The ever-trendy Steve Bishop from Stephen Bishop Suiting reveals what the sharpest grooms and groomsmen will be wearing this year…
New Year trends
To be a trendy groom, you can pretty much wear anything from a tailcoat to a standard suit. As long as it is fitted and made from an exclusive fabric, then anything goes.
This is often easier said than done, especially in the suit hire world. Thankfully in recent times it has become easier to find a decent suit from the high street but is it “weddingy enough” and what about your groomsmen? Should they be buying their own suit?
Subtle differences
How do you differentiate a groom from his groomsmen? Make subtle differences is my advice. A different buttonhole is a good idea, or a groom wearing a slightly different waistcoat than his groomsmen.
Perhaps the groom and his best man or just the groom could wear tails with the others wearing an exact matching standard suit.
Current trends
Current trends see the need for fitted clothing, with a bride and groom also placing greater emphasis on the importance of the men’s look.
Fitted or ‘tight’ is the fashion, which is then married with styles of old such as tails or classic three-piece suiting. A weird fashion mix but it works. Also, there is a difference between fitted and tight. Fitted results in shape and comfort, tight means creasing, discomfort and can make a very nice suit look cheap.
What about colour?
The classic wedding colours navy, black and grey are still very popular in both tails and fitted suiting.
They may sound boring but using up-to-date fabrics, such as pure lightweight wools or wool silk mixes, you can achieve a diluted herringbone look or a faint ‘ribbing’. You have to look closely to see it but it cleverly lifts what could actually be quite a boring colour.
The modern way
Thankfully the modern wedding sees more diversity than ever before and grooms are becoming much bolder and braver in the colour selection of their accessories. We commonly see grooms wearing shades of fuchsia, purple and red, as well as bright pinks and blues.
Colourful touches can bring a suit to life but they also have the potential to clash with the style or fabric.
Listen to the shop assistant – they’re the experts and can help you choose a colour that enhances, rather than detracts, from your suit.
Shoes make the man
Picture the scene – 5, 6 or 7 immaculately dressed guys until you reach floor level. One is an M&S wearer, another’s favourite style is 32 hole Doc Martins and the other has an 80’s style loafer… dare I go on?
A decent formal wear store should offer shoes, at the very least to hire to help complete the outfit and to complete your group’s overall look.
Search for the perfect suit
So when should your suit search begin? I would suggest three to four months before the big day. Any longer than this and you may encounter problems with size changes, collection, even wedding colour theme changes.
