It Suits You Fine
Kim Peiffer
“Many men are toning down the look of the tuxedo to look a lot like the suit,”
Suits and tuxedos weren’t always part of a formal affair; in fact weddings “back in the day” actually tended to be rather informal affairs. However, formalwear has come a long way since then. These days, the attention isn’t just on the bride in her beautiful white gown, but also on the handsome groom in his designer duds.
Although it may seem that men have always had many less choices than their female counterparts when it comes to fashion, there are in fact many different choices when it comes to male formalwear.
Long Island Weddingpages went on a search to find the latest fashions and hottest trends for that stylish groom of yours.
Standing on formality wasn’t always the case. In fact people didn’t dress up for formal events because they were too busy hunting down their food and tending to the daily chores that kept them alive.
Then there were changes to all styles of dress in the late 1700’s, when clothing went from simplified to fancy and fussy, using intricate fabrics and designs.
But the tuxedo was still non-existent at this time. Then in 1886 a man by the name of Griswalled Laurellaud changed men’s fashion forever and shocked the world in the process when he clipped the tails off of a swallow tail coat, transforming it into the first tuxedo.
Ever since that time, the tuxedo has been a consistent part of everyday history. The tuxedo makes appearances everywhere, and no place is more appropriate for the tuxedo than a formal wedding.
The formal tuxedo has been a very popular choice in the last decade, and has continued to show popularity into the 21st century. Lately, however, the tuxedo has taken on a new twist, with the surge of casual men’s wear making its way back into the current trends.
The tuxedo is still the most popular choice for grooms as a part of formal weddings, but many grooms and groomsmen have chosen to incorporate a more casual counterpart to the traditional tuxedo.
One of the most common changes in the tuxedo is the slow and subtle disappearance of the bowtie. What do they sport instead of the bowtie? A regular suit tie.
Many men prefer the tie to a bowtie, as it gives a sense of casual appearance to the extremely formal appeal of the tuxedo.
Many men are toning down the look of the tuxedo to look a lot like the suit. Although they are toning down the look with ties, they are still choosing a silk fabric usually, which is a dressier fabric for a tie.”
Another popular trend is to add an open collar shirt.
As for colors, the outrageous color fad of the 1970’s is, thankfully, still a trend that was popular ONLY in the 1970’s. Black is still the most popular color for tuxedos. For those who do choose to incorporate color, it is usually brought out in the vests and ties.
The one and two button tuxedos are still the classic choice for most formal events. As well as the classic choices, three, four and even five button tuxedos have been gaining popularity. Length in the formalwear is changing as well. A typical formal tuxedo averages in length about 31 inches and extends to your fingertips when your hands are at their sides.
The newest fashions are longer coats that measure to about 49 inches in length. This length typically extends to the back of the knee, which is quite a difference in length. Keep in mind however, that style and length of tuxedo remains contingent on many variables including time and style of event (formal vs. “informal”), location, and of course the groom’s build.
In recent years, many grooms have also been intent on coordinating with the bride herself, choosing to match the bride’s colors by assimilating them into his attire. The bride’s colors are usually integrated through the groom’s tie, vest, or shirt color.
Although some grooms may choose to incorporate the bride’s colors through the vests, the most popular color for vest and shirts is still white.
The color white is more of an off-white or ivory than a stark white, and patterns are less popular... the more subtle the better. Also, grooms are going for a matte look as opposed to shiny or metallic.
Attire for ushers is usually similar to the groom’s with a touch of less formality than the groom. The size of the wedding party has expanded in the last few years, and there are now many more people involved like the grandfather and multiple ring bearers.
Destination weddings have become very popular recently, which leaves many guests and members of the wedding party flying in from other parts of the world. Because of this, many groomsmen must have their measurements for formalwear taken over the phone. This is why it is so important to find a formalwear specialist who can work with you and your party to make any last minute changes and be ready for any problems that may arise.
Whatever style of tuxedo you do end up choosing, the groom is sure to look dapper for the big day. The tuxedo is a classic look that has sustained itself throughout many centuries and is sure to last until the end of time.
The tuxedo remains the most savvy choice for a man to stand out on the most special occasion of his life.