When a wedding invite lands on your door mat, women are excitedly dreaming of dresses, big fat diamonds and big hats. Men are thinking stag, stag, stag. Males everywhere chuck the invite in a drawer where it falls lower down the pile of importance, forgotten, until it’s brought out in a last minute panic because ‘Thomas’ in the Whats’app stag chat mentioned something about a dress code. So, what do you wear? Head stylist from Viva la Moda, Charlotte Stather, can get you ‘on fleek’.
Country
This tends to mean a marquee / teepee in a posh field rather than wellies in pig muck. In this instance we recommend a slim fit, deep blue suit paired with a richly hued dark brown Oxford shoe. Style it up a notch further with a polka dot tie and silk blue pocket square. Add a pair of Tom Ford’s finest and you’re good to go party.
(OUTFIT LOOK: Suit, Dolce & Gabbana. Shoes, Officine Creative. Shirt, Dolce & Gabbana. Tie, DSquared. Sunglasses, Tom Ford. Pocket Square, Salvatore Ferragamo.) [All items available at Farfetch.com]
City
The likelihood is you already live in one, so how do you stand out from all the other guests who also follow the city wear trends? You’ll be hitting up a Michelin restaurant, traditional hotel or a quirky place even you haven’t heard of. Keep your cool (and stand out from the masses) with a subtle touch of blue, with a stripe or low key print tie to inject some fun. Who said you had to wait for a drink to liven things up.
(OUTFIT LOOK: Dark Blue Suit, Paul Smith. Shirt, Gucci, Shoes, Saint Laurent. Pocket Square, Fashion Clinic. Sunglasses, Thom Browne. Cufflinks, Tateossian. Tie, Fefe.) [All items available at Farfetch.com]
(OUTFIT LOOK: Light Blue Suit, Hugo Boss. Shirt, Gucci. Shoes, Paul Smith. Sunglasses, Garrett Leight California. Pocket Square & Tie, Brioni.) [All items available at Farfetch.com]
Vacation
Aka holiday aka Marbs aka Cannes. As more and more of your hard earned holiday time is put to use attending weddings abroad, make sure you adhere to temperature dress rules so you’re not regretting attendance upon arrival. You only have space for one good outfit in your carry on. Opt for a classic neutral or a light blue colour palette. (Note to self: When buying the suit, think light, think breathable).
(OUTFIT LOOK: Neutral Suit, Boglioli, Shirt, Hugo Boss. Shoes, Henderson. Tie, Fashion Clinic. Cufflinks, Begum Khan. Pocket Square, Kiton. Sunglasses, Retrosuperfuture.) [All items available at Farfetch.com]
(OUTFIT LOOK: Light Blue Suit, Vivienne Westwood. Shirt, Jil Sander. Shoes, Henderson. Sunglasses, Tomas Maier. Pocket Square, Kiton. Cufflinks, Fendi. Tie, Etro) [All items available at Farfetch.com]
Last Minute
When you weren’t important enough for the first round of invites / have acquired a new person in your life and are their added plus one. Simply hit up items in your wardrobe you didn’t even know were staples. If you have these items, you’re golden: Blazer, chinos, brogues, white shirt, dark socks. To heighten the look stylishly stuff in a pocket square and don a matching tie. Grab these last two at a train station tailors if you’re desperate, or borrow a pair of your other half’s knickers. Desperate times remember.
(OUTFIT LOOK: Blazer, Ami. Shirt, Hugo Boss. Chinos, Burberry. Pocket Square, Dolce & Gabbana. Shoes, Gucci. Sunglasses, Ray-Ban.) [All items available at Farfetch.com]
Long Haul
Never wear your wedding dress outfit on a flight over two hours. You’re supposed to look smart at weddings. Avoid looking like someone needs to iron your outfit as well as your jetlag. Invest in a wrinkle free suite. The Ludlow Traveller suit is absolutely perfect for packing into a suitcase which will be chucked/dragged/launched around various airports. Here a classic shirt cannot go amiss. There is always time to iron a shirt. Long sleeve for cold, short sleeve or rolled sleeve for hot.
(OUTFIT LOOK: Suit, J.Crew. Shirt, Charles Tyrwhitt shirt.) [Items available at jcrew.com and charlestyrwhitt.com]
Stylist tip: You don’t want to be pulling your swanky iron-free suit out from a carrier bag (we have seen this happen. It’s unsettling). Get yourself some decent luggage. Luggage that can act as your plus one if you end up alone at the last minute. Which some of your mates may deem a more worthy partner.
(Blue Suitcase, Herschel Supply Co. Black Holdall, Maison Margiela. [Both items available at Farfetch.com]
And remember, ‘Being a true gentlemen never goes out of fashion’.
For personal stylist advice / humour quips tailored just for you to you, please contact Charlotte Stather at vivalamodauk.com.
Tel: +44 (0)7796440143 | Email: vivalamodauk@gmail.com
