Tag Archives: mens suits

Tuxedo Troubles… What To Do!?

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Every now and then some well intended couple decides the groomsmen should wear a non-traditional tuxedo. You know, something edgy and fun and interesting (to them) and something that most men would never wear in a million years.

In no particular order, some mistakes to avoid when trying to be creative:

Colored tuxedos. Chocolate is not the new black. It is brown and not everyone looks good in or cares to wear brown. Aside from Psy, not many people are wearing colored tuxedo jackets, either. Look for this ‘Gangnam Style’ tuxedo jacket to surge in popularity. Cute for a music video, but not so much for a wedding.

Colored shirts. There is only one color for  tuxedo shirts and that is white. Not peach, blue, red, orange, you get the idea.

Hats. There is no need for a groom or any one of his make attendants to wear a tophat or a bowler or a fedora. They may wind up looking like this:

Last but not least – ruffles. Ruffled shirts are retro ( to say the least) but don’t really have a place at weddings in 2012. Save them for Halloween and awkward family photos.

When shopping for tuxedos, the best thing to remember is: “The classics never die”. Be creative with the tie, the studs and boutonniere and leave the tuxedo alone.

 

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Men’s Suits – The Big Debate

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As the 2012 Presidential debate season heats up, now is the perfect time for me to debate men’s’ suits. In men’s’ suits (unlike politics)  you basically have three choices: one button, two button, or three button, each having their pros and cons.

 

One button: Thanks to a recent resurgence in popularity, mostly attributed to the skinny suit, the one button is making a comeback. This suit really looks best on a man with a very athletic physique. Because of the precise location of the button, it is perfect for the man who isn’t afraid to let his muscles show.

Two button: The most classic, versatile, enduring, popular and easy to wear style. If you watched the debate last night, you would notice that both candidates wore the two button style. Vote for whomever you want, they both looked great in their two button suits.

Three button: Best suited for men who are taller than six feet because the buttons on the jacket reach higher up on the chest.  The three button suit can either be very stylish or very out of date and hardly anywhere in between so, keep up to date on mens’ fashion or you will run the risk of looking like you stepped out of an Austin Powers movie.

 

Whatever suit you choose, make sure you have it tailored so it will fit you and not the hanger it came on. Too-tight or too-baggy pants is a no-no, as is having saggy, sloping shoulders or a boxy waist. A great suit is nothing without a great fit!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

Tips For Timelessly Tailored Suits

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On my long list of pet peeves in life are men’s suits and how they are improperly tailored. This happens more often than you think and for me, one small detail can really throw off the whole look. Did you ever see a really handsome man wearing a suit and it looks either sloppy or (worse) like he raided Pee Wee Herman’s closet? Disappointing, to say the least. For example, the suit on the the left is obviously too big but has been altered to the point where in  the picture on the right, it appears to be about a half size too small.

 

I understand this is the trend right now; tight fitting pant legs and tight fitting jackets. But think about what 5 years and 5 lbs is going to do to the look of the suit. When buying  a suit or tuxedo for your wedding, going for a classic look will NEVER be a bad fashion choice. In addition, if you study the picture closely you will see diagonal lines in the jacket from the armhole to the button. A well fitted suit will not have those diagonal lines when the jacket is buttoned, it will fit smooth and hang straight down from the point of the button.

Having a touch of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I consulted a top notch tailor to discuss the proper fit of a man’s suit.  Here are the tips and hints I have put together for you when having your wedding suit or tuxedo tailored:

PANTS – The back of the pant leg should rest at the top of the sole of the shoe. The point where the sole meets the shoe is where the back  pant hem should be.

The front of the pant should taper up and have a 1/2″ break (pleat) in the front so it rests gently on the top of the shoe in front.

Never trust anyone who advises you to wear a belt and suspenders at the same time. Choose one or the other.

SLEEVES- Make a fist. If the cuff falls at the tip of your fingers it is the right length.

SHIRT – No matter what style of shirt or jacket, the shirt sleeves should be 1/2 ” longer than the jacket sleeve, always.

 

Two button suits are timeless. If you choose one, three or more buttons, you risk having your suit fall into a category of  “Last Year’s trend”.  The top button should be at the bottom of the  rib cage and the bottom button should be at the waistband of your pants.

Double Breasted suits look best on men with a slim physique, not too broad in the shoulders.

There should always be a pleat in the back of the suit to allow for movement. The pleat should not fall open at any time while you are wearing it unless you are seated, while you are seated the jacket should be unbuttoned.

Although the selection of the suit is all based on personal preferences, taste and style, the fit should be impeccable. If you are at a loss or can’t remember every detail of this blog, try to remember this: What Would James Bond Wear?

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago