Guys: Get Dressed For This (Wedding)
advertisment
Related Content
- The Weekend: Get Dressed Or Go to Sleep (10/07/2008)
- After The Wedding (Efter Brylluppet) (26/06/2007)
- Nice Day for a...Green Wedding (15/04/2008)
- Groovy Gifts for Guys (29/06/2007)
- Let This Woman Guide You, Guys (22/10/2007)
- Guys: Getting Ready to Propose? (29/10/2008)
As Vince Vaughan announced in Wedding Crashers, wedding season has officially started. You're about to be roped into spending serious cash on gifts, sinful stag do's, travel and some seriously dapper attire.
Just be thankful it's not your wedding. With snap-happy guests aplenty and the blissfully loved-up couple desperate for their day to look better than their mates' bashes last year, the pressure to look the part can be immense. You don't want to be over-dressed and drawing attention to yourself, but under-dressing could be criminal, and bad outfit etiquette, inexcusable. Which begs the question: what should you wear to the wedding?
The first clue is in the invitation, which if you're lucky, might explicitly state the required dress code. More often than not these days, our lovely friends choose to leave us to our own devices, which quite frankly can be a nightmare comparable to dress down Friday. All week long you don on a rather smart suit and tie to work, then Friday comes along and you need to set the alarm a full hour earlier.
If dress code is not stated, consider the look and feel of the invitation itself. If it screams exceedingly posh, chances are you are going to be expected to rock up in full formal attire. If the invite suggests a more casual - even quirky - approach, then you can get away with semi-formal, a tad more casual and a bit less stiff. Another important factor is whether the event is an evening soiree or a daytime occasion.
Formal daytime
In this case, a morning suit is the order of the day. I would recommend a jaunt down to Favourbrook on Jermyn Street. If the credit crunch is hitting hard you could hire a formal suit, but do your homework, as this option can be fraught with danger. The unwanted result here is the whole wedding party sporting the same ill-fitting, shiny nylon suits. Your hosts will not be happy.
Formal evening
For this you need to brush off the old tux and get your dress shoes on. It's important to remember that, under no circumstances, should you wear a tuxedo before 6pm - and some even say before 5. Like-wise, do not wear a white suit to an evening affair. (Columbian businessman springs to mind.) I would recommend a smart single-breasted dinner jacket with shawl collar or peak lapels for a more James Bond look. A dress shirt and smart dress pants are essential, which should absolutely match your DJ - any mismatching blacks will be so obvious in the glorious British sunshine. Complete the look with cufflinks and if your feeling a little crazy, you could treat yourself to a polka dot bow tie.
Semi-formal or smart casual
If the wedding is a less formal affair, the options for dress are fantastic. A tailored poplar or seersucker suit is perfect, and will not only look effortlessly stylish, but will keep you cool on a hot day. Some might think linen is OK here, though I would recommend against it. Generally loose and unstructured, these crinkly classics are perfect for relaxed summer parties and sundowners in Monaco, but not for weddings. Choose soft muted colours like warm creams and soft greys with crisp white shirts. (My tip here is although white hides sweat marks well, if you opt for a coloured shirt, you should wear a white vest underneath to avoid embarrassingly and unsightly wet patches.) Complete the look with a tie and a nice pair of polished brogues, and you are ready to go.
Semi-formal evening
The less than formal evening counterpart is a darker crisper version of the daytime attire. Think slim silhouettes of midnight blue or dark grey suits. These classics can be spruced up with a waistcoat, or dressed down by going without a tie. Or you could try a bit of tonal styling by matching your suit, shirt and tie in different shades of the same colour for chic finesse. Pocket squares will add a splash of colour and allow you to put forward your charming personality.
So it is not as stressful as it first appears. A bit of touchy-feely with the invite, and you are ready to book the hotels, purchase the confetti, and most importantly, look outstanding. But do remember that style doesn't mean compromising on tradition, and indeed, comfort. If you’re planning on throwing a few shapes on the dance-floor and cavorting till the early hours, a tapered drainpipe style suit might look smart but could have embarrassing consequences.
The first clue is in the invitation, which if you're lucky, might explicitly state the required dress code. More often than not these days, our lovely friends choose to leave us to our own devices, which quite frankly can be a nightmare comparable to dress down Friday. All week long you don on a rather smart suit and tie to work, then Friday comes along and you need to set the alarm a full hour earlier.
If dress code is not stated, consider the look and feel of the invitation itself. If it screams exceedingly posh, chances are you are going to be expected to rock up in full formal attire. If the invite suggests a more casual - even quirky - approach, then you can get away with semi-formal, a tad more casual and a bit less stiff. Another important factor is whether the event is an evening soiree or a daytime occasion.
Formal daytime
In this case, a morning suit is the order of the day. I would recommend a jaunt down to Favourbrook on Jermyn Street. If the credit crunch is hitting hard you could hire a formal suit, but do your homework, as this option can be fraught with danger. The unwanted result here is the whole wedding party sporting the same ill-fitting, shiny nylon suits. Your hosts will not be happy.
Formal evening
For this you need to brush off the old tux and get your dress shoes on. It's important to remember that, under no circumstances, should you wear a tuxedo before 6pm - and some even say before 5. Like-wise, do not wear a white suit to an evening affair. (Columbian businessman springs to mind.) I would recommend a smart single-breasted dinner jacket with shawl collar or peak lapels for a more James Bond look. A dress shirt and smart dress pants are essential, which should absolutely match your DJ - any mismatching blacks will be so obvious in the glorious British sunshine. Complete the look with cufflinks and if your feeling a little crazy, you could treat yourself to a polka dot bow tie.
Semi-formal or smart casual
If the wedding is a less formal affair, the options for dress are fantastic. A tailored poplar or seersucker suit is perfect, and will not only look effortlessly stylish, but will keep you cool on a hot day. Some might think linen is OK here, though I would recommend against it. Generally loose and unstructured, these crinkly classics are perfect for relaxed summer parties and sundowners in Monaco, but not for weddings. Choose soft muted colours like warm creams and soft greys with crisp white shirts. (My tip here is although white hides sweat marks well, if you opt for a coloured shirt, you should wear a white vest underneath to avoid embarrassingly and unsightly wet patches.) Complete the look with a tie and a nice pair of polished brogues, and you are ready to go.
Semi-formal evening
The less than formal evening counterpart is a darker crisper version of the daytime attire. Think slim silhouettes of midnight blue or dark grey suits. These classics can be spruced up with a waistcoat, or dressed down by going without a tie. Or you could try a bit of tonal styling by matching your suit, shirt and tie in different shades of the same colour for chic finesse. Pocket squares will add a splash of colour and allow you to put forward your charming personality.
So it is not as stressful as it first appears. A bit of touchy-feely with the invite, and you are ready to book the hotels, purchase the confetti, and most importantly, look outstanding. But do remember that style doesn't mean compromising on tradition, and indeed, comfort. If you’re planning on throwing a few shapes on the dance-floor and cavorting till the early hours, a tapered drainpipe style suit might look smart but could have embarrassing consequences.
Here Is The Writer : lisab1
Following an international modelling career, and after meeting some of the world's most successful men, Lisa Bathurst learnt the secrets to success. Understanding what differentiates the ordinary from the extraordinary, Lisa helps men create an image congruent with the lifestyle they strive for through her lifestyle consulting service, Urbanity. Lisa has lived in more than 10 countries, and is an expert at overcoming language, cultural and class differences, with an impressive ability to cope in varying social situations whilst always oozing and maintaining confidence and sophistication. Not only does she have extensive knowledge in the fashion industry, she also brings the added benefit of a network of experts, having worked with some of the worlds best stylists, hair and make up artists. Lisa studied Psychology and has undertaken various counselling courses, and brings a professionally empathetic approach to provide a supportive, understanding life coach role, putting to good use her specialist training.
