Please help -- I have zero co-ordination experience and an event in four hours :-( (Pics Included

[actuary]

Hey Guys,

I've been extremely busy with work the last week, and haven't had much time to give thought to what I will wear to an informal Indian pre-wedding celebration. I've never been to such an event before but I've been told that I should wear a tie. I just found out yesterday that you can't wear a tie without a jacket, so I went out and bought a couple.

I have the following items (and pics are included below) but I have no idea what (if anything) goes together. Can I wear the grey pants with the charcoal jacket (there's a close-up pic)? Is the black jacket better? Should I wear black or brown shoes? etc. I'm completely lost

Can you experts out there give me a suggestion to make the best of the little I have? I have no experience or knowledge in co-ordination at all, so any advice is hugely appreciated!

Thanks!


Jacket Options:
- Charcoal (with a subtle stripe pattern)
- Black (solid)

Shirt Options:
- Pink/White
- Light purple (solid)
- White (solid) (not shown)

Tie Options:
- Grey with black/grey stripes
- Grey with light purple large check
- Black with grey stripes
- Purple with small check
- Pink Plaid
- Green/White stripes

Shoe Options:
- Light brown
- Black Florsheim Capped Toe (not shown)

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

The black/charcoal tie with the fine stripe is the only one which isn't ugly, so I'd wear that one.

An odd coat should never have a fine stripe like the charcoal one you've bought, it looks like an orphaned suit coat. A black coat is hardly ideal either, a plain navy blazer would probably be a better choice, but with the choices you've got I'd probably go with the black.

Any of the shirts would be okay, though if wearing the black coat and black tie maybe a bit of colour in the shirt would be good. I'd probably go with the solid purple, but the pink check or the white would probably be okay.

I would wear the black Florsheim cap-toes, as the pictured square-toed shoes are horrible, and probably too casual. Brown shoes would also not really be an option if wearing the black coat.

 

[bellyhungry]

From the options you have listed....

Black jacket
White shirt
Charcoal pants
Black shoes
Black with grey stripes tie

 

[unbelragazzo]



From the options you have listed....
Black jacket
White shirt
Charcoal pants
Black shoes
Black with grey stripes tie

+1. If anybody asks, tell them you're wearing a stroller but lost the waistcoat

 

[Rolex Luthor]



From the options you have listed....
Black jacket
White shirt
Charcoal pants
Black shoes
Black with grey stripes tie

Agree this is the best option of what you presented.

After Starting today, you need to spend a LOT more time lurking here. And maybe donate your clothes, especially those brown shoes and your ties, to charity and start over.

 

[actuary]

Thanks for the comments guys -- I like it when people write their honest opinion instead of telling me what they think I want to hear.

The grey jacket is going back to the store . . . lesson learned about the orphaned suit jacket look! I'm also quickly learning that square-toe shoes are not as nice as I once thought they were

So now I'm left with grey pants, black jacket, black-cap Florsheims, and an assortment of shirts and ugly ties, haha! From the comments, it sounds like purple shirt or white shirt is the way to go, paired with the black tie. I didn't get any close-up pics of the pink plaid tie (second-last photo) but I kind of like it and may try pairing that with a white shirt.

Yes, I'll definitely be doing some more lurking and learning, but I got myself into a situation and needed some quick advice. Many thanks!

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]



 I didn't get any close-up pics of the pink plaid tie (second-last photo) but I kind of like it and may try pairing that with a white shirt.

Hmm, that tie doesn't look too bad. I don't like it with the pink check shirt though, too much pink and too much check. It might look good with the white shirt.

 

[wannabe]



From the options you have listed....
Black jacket
White shirt
Charcoal pants
Black shoes
Black with grey stripes tie

+ infinity. Should've gotten a navy blazer/sportcoat instead of black.

 

[bellyhungry]



...I like it when people write their honest opinion instead of telling me what they think I want to hear....

Rest assured that this would not be a problem here. In fact, the opposite is more likely.

 

[sportin_life]

Does that jacket still have a tag on it? I would wear the one w/o the tag and return the one w/ the tag. In general, the fit is too big on the jacket/pants/shirt. The narrow grey tie looks odd with the baggy shirt/jacket, so maybe use a wider tie to balance it out? Those shoes are pretty bad.

As someone else mentioned, would spend a lot of time on these forums after this event. Should definitely size down on the jacket, get slimmer pants, and get a fitted or tailored shirt, new shoes.

 

[Putonghua73]



Agree this is the best option of what you presented.

After Starting today, you need to spend a LOT more time lurking here. And maybe donate your clothes, especially those brown shoes and your ties, to charity and start over.

Harsh, but fair. Also, caused me to burst out laughing during my commute.

I wasn't in quite as dire straits as the OP, but not far off - especially in the shoe stakes. 6 weeks later, down to 2 RTW suits (everything else in my spare 'charity' i.e. to be donated wardrobe) - charcoal has been tailored, dark grey will be donated when I buy a Pacific blue suit - and I've replaced my horrible shoes with a pair of Loake 1880s Aldwych, and two lovely pairs of Meermin whole-cuts and single monks.

Also, bought a royal blue extra fine merino wool (a lot lighter than my other Autumn / Winter merino wool v-necks) v-neck for summer (I jest, of course, due to the jet stream phenomenon in the UK) for casual wear.

I'll also be buying more tailored fitted shirts in staple colours this weekend i.e. whites and blues.

 

[actuary]

Thanks again everyone for the excellent advice! In the end, I went with:

- Black Jacket
- White Shirt
- Pink Plaid Tie
- Gray Trousers
- Black Cap-Toe Shoes

I felt good for the evening and some people even commented that they liked my outfit, so I guess it wasn't too horrible

I will definitely be doing lots of lurking and learning, but thanks for the last-minute advice! I have a LOT to learn, but hopefully with time I can prevent myself from looking like a doofus!

 

[actuary]

Does that jacket still have a tag on it? I would wear the one w/o the tag and return the one w/ the tag.

Yes, the gray jacket still has the tag and I'll be returning it today. Thanks!