Singaporebrides | The Groom Room
March 2011
Suiting Up For Your Wedding
Whether you’re renting a suit, or having one tailor-made for you for your big day, chances are, it could be one of the first times you’re wearing a suit. We’ve broken down the suit to the nitty gritties so you’ll know how to find that perfect one when suiting up for your wedding.
Suits, while commonly brushed off as being too proper and boring, is one of the most well thought-of garments in a man’s wardrobe. Styles may have changed, and fabrics may have evolved, but there are some universal truths about suits that will always remain. Here are those facts you need to have handy when picking a suit for yourself, no matter the occasion:
Fit
In Savile Row, a shopping street in Mayfair, Central London, famous for its traditional men’s bespoke tailoring, a suit made from scratch for the individual can take up to weeks, even months. Of course, this is not for everyone — it comes with a hefty price tag. For normal people like you and me, a good quality suit can be bought off the rack and then made to measure. You need a suit to envelope your body as closely as possible, without looking too tight. It should also not hang off you like you’re trying to give MC Hammer a run for his money. Boutiques like Zara and Massimo Dutti make good, affordable suits that you can easily have taken in.
Cut
There are various cuts to a suit – single or double-breasted, and suitsthat are cut American, Full or European style. The American cut is the industry standard, the casual, basic suit you see most people wearing. The classic, Full cut hangs straight down and allow more room at the waist, often preferred by fuller-figured men. The European cut tapers at the waist, for a trim, fit look. For weddings, and if you’re Asian,your best bet is sticking to a single-breasted European style suit, which flatters the smaller framed Asianman more – it has strongly padded shoulders, giving you a better silhouette.
The Jacket
If you are getting a suit tailored, the tailor will most probably know what he’s doing, but he will often ask you what different looks you prefer. Here are the things you need to look out for to ensure a comfortable and classic fit:
- Collar – Your collar should fit snugly around your neck without bucking or pinching. You should also be able to see about an inch of your shirt collar from the back.
- Shoulder Pads – These are helpful to frame the silhouette and for the suit to hang properly. Properly sized ones will also help with making you look trimmer than usual.
- Lapels –Think of lapels as the collar of the blazer of your suit. Stick to a lapel that does not stick out too much, or you’d end up looking like a street fair musician. Howwide the lapels are also varies – these days, more contemporary suit designs havethinner lapels of about 1.5 – 2 inches, or even less. If you have a disproportionedbody, longer lapels along the blazer lengthen the torso.
- Arms and sleeves – Your sleeves should end at the point where your wrist starts when your arms are relaxed at your sides. Always make sure the arm holes fit your frame. Trying various postures is the best way to test this: stretch your arms over your head, or sit in a chair and raise your arms straight in front of you. It should not feel too constrained around your arms.
- Buttons – Choosebetween a two or three-button blazer – any more or any less would just make the suitlook too trendy; your wedding photos have to look timeless.If you have a broad upper body, go for a low button suit that starts below the lapels. If you’re on the stout side, the high button stance, with buttons that start above the beer belly, is more flattering.
- Vents – A vent is a slit in the bottom rear, or the tail of the jacket. Vents were a sportingoption – designed to make horse-riding easier. Today there are three styles of venting:the single-vented style, with one slit at the centre; the ventless style for slimmer men; and the double-vented style, one vent on each side, for men who need more movement around the butt.
Trousers
Suit trousers are made with the same material as that of the jacket. Get trousers thatdo not have pleats in the front as this is a very dated look and would make you lookbulkier than you are. While in earlier days, belts were never worn with suits,you have that option these days to make your life easier – or if you’d like to channel alittle Don Draper from the hit TV series Mad Men, suspenders would suit just fine.
Accessories
As a stylish rule of thumb, your belt should match your shoes. Leather is usually the preferred material. Colour-wise, go safe and classic with black for weddings, but other complementary muted colours are a fresh welcome. The colour of your socks should match your pants, and they must be dress socks.
There’s a Suit to Suit You
Like a red lipstick for a woman, there is a suit to suit you – from your weight, to your build to the very purpose of the suit, there are many different things you can do to a suit to make it fit your body type. We think a good suit is worth an investment; if you manage to find one that looks really good on you, go for it. Designate a day to go suit-shopping or tailoring with your future wife, and wear a dress shirt and shoes to the store so that you’ll get an accurate idea of how it will look when worn properly. Here’s a tip if you are getting your first suit: Go to a rather reputable boutique (like Hugo Boss. Really.) and try on a suit that catches your eye without looking at the price tag. If you think it fits you well, see if you can afford it. If you can’t, you have just gotten an idea of how a really good suit looks, hangs, and feels, and you can bring that experience with you to your preferred boutique or tailor.
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