ARE YOU SUITED FOR MARRIAGE?
Off to a wedding? SAM WYLIE-HARRIS gets the secrets to sharp tailoring
EVEN if you don’t normally pay that much attention to your clothes, you want to look your best if you’re going to a wedding. Here’s everything you need to know ...
MAKE SURE THE FIT IS GOOD
“Find the bone at the widest point of your shoulder – it’s called the humeral head – this is where the shoulder seam of your suit should sit,” says style consultant Daniel Johnson (daniel-johnson.com).
“If the shoulders are too narrow, it’ll visually shrink your chest – too wide and you’ll look like an American football player.”
Oliver Spencer, founder of Favourbrook (favourbrook.com), recommends finding a tailor. “If you’re not the perfect off-the-peg size... get the appropriate alterations.”
FIND THE RIGHT FABRIC
The right fabric is crucial, especially if you’re wearing the suit all day. “You need something that can move and breathe,” advises Daniel. “My personal favourite is a linen, wool and silk mix.”
PAY ATTENTION TO THE SHAPE
Whether you choose a single or double-breasted jacket is personal preference, but Oliver says “the latter is a touch more formal”.
“As far as colour goes, this is where a lot of men come unstuck,” he adds. “Don’t be afraid of pastels... in linen especially.”
KEEP THE SHIRT SIMPLE
Daniel favours a white shirt, as it’s “the most versatile colour – a blank canvas”.
For a wedding he advises going up a size. “You’ll be eating lots, drinking lots and hopefully dancing lots – so you need room to move,” he says.
THE WAISTCOAT RULE
If you want to wear a waistcoat, Oliver says silk and linen are excellent breathable fabrics for summer.
“Again, a lot comes down to fit. The cardinal rule is you should never be able to see your shirt peeping out of the bottom of the waistcoat,” he says.
SAVVY THE TIE AND POCKET SQUARE SPEND
Daniel favours a plain tie and a white pocket square, or one with a subtle pattern.
“A good tip is about scale. If the pattern on a pocket square is very big, then that’s what gets the attention – so keep it small,” he advises.