Weddings - Groom + Groomsmen

[RangerP]

Hey guys, I'm really sorry to bring this topic up once again on this forum as it has been tackled a few times. I've read most of the threads and I've also seen the AA article: http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/T...DINGATTIRE.htm My problem is that I'm trying to steer my sister and her fiancee in the right direction and to be honest, I'm not 100% sure I know exactly what to suggest. I'll be a groomsmen at this wedding btw. Basically, the groom is looking to buy a black suit for his wedding and he has in his head that it will be a Hugo Boss suit... (*shakes head*) For the moment, I'm trying to steer him towards a peak lapel blue or grey suit...but he's not bitting. They then want to have us (the groomsmen) all match perfectly and since one of the groomsmen is struggling financially, they don't want us to all have an MTM made at the same shop. They are thinking of having us all rent a black suit somewhere for the moment. My real question is: Can you please point me in the direction of sources other than AA that discuss this topic? Preferably something that says to not wear black...and preferably something that discusses the issue of "groomsmen don't have to perfectly match each other". If there are pictures...then great. I haven't been able to find many wedding pictures where the groomsmen aren't identical. Seems like the magazines for woman have really really pounded that matching myth into women's heads. I've also see the Put This On discussion on the subject: http://putthison.com/post/334425916/weddingattireformen Please also note that a morning coat or stroller is completely out of the question for them Thanks in advance for your help! P.S. I know it's not really my place to judge what they decide to wear. My only problem is I don't want to be wearing a rented black suit. I'm already having nightmares about it and the wedding is 7 months!!!

 

[RangerP]

Bump.... Anyone?

 

[pvrhye]

Can't find the guide I was looking for. Anyway, men don't match... Women probably shouldn't either, but it's more acceptable.

EDIT: Perhaps suggest if he wants something to match, boutinnieres?

 

[RangerP]

Originally Posted by pvrhye

Can't find the guide I was looking for. Anyway, men don't match... Women probably shouldn't either, but it's more acceptable.

EDIT: Perhaps suggest if he wants something to match, boutinnieres?

Thanks for your input... Let me know if you ever find the guide.

If someone even knows of a book that talks about this, I'll gladly buy it...

The only books I own on clothing are:

Dressing the Man by Allan Flusser
Esquire: The Handbook of Style

Both don't mention anything...

 

[TimelesStyle]

1. Tell your brother exactly why that is a poor look, and somewhere thrown in that he needs to give you the specs so you can buy an identical suit, but there's no way you're wearing a rental.

Or

2. If they insist on everyone having the same black suit, go to Jos. A Bank or H&M, or somewhere else that you can get them for under $200 and suggest you and he split the bill for the financially struggling friend.

 

[twistoffat]

I appreciate your concerns but don´t forget its their day and not yours. Actually its the brides big day final. If she is not happy then maybe she can influence him.
That said a nice black suit is a good choice which can be pepped up with a nice cravatte and waistcoat. In addition when the weddings over he can always use it for daily wear which is often difficult with wedding specific attire. Try to steer him but not lecture him



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[bleachboy]

Wear whatever the bride and groom tell you to, let them be happy, and don't try to tell them what to wear.

 

[Kent Wang]

The Put This On article is great, and I think it draws quite a bit from Manton's speech to wedding planners, which is authoritative. He, Michael Anton, wrote The Suit.

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Originally Posted by twistoffat

That said a nice black suit is a good choice. In addition when the weddings over he can always use it for daily wear

Only if his day-job is as an undertaker.

 

[pvrhye]

Originally Posted by Sanguis Mortuum

Only if his day-job is as an undertaker.

Black suits are also ok for bouncers.

 

[bleachboy]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

The Put This On article is great, and I think it draws quite a bit from Manton's speech to wedding planners, which is authoritative. He, Michael Anton, wrote The Suit.

Great link; thanks!

 

[twistoffat]

Originally Posted by Sanguis Mortuum

Only if his day-job is as an undertaker.

bring out your dead

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[Frank Davis]

Originally Posted by twistoffat

bring out your dead

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Haha

very funny. What about you go first. That said I think the wedding is for the bride and grooms and you really should just do what they ask just to make them happy. It doesn't matter if later you tell him what a nice suit is and what is not. Please just do that after the big day.

 

[TimelesStyle]

Originally Posted by Frank Davis

That said I think the wedding is for the bride and grooms and you really should just do what they ask just to make them happy. It doesn't matter if later you tell him what a nice suit is and what is not. Please just do that after the big day.

Yes, I suppose this is probably sage advice, depending on the OP's relationship with said brother (and said sister-in-law-to-be).

If you are willing and able, I would suggest to your brother the following: explain to him how awful black rented suits will look, and that he and his wife shouldn't want that to be the way their wedding party is immortalized in pictures, so as a present you'd like to take the other groomsmen to a Jos. A Bank or somewhere else with $200 identical black suits (or somewhere nicer if you can afford it) and gift each a suit for the wedding and beyond.

 

[pvrhye]

Once the rental Genie is out of the bottle, you may as well rent a dinner jacket since part of the appeal of just wearing suits is that you already have em.