EARLY QUESTIONS A GROOM AND THE OTHER MEN IN HIS PARTY SHOULD PONDER ABOUT CLOTHING CHOICES

BY MICHAEL AND MATT DURU

First of all, congratulations! Secondly, we have been dressing grooms and the men in their parties for more then 20 years. And while there are always unique questions with every fitting, they tend to boil down to some essentials.

First: somewhere between three and six months before the wedding day, make an appointment with a bespoke advisor (ours is Josh Hughes). He’ll have a checklist ready to help you consider all possibilities, from bespoke to custom made to ready to wear suits and tuxedos, as well as all the accessorizing options that personalize a look.

How a groom should dress largely depends on what the bride has chosen to wear. If she’s in a formal gown, then the groom and his party should be in tuxedos with bow ties (no one is doing long ties anymore). If she is going a little less formal, a dark, dressy suit is enough. For a beach wedding, a tan linen option looks great. Even if the venue is casual, a suit shows respect for the day, for the bride, and for the solemnity of the event.

Avoid a rented tux; it never really fits, and amounts to bad economizing. Your bride spent a fortune on her dress, so look great standing next to her. Black patent leather shoes are traditional with a tuxedo, and look mighty ne, but other black dress shoes are a viable option.
Color: As the groom, you should distinguish yourself from the rest of the groomsmen. Petrol blue, grey nail head, or even a more vibrant windowpane suit will take you to the next level. Fit: Nothing looks worse than a garment that’s too tight or too loose. You should feel your suit against the body, but it should not restrict motion.

Details: This is the day to pay attention. Cu inks, tie, tie bar, pocket square, belt, and shoes (and don’t forget: shoes should always match your belt). If going for a tux, black, of course, is an elegant look. However, tuxedo treatment can be added to almost any fabric, and burgundy, navy, and emerald are some of the more au courant color options we commonly see. Go with a bow tie (leave long ones to the red carpet events), and opt for suspenders, not a cummerbund.
If there’s still confusion, bring in anything that resembles the wedding look you want to achieve, and our style consultant will steer you in the right direction.

Michael Duru Clothiers
801 Broad Street, Shrewsbury 732.741.1999 /
michaelduru.com