas and just getting them tailored. Especially since they wouldn't be getting that much use after the wedding (unlike the suit itself, which I would hope would get some use).

 

[unbelragazzo]

Reposting from another thread so the discussion can continue in the wedding thread:

Just as the title states. . . trying to figure out whether or not to wear a watch at my September wedding. I'll (most likely) be wearing a Kent Wang navy three piece, tartan tie in my family's tartan (navy and very deep green are dominant with a pale yellow stripe), captoes, and silver links bearing the Scottish side's crest.

As I'm not wearing black tie, would it still be inappropriate to wear a watch? As I don't own an evening watch (6 o'clock wedding with evening reception) I'd need to purchase one but this could be a good excuse to do so.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks very much.

Best,

Pasoguava

It depends - is there something afterwards that you don't want to be late to?

Pretty much answers my question. It would be more decorative than functional as everyone's going to be telling me where to go and what to say at what time anyway.

So I'm guessing that's a no, unbelraggazzo?

As you say, my question tells you how I feel about it.

I never wear a watch, so maybe I'm somewhat biased. But even so, I think it looks kind of weird when a guy wears a watch to a wedding, particularly his own, whereas I don't think they look weird when worn in business contexts.

 

[topos]

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I would have given an identical answer to this question, and I didn't wear a watch to my wedding for exactly this reason: I thought it sent a subtle message I didn't want to send. If you want a decorative piece, consider that [I presume] you'll be wearing (a) a floral arrangement on your lapel, (b) cufflinks (c) a pocket square, and when it's all said and done a ring. Maybe you'll also be wearing a vest depending on what you decide to wear. In any case, all of these (except the ring I guess) I think of as pieces of flair, vest included (so are tie clips, tie pins, lapel pins, and watches). For me four pieces of flair is about all I feel comfortable wearing. Anything beyond that and I'd feel like I'm entering Saul Goodman territory.

I'll add a quote from the post below mine I wish I had said, which I also agree with wholeheartedly:


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[TheFoo]

I posted in that other thread, too. I think the rule against watches for certain events is only very weak today. This is particularly true if the event in question does not follow a strict standard of attire. Your own personal preferences and aesthetic good sense should govern. The key question is whether you have a watch that is appropriate with the suit you're wearing, not whether it's okay to wear one to your wedding.

 

[Firefox]

Well, I bit the bullet yesterday and put in an order for my MTM wedding suit. Similar to beyondzero's example above, I went for dark charcoal, peaked lapels, besom pockets, no vent. I chose two buttons instead of one, and Samuelsohn instead of Coppley. I'll plan on using it mainly as a "formal event" suit after the wedding (i.e. weddings, funerals, etc), but I may get a little bit of business use out of it too.

For the vest/waistcoat, I picked a shade of light grey that I think should work. I don't know if it's exactly what I would describe as "dove" grey, but I think it's pretty similar to the example above.

Assuming that the jacket and vest turn out as I hope they will, the main challenge will be finding the right pants. In my mind, the challenge will be finding something lighter than the jacket but darker than the vest. I've seen some formal striped trousers online that almost look like they would be too dark. It's so hard to tell without seeing them in person, though.

 

[Richard Berg]

Trying to decide if I can pull off formal evening dress at my wedding...

The scenario: short secular ceremony followed immediately by reception at the same venue. 7:30pm, early summer, south Texas. I've told my groomsmen to wear their best navy suit. (practically speaking, this means 2-piece lounge suits, likely to range from "on sale at Mens Wearhouse" to "middle-of-the-line Hugo Boss") I'll provide wedding ties and pocket squares. (specific suggestions welcome)

Guests will also be in suits. The venue requires jackets for men, but I don't expect anyone to show up in a tuxedo.

So, the "safe" choice would be an upscale 3-piece. Whether I had my tailor make up a traditional black-tie outfit, or just combined a few semi-formal elements with high quality custom fit, I'd be the best-dressed person without being obnoxious.

But as I browsed for ideas, I thought to myself, when else will I have an excuse to design my very own tailcoat? Am I crazy?

 

[RogerC]

For wedding ties and hanks, consider Drakes, Kent Wang and Sam Hober.

If you want a tailcoat, go for it by all means, it's your choice and budget. There's a useful guide here. Otherwise, consider a three-piece charcoal suit with peak lapels, possibly an odd waistcoat, and a wedding tie.

 

[burghler]

I'm also planning on wearing a Stresemann to my upcoming wedding (not until next May). I think it's a great look, unique around my area while staying consistent with certain traditions.

Very similar configuration to Firefox: dark charcoal, peaked lapels, one-button, SB, besom pockets, and side vents. I'm planning on wearing checked trousers to the ceremony and then changing into matching dark charcoal trousers for the reception (both with a single forward pleat, brace buttons, and side adjusters). My vest will be DB shawl-lapel in either dove grey or buff, depending on which color I like better in a linen swatch when I have it made. Shirt will be a moderate spread, FC, light blue, with white collar and cuffs; and will be worn with a dark bow-tie (possibly a Churchill bow).

I agree with Unbel's comment above about peak being more appropriate for business than notch for a wedding. Do you think this is applicable for funerals as well? I have other dark suits to wear but am curious to hear other's thoughts. And I agree with Foo about the watch. As long as it is consistent with your overall look, I don't see anything wrong with wearing one. I would only find it weird if you were constantly looking at it throughout the wedding.

 

[archibaldleach]



I agree with Unbel's comment above about peak being more appropriate for business than notch for a wedding.  Do you think this is applicable for funerals as well?  I have other dark suits to wear but am curious to hear other's thoughts.  And I agree with Foo about the watch.  As long as it is consistent with your overall look, I don't see anything wrong with wearing one.  I would only find it weird if you were constantly looking at it throughout the wedding.  

No re: peak lapels at a funeral. It probably will not matter much at all if you are appropriately attired and otherwise somerly dressed, but I think when you're dressing for a funeral you want your attire to be as unnoticeable and unadorned as possible. Peak lapels are less common and thus more noticeable. For a funeral, I'd wear a dark grey suit, white shirt, black tie and shoes, no pocket square. Somber, respectful and does not call attention to itself. I think they work at a wedding since they are a bit more formal and it seems to suit the occasion.

 

[unbelragazzo]

@Richard Berg - I wouldn't go for tails if everyone else were in suits. Outdressing everyone by having a nicer, better-fitting version of what they're wearing is different than outdressing them by wearing something a couple notches of formality higher. Even at your wedding, I think that's poor form. Just go for a nice three piece. We all will simply have to live with the fact that we'll never get to wear a tailcoat.

 

[RogerC]

Last funeral I was at, nearly everyone apart from the family wore jeans. I think peak lapels are going to be the least of your worries.

 

[Leaves]



@Richard Berg - I wouldn't go for tails if everyone else were in suits. Outdressing everyone by having a nicer, better-fitting version of what they're wearing is different than outdressing them by wearing something a couple notches of formality higher. Even at your wedding, I think that's poor form. Just go for a nice three piece. We all will simply have to live with the fact that we'll never get to wear a tailcoat.

+1

 

[Firefox]

No re: peak lapels at a funeral. It probably will not matter much at all if you are appropriately attired and otherwise somerly dressed, but I think when you're dressing for a funeral you want your attire to be as unnoticeable and unadorned as possible. Peak lapels are less common and thus more noticeable. For a funeral, I'd wear a dark grey suit, white shirt, black tie and shoes, no pocket square. Somber, respectful and does not call attention to itself. I think they work at a wedding since they are a bit more formal and it seems to suit the occasion.

Last funeral I was at, nearly everyone apart from the family wore jeans. I think peak lapels are going to be the least of your worries.

I thought about this as well. I agree that notch lapels would be better for a funeral than peaked, but I think that peak lapels on a dark suit that is otherwise low-key probably isn't the end of the world. That being said, I would certainly hope that I get more "wedding" use out of the suit than "funeral" use in the coming years...

 

[archibaldleach]



I thought about this as well. I agree that notch lapels would be better for a funeral than peaked, but I think that peak lapels on a dark suit that is otherwise low-key probably isn't the end of the world. That being said, I would certainly hope that I get more "wedding" use out of the suit than "funeral" use in the coming years...

Definitely not the end of the world and of course one hopes that one has many more occasions in life to celebrate than to mourn. I'd like to try peak lapels on a single breasted one button navy suit at some point. Since I see grey as more somber, the navy suit would get worn to many festive occasions.