A Brief Gentlemans Guide To Fashion Etiquette: Mens Suits And Formal Wear
Some people call it style, others call it taste, or the eye which some men just seem to have that helps them select the right business suit or dinner suit, shirts, ties and shoes every time.
Whatever it is, dressing stylishly is not all about the eye. It also involves a great deal of know how about the tried and trusted classics of mens clothing, where they come from, how they are made and when to wear them.
Continue reading to find fundamental solutions to all those annoying unanswered questions relating to mens fashion and its etiquette.
How to wear mens suits
The suit is still the most elegant item of clothing a man can wear so long as its cut, colour, fabric and style suit the occasion, time of day, the season of the year and the climate.
The Cut
By a good cut, we mean the basic pattern that has been used again and again since the 1930s, irrespective of fashion and trends. The cut of a tailored mens suits should look natural and bring out the best in its wearer.
A thin, small boned man should go for suits with a narrow cut and no shoulder padding, narrow lapels and close-fitting trousers.
An athletic, broad shouldered man will not require shoulder padding either and the suit should be cut to his natural measurements.
If the wearer is a large gentleman, it is even more advisable to avoid anything in the cut that will make him look larger, opting ideally for XXL sizes and king size tailoring.
The Colour
Traditional colours regarded correct for a suit are dark blue, dark gray to very light gray and black. A brown suit should be worn only at the weekend or for sporting occasions.
The Fabric
Todays mens suits are much lighter than those of the past, but there are still considerable differences in the weight and thickness of the material used. You should start by thinking about where you will be wearing the suit, i.e. the climate, temperature and how often you will wear it.
If you wear your suit frequently, it is advisable to purchase a machine washable suit as they are usually stain resistant, crease free, durable and extremely comfortable.
Formal Dress
The name Tuxedo stems from Tuxedo Park, New York, where the jacket is said to have been first introduced in 1886. In German speaking countries, it is called a smoking and in England it is a dinner jacket.
Black tie, White tie, tails or tuxedo are all classic invitations to a formal occasion which always indicates what the guest is expected to wear.
As the name suggests, a black bow tie is traditionally worn with a tuxedo and the indication black tie means that this is the correct form of evening dress. A white bow tie should be worn with tails, and white tie thus indicates this.
The Right Shoes
It is often said that a mans shoes are his most important item of clothing. On most occasions, a man with a decent pair of shoes on his feet will find that his cheap jeans, budget shirts and bargain sweaters will be benevolently overlooked. Suits, sports jackets, ties and overcoats can be bought later. All that matters is to have a classy, well broken in pair of shoes.
wedding colors?
can anybody please giv me some ideas for my wedding colors.there baby blue white and silver.
my dress has silver in it and my fiance and grooms men are wearing white suits.
i dont know what colors to make the vests for the groomsmen or my fiance,and i also dont know what color to make the bridesmaids.what about navy blue?
PLEASE HELP!
thank you
i cant have the girls wear baby blue because they are all complaining that the colors make them look fat
its a formal wedding too,and i want my fiance and i to stand out:)
I like the Navy – the guys could wear Navy blue vests & ties (maybe silver trim). The girls could wear navy with baby blue or silver accents
Are wine and dark blue colours okay for a summer wedding?
I’m getting married in the summer, most likely June/July. I’m getting a white dress with a wine coloured trim where applicable and my fiance is wearing a black suit with white shirt and a wine vest and tie. I wanted my maid of honour to wear a dark blue dress and the best man to match with a dark blue vest and tie. Are these colours to dark for a summer wedding or do you think it should be whatever we like?
We were also thinking about a blue called serene which isn’t light and isn’t dark, its in between
If that is what you want then go for it.
I need ideas! My wedding is all white with tiffany blue and silver accents, what should the men wear?
The ceremony will take place around 7:30pm in May of 09 in Miami. I want to have tiffany blue in the tie or vest for the men, but i want my fiance to stand out more. I’m not sure how to accomplish this or what will look best overall. What color suit should they wear? What color shirt, black or white? I was also thinking about putting the men in black suits with a white shirt and white tie and my fiance with the tiff blue vest or tie, but now i’m not so sure. The girls dresses will have white on top with tiff blue on the bottom. Open to all ideas, thanks!
I would put the guys in black so that your husband stands out best among them!! Guys black tux blue and silver vest and tie most tux places can do this plus they will match your ladies. Your guy in a white tux white shirt and white tie (very traditional I know) If you want to jazz him up a little add a tiff blue vest for him still white tie!! CONGRATS and lots of luck!!
Is it proper etiquette for groomsmen to wear black shirts without suit coats for an after 5p.m. wedding?
Ok, yes…I know it’s HER wedding… so if you are going to reply with something of that effect, piss off.
Anyway, my dear friend is getting married in April. The Groom will be in a white with black pin stripe suit, with white shirt, blue tie and fedora while the groomsmen will in black with white pin stripe suits (minus the jackets) with black ties, black shirts and dark royal blue vest also with fedoras.
A lot of people think that it will be too much black. And I was always told Men should wear suit coats for any wedding after 5 p.m.
Can anyone give me an etiquette rule at least on the on the all black clothed groomsmen?
The wedding will be in April, and hopefully outdoors, weather permitting…
Nina-Honestly sweetheart…re-read the explantion, not sure how you got the details so jacked…
Morgan-You, too, need to re-read the explanation. I know it’s her wedding, and I basically told people who were going to answer like you not to do so, Unless this is Morgan who is number 1…Then honey, c’mon. But what are the chances?
Macy-Thank you for your honesty and actually answering the question..Believe it or not, the bride wants to go traditional. This wedding will take place in early April in Illinois. I honestly can’t remember what the light will be like, I think it might be around day light savings. Can’t remember…
Nina-Honestly sweetheart…re-read the explantion, not sure how you got the details so jacked…
Morgan-You, too, need to re-read the explanation. I know it’s her wedding, and I basically told people who were going to answer like you not to do so, Unless this is Morgan who is number 1…Then honey, c’mon. But what are the chances?
Macy-Thank you for your honesty and actually answering the question..Believe it or not, the bride wants to go traditional. This wedding will take place in early April in Illinois. I honestly can’t remember what the light will be like, I think it might be around day light savings. Can’t remember…
There is nothing wrong with black attire for the gentlemen. The groomsmen’s attire is entirely dependent upon the formality of the wedding. It sounds to me like this is actually going to be a more casual style of wedding. If that is the case, then what is planned is perfectly OK. The men should only wear hats if this is an outdoor wedding and ONLY if it is during daylight hours. If the wedding turns out to be indoors or at night, then hats are inappropriate. If the reception is indoors, then the hats should be removed for the reception.
BTW, for an after 5pm wedding, I hope it will still be light where this wedding is planned, because outdoor weddings after dark don’t make very good pictures without significant illumination. If the wedding is 5 – 6pm and it is still light out, then the fedoras are fine. But if it is dark, they are inappropriate.
Im getting Married next month, where can i get some cheap solid white suits for the grooms men?
I’m getting married next month, my wedding is going to be baby blue and white. I want my grooms men to be in SOLID white. Where can we get really really cheap CHEAP suits online?
omg this question is everywhere!! make it go away!!