whiskeybeard
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Hello - I'd like to ask for advice on what I should wear to my sister's wedding, which will be daytime/outdoors in August.
I'm sorry to start a new thread on this fairly well-worn topic, but after poring over old threads I find myself as unsure as ever. I did try asking a couple particulars on the quick-question thread, but since I didn't get very much response, and because I'd like input on the outfit as a whole, I thought this was the best way.
Background: I'm a grad student and have never owned much in the way of dress clothes, aside from one suit (navy pinstripe) and accoutrements that I bought for job interviews after college, so I'm pretty much starting from square one.
Since I don't often have the opportunity or money to buy dress clothes, I wanted to get something that will be appropriate for this occasion, but also wearable for other (semi-)dressy non-business occasions, especially weddings, of which I'm sure there will be plenty in coming years (hence, not something idiosyncratic like a tan linen suit.) With these criteria in mind I thought it would be best to get a solid, light-to-mid-gray suit.
One option I came up with was this Brooks Brothers Black Fleece gabardine, which looks good and appears to be reasonably priced on sale (correct me if I'm wrong.) However, I'm not sure what the deal with gabardine is. Is it considered heavy, or light? What sorts of occasions and weather is it appropriate for? (The wedding is in August, but in Minnesota, so it may be fairly hot, but hopefully not boiling.) Another question is what size would be best, since I couldn't try it on locally. I normally wear a 40 suit which equates to BB02, but at 16 dress shirt, which equates to BB03.
In the end I'm still on the fence about the suit, so any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
As for shirt and tie: since I'm going with a plain suit, and since the wedding won't be terribly formal, I thought I'd go for some pattern and texture. I was considering this BBBF tattersall shirt paired with a navy grenadine tie, perhaps from J Press. Does that combo seem alright, with a gray suit? The shirt I like a lot, but I wonder if oxford cloth will be too heavy for the weather. Should I try to find a poplin shirt instead?
Since I don't own any brown dress shoes I wanted to get something staple, and again not too formal. I was able to find the Allen Edmond's strand in walnut on sale in my size, along with the matching belt. Do people think these pieces would be suitable in themselves, and workable with the above? (I realize there is some divided opinion on AE but I have worn them before, so I know my size and have found them pretty comfortable; moreover, as a grad student I'm hardly made of money..)
Alright, sorry for the lengthy post! (To think, I didn't even get to the finer points of the solemn socks/underwear decision
.) Needless to say, any/all input will be appreciated.
I'm sorry to start a new thread on this fairly well-worn topic, but after poring over old threads I find myself as unsure as ever. I did try asking a couple particulars on the quick-question thread, but since I didn't get very much response, and because I'd like input on the outfit as a whole, I thought this was the best way.
Background: I'm a grad student and have never owned much in the way of dress clothes, aside from one suit (navy pinstripe) and accoutrements that I bought for job interviews after college, so I'm pretty much starting from square one.
Since I don't often have the opportunity or money to buy dress clothes, I wanted to get something that will be appropriate for this occasion, but also wearable for other (semi-)dressy non-business occasions, especially weddings, of which I'm sure there will be plenty in coming years (hence, not something idiosyncratic like a tan linen suit.) With these criteria in mind I thought it would be best to get a solid, light-to-mid-gray suit.
One option I came up with was this Brooks Brothers Black Fleece gabardine, which looks good and appears to be reasonably priced on sale (correct me if I'm wrong.) However, I'm not sure what the deal with gabardine is. Is it considered heavy, or light? What sorts of occasions and weather is it appropriate for? (The wedding is in August, but in Minnesota, so it may be fairly hot, but hopefully not boiling.) Another question is what size would be best, since I couldn't try it on locally. I normally wear a 40 suit which equates to BB02, but at 16 dress shirt, which equates to BB03.
In the end I'm still on the fence about the suit, so any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
As for shirt and tie: since I'm going with a plain suit, and since the wedding won't be terribly formal, I thought I'd go for some pattern and texture. I was considering this BBBF tattersall shirt paired with a navy grenadine tie, perhaps from J Press. Does that combo seem alright, with a gray suit? The shirt I like a lot, but I wonder if oxford cloth will be too heavy for the weather. Should I try to find a poplin shirt instead?
Since I don't own any brown dress shoes I wanted to get something staple, and again not too formal. I was able to find the Allen Edmond's strand in walnut on sale in my size, along with the matching belt. Do people think these pieces would be suitable in themselves, and workable with the above? (I realize there is some divided opinion on AE but I have worn them before, so I know my size and have found them pretty comfortable; moreover, as a grad student I'm hardly made of money..)
Alright, sorry for the lengthy post! (To think, I didn't even get to the finer points of the solemn socks/underwear decision
