Something I’ve noticed about my sweetheart (pictured below) is she has worn a different dress to every wedding we’ve attended together, and something I’ve noticed about myself is I’ve worn the same suit to every wedding we’ve attended together. Most folks own one suit (unless the garment gods have blessed them with many suits), so here’s a reflection on how I’ve presented and re-presented one (1) charcoal grey worsted wool suit.
For this nighttime wedding, I wore a white dress shirt (under $30 via J. Crew Factory), a black silk tie (under $20 via Topman) and a pocket square (a gift from my tailor). This is a classic and simple look which is black tie optional appropriate–and it can be (and has been) made black tie appropriate by adding a black vest.
For formal weddings, I wear cap toe, semi-gloss dress shoes (under $80 via Online Shoes, who carry men’s shoes as small as a size 5).
I like to go get a haircut approximately two days (gives it time to settle) before attending a wedding. After getting Don Drapered, I feel a little more handsome and sharp in my suit.
hey, I was raised in the 1950s by my grandparents too !! Awe-some!
(was born in the nineteen sevenlalalas .. lol)
Hey! Great article – though where’s the charcoal grey worsted wool suit from…?
Thanks Lauren! My suit is from Zohreh in Manhattan’s East 50s. I had it made two years ago because I stand at 5’4″ and about 120lbs. Now that it’s The Future, I work for a wonderful and significantly more affordable bespoke clothier called Bindle & Keep.
Well done, all of this. The versatility of suit-wearing is tempting me even more to throw down for a new one ASAP.
This makes me want a custom suit. That is perhaps the MOST DANGEROUS of things.
Joelle, it’s not as dangerous as you’d think. Let a brother know when you’re ready!
were did you get the tie clip, is it vintage? i like it a lot!
I found this site thanks to the NYT article on Bindle & Keep. First, that’s brilliant that you proposed the idea to them. The comment about the ill-fitting tuxes for women getting married struck a chord: I’ve noticed the same in photographs and thought it was very unfortunate for these women to be outfitted in anything that may detract from their great moments of joyful memories.
Regarding this page, as you know, one can vary the suit’s impact quite a bit by changing up the tie. I’m a hetero male, and have been wearing suits for years, but not often enough to realize until recently just how much impact the tie can have. A tie and matching handkerchief can really have an impact. I’m soon to add several more ties to my collection now that I’ve seen their impact at weddings, funerals, interviews, etc.
It’s quite possible this will be the first fashion blog I ever follow. Kudos!