Tasks to tackle. Guests to greet. Bride to marry. A groom is the action hero of the big day and he should be dressed to look the part. Sure, the tux is a classic choice, but the right suit can dress today’s modern guy with equal style. Hip patterns, funky colors and slick fits provide grooms and groomsmen with more options than ever. Need help getting started? Take cues from these six suits that showcase the latest and greatest in men’s fashion.
WHAT’S HOT NOW:
Vivid Blue
Pictured: Beckett & Robb
Need a formal getup? Nothing beats a custom 100-percent Italian wool suit. Here, the royal color, batwing bow tie and lapel pick-stitching update a traditional tuxedo with edited elegance. “It’s all about simplicity to amp formality,” says Curtis Newkirk of Beckett & Robb, who wore this exact suit to his own wedding this year.
BEST IN CLASS:
Casually Formal
Pictured: Utah Woolen Mills
Casual is no less charismatic. A two-piece ensemble with pops of color- say for an outdoor wedding- is an informal way to dress formally. “For a garden wedding a tie is optional, but wear lighter or brighter colors,” says B.J. Stringham, the fifth-generation owner of Utah Woolen Mills. “We say ‘no socks’ for an outdoor party. Or wear the no-show ones.” An Isaia sports coat, Eton shirt and their best selling, washable, five-pocket trousers (“built like a pair of jeans”, he says) pack a punch for any outdoor affair.
MAD FOR:
Layers
Pictured: Beckett & Robb
Dressing with separates can be just as strong as a single suit. And with Beckett & Robb’s 15,000 fabric choices, countless pairings provide the perfect route to creating a personalized look. For cooler weather, this deep eggplant tweed jacket and four-season trouser adds visual dimension, plus the half-lined (as opposed to a typical fully-lined one) coat makes it more breathable.
HIP REPORT:
Pattern Play
Pictured: Utah Woolen Mills
Say yes to pattern-on-pattern. “We’re seeing a ton of pattern right now,” says Taylor Hawkins of Utah Woolen Mills. But don’t go overboard, he warns. Hawkins suggests mixing the scale of pattern- like a wide windowpane with a smaller check. And to avoid a clash, don’t forget to link pattern with a coordinating color- like the light blue and tan here.
COOL FACTOR:
Sky Blue
Pictured: H.M. Cole
Sunny skies call for this breezy blue suit. Leave the dark for evening functions and sport a hint of pastel during the day. “Light blue can complement certain skin tones and eye color to draw those features out of a man like blue eyes and blond hair,” says H.M. Cole owner Michael McConkie. “This Signature Series suit is easy to accessorize and is best for spring and summer weddings.” For example, a playful polka-dot patterned bow tie amps the whimsy for a daytime scene.
MOST WANTED:
Gray
Pictured: H.M. Cole
A gray suit- like this one from H.M. Cole’s Premium Series- is a staple in any man’s wardrobe. “It can be used in a variety of settings,” says owner Michael McConkie. “This is good news for a groom who doesn’t want to invest in a one-day wedding tux.” The neutrality of any gray-based suit- be it charcoal, black, or even navy- works against any city backdrop. “Light gray is also extremely easy to accessorize with black, walnut and bourbon shoes and most belts.”
Photographs by Lindsey Shaun
