Wedding Wear

It’s summertime and yes, that means wedding season! You’re going to want to look fashionable but appropriate. For us guys this means we’re probably going to have to wear a suit. Yes, terrible, but if you’re thinking you’re alone in your lack of fashion knowledge, you’re mistaken.

I recently witnessed a friend of mine pick out black trousers, a black button-up collared shirt, a white blazer and a white and silver tie to go along with the glossiest white dress shoes he could find. All that for an afternoon wedding. At that moment I began wondering: Do college-aged men know what is fashionable for a wedding?

I believe some style principles are made to be broken, but from the looks of it my friend was either attempting to stand out for the wrong reasons or taking fashion advice from Eric Gordon (see this year’s NBA Draft).

Two key things you want to pay attention to are cues by the invitation given and the time of the wedding. The look of the invitation will signal the formality of the event. The time will help you pick out a color.

For an informal daytime wedding a dress shirt and nice pants are appropriate. Throw on a blazer to take it to a classier level. This is not the time to break out that simple black suit.

If you want to stand out, two popular colors this season are pink and lavender. I hope you’re man enough to wear a pink tie. Also, keep in mind that the Nautica look is in this season so show off some navy blue or red stripes to go with a navy blazer. Don’t be afraid to don those boat shoes. They’re casual, chic and comfortable.

For a daytime or evening semi-formal wedding the full suit is a must. In the daytime you can keep the colors light. The summer staple is a cotton khaki suit. It’s cool and fashionable with a hint of casual. With this suit I’d keep my shirt a lighter color as well. The tie should compliment your shirt and display confidence. If you decide on a patterned shirt remember to stay small – saving the bigger, bolder patterns for the tie. In the evening go with a dark suit. This is when that lavender shirt could come in handy.

For a formal wedding keep the suit dark, or go with a tuxedo.

Use the wedding as an occasion to step out, have fun and look classy. At the same time remember this is a day to support your friend or relative. Looking your best is one way to show how important their special day is to you.