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Dressed Down Shawl Collar Tux Advice Please

JohnShaft

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Ok gents, here is the story:

A wedding. My own.

The affair will be indoors, in late October, which is still quite warm and humid here in south Texas. It will be small and informal. And by informal, I mean more traditionally so, not 'polos and khakis'. lol

The three gentlemen guests will be wearing fall-ish suits. So far I've heard grey and dark grey bandied about as some of their colours.

The bride will be wearing a champagne-ish evening dress but not a formal bridal gown.

I was planning to go with my black Brooks Brothers shawl collar dinner suit but, being something of a traditional formal dresser, all I have is a silk bow tie and silk/wool low waistcoat to go with.

I was hoping to find some way to dress it down just a touch more in order to provide less of a delta between myself and the other male guests, using the dinner suit itself to set me slightly apart as the groom.

Wearing a long black silk tie, with or without a higher black silk waistcoat, had occurred to me but I'm not certain that it would be 'right' with a shawl collar. Any thoughts?

Could you kind folks possibly suggest some acceptable alternative ideas if the long tie is right out?

Best regards,

BD
 

TRINI

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Prepare for blashphemy

































Why not skip the tie and just wear your shirt open necked?
 

JohnShaft

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LOL You weren't kidding about the blasphemy, were you? That, good sir, was a stunning display.

I should probably also point out that I'm 42 and while not bordering on 'portly', do wear a slightly chunky 44 waist with my 48R-L 6' frame. So I'd love a solution that helped elongate me as well.

Yes, I AM asking for miracles. While we're at it, maybe someone could point me toward the fountain of youth?
 

Lulworth

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Originally Posted by JohnShaft
LOL You weren't kidding about the blasphemy, were you? That, good sir, was a stunning display. I should probably also point out that I'm 42 and while not bordering on 'portly', do wear a slightly chunky 44 waist with my 48R-L 6' frame. So I'd love a solution that helped elongate me as well. Yes, I AM asking for miracles. While we're at it, maybe someone could point me toward the fountain of youth?
The fountain of youth is i believe bottled and distributed by a number of brands such as Kettel 1, Belvedere and Stolichnaya. But be aware you can actually feel older afterwards.
 

BareSolid

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Either wear full black tie (or white tie) or just go in a lounge suit, your choice.
 

larsrindsig

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Originally Posted by JohnShaft
being something of a traditional formal dresser

Wearing a long black silk tie ... had occurred to me


facepalm.gif


Originally Posted by JohnShaft
I was hoping to ... set me slightly apart as the groom.

Seriously, do your gets not know who you are?

Wear proper black tie rig, or wear a good suit - perhaps something in a navy, and perhaps consider a three-piece if you're looking for a look that's just a notch more formal than the guests are likely to be. If you're getting married during the day, don't even consider dinner suit.
 

JohnShaft

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Just seeing what contemporary fashion may have brought to the old dinner suit is all. Sometimes it's nice to push one's traditional boundaries a bit as long as it looks good.
If you're getting married during the day, don't even consider dinner suit.
Good lord, it doesn't say 'Philistine' next to my avatar, does it? I'd asked them to remove that.
wink.gif
 

JohnShaft

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Originally Posted by Lulworth
The fountain of youth is i believe bottled and distributed by a number of brands such as Kettel 1, Belvedere and Stolichnaya. But be aware you can actually feel older afterwards.


Bless you for the good advice. And as it is 5 o'clock somewhere, I believe I will take it. Off I go for a cocktail while you gentlemen figure out what I can get away with wearing. lol
 

UFN

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I don't think it will take us long to figure out that shawl-collared dinner suit + normal tie is a no-go, but do enjoy your drinks
biggrin.gif
/U.
 

Bounder

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Originally Posted by BareSolid
Either wear full black tie (or white tie) or just go in a lounge suit, your choice.

+1

First, as you say it is indoors, the weather is irrelevant.

Second, there is no way to "bridge the gap" between a lounge suit and black tie. It is, however, quite easy to bridge the gap between black tie and total prat. I do not advise you to try it.

As this is quite a small wedding, it's understandable that you don't want to be dressed at a different level than your guests. But you can't do that by butchering black tie. Try a dark navy double-breasted suit with a Macclesfield. Or just an SB with a flower in your lapel.
 

binge

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Either wear your black tie outfit, or a dark "business" suit. Remember, your job is to not ******* up for the bride.
 

bowtielover

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You could still do the vest but wear the shirt open, just make sure that you do not distract from the bride with your outfit.
 

JohnShaft

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So it's down to either the pimp-a-licious open collar or tie my bow and be done with it? Oh well. Same old black tie it is then.

At least this will give me the excuse for a new formal shirt. Never underestimate the power of shopping.
 

Thomas

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Suggest an ascot, preferably coordinated with the bridesmaids halter-tops. Since you're dressing down on your wedding day and all that.
 

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