I’ve got this wedding coming up on Saturday and I need some advice. Here’s what I’ve got that’s presentable:
One tailored charcoal suit, pretty nice.
One off-white shirt, nice. One light blue shirt, a little too big for me.
One pair of burgundy-looking shoes. One pair of black shoes. Shoe polish for both. Somewhere.
An assortment of ties, fat, thin, silk, polyester, striped, paisley, and patterned.
One very stressed credit card.
I, um, don’t really know how to do that matching thing. I particularly don’t know what ties are acceptable and what aren’t. I know a place where I can score bow-ties, which I like a lot. Also, do dry-cleaners usually do their thing in 24 hours? If not, how do I press a balled-up wool suit with a travel iron?
There are going to be a whole lot of pretty women at this thing, so I want to look my least disheveled. I really should have thought about this a little bit more in advance, but I was distracted by other things, like the mold growing in the bottle here next to me. Fascinating…
Oh. You’re still here. Sorry. Your opinions would be helpful. Thanks in advance.
Yes, there are 24 hour and even 1 hour dry cleaners.
Grey suit, black shoes, hmm… I’d say a pale grey shirt, but barring that the blue. Can’t help you much with the ties, not knowing whatcha got. If you had the pale grey or white shirt, I’d say something with red.
Suit with black shoes and off white shirt. Burgandy tie.
Like I said. Hard to say, since there are shades of variety in all colors.
Go with the blue shirt, unless it’s just too big. I think the tie should be the best one you have, unless it’s hopelessly out of style. The color doesn’t matter, though I think the tie should “tie” the colors of the blue shirt and gray suit together. Or, it you have a buck or two left on your card you could try a store like Ross, they are pretty inexpensive. Then pick up a 2001 dress shirt and tie. Whatever you do. Have a good time. And even if you don’t feel you look exactly right, after the champagne starts flowing, and it’s in full swing, the women won’t care what you’re wearing.
Yes, there are many dry cleaners who will do their thing in 24 hours (or less). Make sure that the one you use happens to be one of them.
You’ve gotten some pretty good advice here, considering we don’t have much to go on regarding your tie selection.
The charcoal suit and black shoes are a must, as well as a black belt, if you have one. If you can afford it, get a white (not off-white) shirt. In fact, get it before you drop off the dry cleaning and see if they’ll launder it in time. Unless you’re comfortable wearing suits and ties, tell them no starch. It’ll still look nice, and the wrinkles won’t crackle.
Pick out your nicest silk tie that has some red (burgundy, pink, red, etc.) in it. If your suit is a lighter shade of charcoal, go with a darker tie, otherwise use a lighter shade. That helps avoid the funeral look.
The most important thing is to feel at ease in your clothes. If formal isn’t your bag, Pammipoo’s advice might be right on. A suit jacket with jeans works for some people, but it’s hard to say without knowing more about you. Your smile and laughter will work wonders when you’re spiffed up, so have fun.
I don’t remember what color your eyes are, Sofa. If they are blue or blue/hazel, go with the blue shirt. Or even if they’re not – I like blue with gray. Black shoes and belt, of course. Then go score a bow tie – a nice unique touch. Get one with a print or stripe with some blue in it (to pick up the shirt) and another cheerful color. Red would work, or (my preference) yellow. And have fun!
What kind of wedding is it? That makes a difference.
Also, off-white can mean several things. If it is just a little more cream or eggshell colored than white, you can wear it with the grey suit. If it is in the color family that might possibly be called “tan,” even if only in certain light, then you shouldn’t even let it hang next to the suit in your closet.
Black shoes, of course. And that means also a black belt.
Silk tie, not too thin, not too fat. Personally, I like the patterned tie. It adds a nice extra touch to an otherwise plain ensemble. With a grey suit, and either the blue or the off-white shirt, the tie can be just about any color (but not tan, or brown).
I’m a little iffy on the idea of a bow tie. For whatever reason, it works well for some people, and not so well for others. I think bow ties might be dangerous unexplored territory at this particular fashion juncture.
Great advice from everyone here. I just wanted to add that when I meet a man, unless he’s wearing something REALLY weird, I don’t notice the exact clothes he’s wearing so much as his hygiene, grooming, neatness, etc. I notice things like dirty old shoes, spots on ties, dirt under fingernails, and bad smells (this includes too much cologne). Get dressed up all spiffy and clean, and you should look just fine to the honeys.
Do not, and I repeat DO NOT, wear a bow-tie if you are the least bit overweight. Bow-ties work only for the very thin or if you’re wearing a tux.
Better yet, don’t wear a bow-tie at all. You may get noticed by the pretty girls, but it won’t be in a good way. Quirky may be cute, but it’s NOT sexy. Don’t do it.
That said, wear the suit, black shoes and belt. You can pick up a decent enough white shirt at any store for $20. You may want to have someone help you with your size if you’re not familiar with it. Get a botton-down collar if your neck is fat. Wear the blue shirt if you don’t want to spring for a white one, as off-white usually only works with browns.
While you’re there, ask the prettiest (unmarried) woman to help you with a tie. You may get a date out of it.
I agree with the advice thast it should be in somewhat reddish tones. If you have one of your own, fine. Don’t wear a paisley one, it’s dated. The ones that are popular now are sort of, well…think abstract art or technicolor vomit. Silk only.
Polish your shoes.
Smile…that’s most important, and have fun!
[sub]Sorry, I have a clear opinion on these things because I have a fetish for well dressed men, particularly in suits. Fortunately my hubby indulges me. ;)[/sub]
All right! You folks rock! I think I was wrong in my description of the suit, though. It’s almost black. Isn’t that what you call charcoal? The off-white is really sort of an eggshell, and I have a couple of non-paisley silk burgundy ties to choose from.
I do also have a pure-white shirt, a really nice one, but it has a teeny little hole right on the front of it. The jacket covers it, usually, but sooner or later the jacket’s probably going to come off.
It sounds like what you’ll be wearing is pretty somber (dark suit, white or light blue shirt). That’s not bad–in fact, it’s probably appropriate–but since that’s the case, I’d say go for a snazzy tie. That doesn’t necessarily mean a LOUD tie, but one that grabs the eye with a neat design or really says something. When every guy at the wedding is dressed like a mortician, a girl notices the ties. Please god, no rep ties. Those are the ones with the diagonal stripes. And as someone else said, no paisley–I still love paisley ties but they’re not as up-to-date.
If you don’t have any ties you LOVE, it might be worth taking a gander on the sale table at a mid-priced store like mervyns or kohls. We recently went shopping to boost my husband’s abysmal dress-up wardrobe before an upcoming wedding and found a great one, $5 on sale! 100% silk and from the Jerry Garcia line. I heartily endorse the idea of asking the nearest woman you see at the store what SHE thinks. Or take a couple of your ties to work and ask your female coworkers. They’ll think it’s quaint.
maybe he did - that’s why he’s not posting - they’re finishing off a carefree weekend, before she has to go back to Spokane or wherever, with a tear in her eye as she goes through security to get on her plane…
Okay, I wore the almost-black suit with the almost-white shirt and a patterned green silk tie (the pattern was a million little elephants marching trunk-to-tail–I got several comments on it). I used the black shoes. Unfortunately, when I got to our hotel and changed, I discovered that I somehow picked out an ex-girlfriend’s black socks, so I probably looked pretty dorky when I was sitting with my legs crossed. At the request of the couple getting married, I kept my hair down.
It was the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever seen, set in a circle on a pristine lawn next to a burbling creek on a brilliant, cloudless afternoon. The reception was dinner at sunset, which then devolved into hour after hour of hard-core partying.
I made a lot of good time with a lot of attractive young ladies (there were indeed a lot of them there). Got several phone numbers. I made the mistake of enjoying a little too much tequila in combination with another substance very late that night and that more or less put an end to my scheming. That’s probably a good thing, because by not settling on one, I’ve got a handful of numbers to follow up with.
Nevertheless, I did sleep with the most gorgeous woman at the wedding (besides the bride, of course). The problem is that we actually slept–three people sharing a two-bed hotel room, don’t you know. It sucks waking up with with your crank so hard a cat couldn’t scratch it, realizing you’ve got a knockout girl in the rack with you, and then realizing that things are gonna get pretty embarassing if you don’t get your ass into a cold shower right now.
Anyway, I thought I looked pretty good, and that’s the most important part, isn’t it? Thanks a lot for your help, everyone. I really appreciate it.
