Advice for the groom

[WesAnderson]

Hello all, Long time SF lurker (mostly in SW&D), I am getting married in May and looking for some expert advice from all of you. The wedding will be in the Amalfi coast, in Italy. It's going to be a very very casual wedding -- afternoon daytime non-religious outdoor ceremony, about 20 guests. The bride will be wearing a very simple and pretty knee length dress, white not a wedding gown. So with all that said, here is what I am DEFINITELY wearing: a MTM medium to light gray 2 button suit (slim cut, narrow notch lapels -- I had a Mad Men-esque look in mind), white MTM french cuff shirt, silver rope cufflinks, and a white linen pocket square. I know grey isn't usually recommended for a wedding but it's springy-outdoors and again, i stress, very casual.... For those who suggested pictures, I don't have the suit yet because it's still being made, but this is as close as I could find from memory (style/fit might be slightly slimmer, think Z Zegna which fits me very well): http://www.savilerowco.com/content/p...t17gry_c_p.jpg . Note I'm a 6'0", 185 lbs, athletic build, 40R (actually 41.5" chest but i like a slim cut), 35" waist. Here's what I'd like some advice on: (i) I like skinny ties (2.5"). I have a decent collection, mostly Band of Outsider and Steven Alan. I don't wear suits for work, so the ties are more for dressing up when I go out. I would love to wear a skinny silk tie to this (and would go well w/ my slim cut suit) but I don't want to look like a douche bag now or when i look back on it 10 years from now.....so perhaps should I go up to 2.75" or 3"? (I would go no wider than 3"). And what brand would you recommend, as I'm having a hard time finding anything wedding appropriate -- with skinny ties I'm mostly just finding stripes, or club ties, etc., i'm looking for a more formal wedding tie (houndstooth, glenplaid, etc.) that would go w/ my medium grey suit. I was thinking baby blue would go nice w/ my suit but again can't find the right tie.... (ii) Shoes -- what kind of shoes should I wear? I don't have nice dress shoes, so I need to buy something but don't want to spend too much, maybe around $300 - $400. I want a slim profile and I LOVE this shoe: http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/paul-smit...roductId=15629 -- but will the color be OK here? I don't need suits for work, so would be nice to get something more versatile than a very dressy captoe balmoral, which is one reason I like this PS Shoe..... or, being in italy, could I get away with a loafer -- perhaps a monk strap or tassle loafer? What hue? I'd like to do a shade brown if i can get away w/ it. (iii) Belt -- I would like to do no belt but my suit has belt loops so that's probably not appropriate correct? (iv) Silver Tie Bar -- I would like to wear one but would it be appropriate? Sorry for writing the treatise but you only get married once, right? Many thanks in advance for any advice or help you can give, it is very much appreciated. THANKS

 

[Golf_Nerd]

Originally Posted by WesAnderson

Hello all,

Long time SF lurker ...

So with all that said, here is what I am DEFINITELY wearing: a MTM medium to light gray 2 button suit ...

THANKS

pictures say more then words

Originally Posted by WesAnderson

Here's what I'd like some advice on:

(i) I like skinny ties ....


IMO it depend on:

1) the size of the lapel
2) being slim or not

Here at SF are several threats about wedding ties. Have a look.

Originally Posted by WesAnderson

(ii) Shoes -- I'd like to do a shade brown if i can get away w/ it.


IMO no brown. Buy black ones and wear them once before wedding.

Originally Posted by WesAnderson

(iii) Belt -- I would like to do no belt but my suit has belt loops so that's probably not appropriate correct?


Then get rid of the loops

Originally Posted by WesAnderson

(iv) Silver Tie Bar -- I would like to wear one but would it be appropriate?


IMO a tie bar is used to get more volume into a tie and it is never seen. So wearing a tie bar as EXTRA is odd to me.

 

[WesAnderson]

Originally Posted by Golf_Nerd

pictures say more then words

Here at SF are several threats about wedding ties. Have a look.


OK I added a picture as to my best approximation of the suit.

Also that's the problem, I know what wedding ties look like (I think) but having trouble finding slim ones that would work with grey.

Thanks for your advice thus far!

 

[TheFoo]

I suggest not following a particuar trend, like the Mad Men look. The pictures are going to stick around for decades.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by mafoofan

I suggest not following a particuar trend, like the Mad Men look. The pictures are going to stick around for decades.
I agree with this, but wear what you want. It's a day for you to have fun and enjoy.

 

[Mr. Caber]

I like slim ties too, but for an Italian wedding?? I'm thinking dark red/maroon silk tie with a BIG honking knot.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Caber

I like slim ties too, but for an Italian wedding?? I'm thinking dark red/maroon silk tie with a BIG honking knot.

Nooooo.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Medium or dark brown probably would be the best shoe color for that setting. (It's outdoors and non-traditional in the afternoon in Italy, people.) The ambiguous description of the suit color is a problem. A big unknown is the bride's look. Don't upstage her.