Wedding Invite – What Should You Wear As A Fashionable Guy?
A wedding is a huge event —a celebration of love between two people, music, food and drink, and, of course, a perfectly good reason to get dressed up! Pull that tragically underused three-piece suit out of the wardrobe, iron that shirt, unravel the fancy tie, and you are good to go, or are you? In my latest article, I offer a number of tips to ensure your wedding outfit looks the part!
Many weddings are designed around a specific theme (and many of the so-called “bridezillas” or “wedding planners” will be gunning for you if you deviate from their chosen colour palette). As such, you need to plan accordingly to look the ever-fashionable gent without upsetting anyone.
Suit
Your first point of call is undoubtedly the classic suit—it is the backbone of your entire ensemble, so you need to get it absolutely spot on! For traditional weddings, opt for the classics—black, grey, charcoal, or navy. These colours will work for pretty much any type of wedding (even those with a theme) and can easily be paired with a variety of complementary accessories.
If the wedding is during the warmer seasons (or even in a foreign climate), you could mix it up with a light grey, tan or beige number (ideally in a lighter fabric such as linen).
Final thought: regardless of your chosen suit colour, fit is always king. After all, even the best-looking style in the world will look untidy if it fits poorly. You can take your chances with an off-the-peg number, but it’s advisable to choose something that can be tailored to your body shape (such as a made-to-measure option from premium retailers). If money is no object, you can go one step further and invest in a bespoke suit—expert tailors will measure you entirely and build a suit from scratch that will fit your frame perfectly. You will also be able to choose the exact fabric, lining and cut to make it truly yours.
Tie & Pocket Square
The tie and pocket square combination is where you can experiment with your attire (even if you opt for an otherwise simple grey suit). You can add splashes of colour, unique patterns, or even different materials (such as silk or tweed).
It is essential that you follow the classic rules. For example, if your tie is loud and proud, ensure the pocket square is simpler or even plain, and include something complementary in the design (like a matching colour). Practice the reverse if the pocket square is bold, and select a plain tie.
Furthermore, you can make sure that you blend in with the theme of the wedding by incorporating the chosen colour/pattern into your ensemble with the correct tie/pocket square pairing, which can match the decor, other gents’ suits and even the multitude of wedding guest dresses that will be in full force at the occasion.
Shoes
Next up is the footwear—it may sound like a simple business (especially as you have finalised the main body, i.e. the suit), but you need to stay focused and choose wisely. For traditional weddings, play it safe with a simple pair of lace-up brogues, Derbys, or Oxfords—they embody refinement and work well in these very formal settings.
For modern weddings, many gents will choose something more alternative. For example, a stylish pair of loafers (either with socks that match your tie and handkerchief, or even sans socks entirely in a warmer climate). In some cases, it may even be acceptable to wear a pair of fashionable trainers or sneakers; however, you will need to double-check the dress code (and even then, only opt for minimalistic designs with a low-profile aesthetic).
After following the tips in this checklist, you will be able to drop into that upcoming wedding with style and class, and ensure that you follow that ever-important dress code.
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