Comments on: Dressing for Life’s Big Events: How a Man Should Dress for Weddings, First Dates, Religious Ceremonies and More

By: FeatherBlade

FeatherBlade — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 20:28:53 +0000

@Jan #40 – By “brandish” you mean a statement calculated to show off your (resumable) wealth?

I would say learn the different generic style designations and don’t mention brand names e.g. “It’s semi-formal, so I’m wearing a charcoal gray suit.” vs. “I’ll be wearing Armani” or “We’ll be out on the water, so I’m wearing khakis” vs “Ralph Lauren is the only thing to wear when yachting”.

That will tell her not only the level of formality of the event, but also give her an idea of how to coordinate with your outfit (if she is so inclined) and what shoes would be appropriate for her to wear (stiletto heels work very poorly on grass or sand).

By: Jan

Jan — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 04:59:11 +0000

How should I let a lady know what im wearing? I can see that quickly becoming a “brandish” kind of statement.

By: the gold digger

the gold digger — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:47:15 +0000

Don’t forget to polish your shoes. For everything.

By: andre

andre — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 21:26:00 +0000

i have a awesome Canali off white dinner jacket, i also have a few tuxedos, can i incorporate the jacket with a pair of tux pants, tux shirt( colour?) bow tie. it is a hair fashion event so there is room for expression.
Thank you
great forum.

By: Peoples Press Collective | Colorado Politics | Tic-Tacs from Political Breath, No. 41 :

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 08:12:58 +0000

[...] We are really liking the gents over at Art of Manliness for this handy tip sheet on how to nail the look for any formal occasion and the awesome resources on all aspects of formal [...]

By: Michael Reese

Michael Reese — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:50:32 +0000

With regard to religious activities, I agree with the article up to the mention of ‘business casual’. IMHO, that is NOT respectful enough, as I have seen men at weddings in track suits and the like; knowing what some of the ‘fad’ clothing costs, there is no excuse not to have at least ONE suit. Maybe, as poster Joshua Katz mentions, a mock turtleneck would work. Otherwise, it seems rude and disrespectful to show up at such events looking like the ‘business casual’ model above. If you can go that far, a tie ain’t gonna kill you. And I hate wearing ties!

By: Joshua Katz

Joshua Katz — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:45:31 +0000

For what it’s worth, my standard first date outfit is a suit with a silk mock turtleneck. I appreciate the dressy aspects, and I get to avoid wearing a tie, which I associate with business, not pleasure.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:24:05 +0000

Fascinating article, and probably applicable if this were 1969 and not 2009.

In 1983 I changed from a job that required a business suit to one more casual, and I’ve never looked back.

It is perfectly acceptable to ignore all the rules above. I have never been more formally dressed than a dark turtleneck and jacket in those 26 years, and usually it’s just a casual shirt & pants if the event is more formal than jeans & t-shirt.

Never had a problem at the several weddings, two funerals, or any other occasion. I find it hard to imagine anyone being so weird as to wear a tie on a date!

By: Edgar

Edgar — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:14:21 +0000

The man wearing a black bow tie is not wearing a tuxedo jacket.

1. It has notch lapels; tuxedo jackets have peak or shawl lapels.
2. It has more than one button.

Black suits are neither fish nor fowl. Black is for formal dress (white tie; black tie; strollers; and various kinds of obsolete attire), while the lounge suit (what we now call a business suit) comes in various colors. A young man might successfully wear a black suit for a night on the town, but they are not appropriate for most settings.

Grandpa Ken,

May I suggest a white shirt, a light gray Macclesfield tie, and either a suit or a dark sports coat (or blazer) and striped slacks? The non-suit outfit is a nod to tradition which will look great, yet no one will think you’re dressing in costume. Please wear wool, not linen–you don’t want to be a rumpled, wrinkled mess, now do you? (You might find some more inspiration here: http://permanentstyle.blogspot.com/2008/05/contradiction-of-wedding-dress.html) The grandfather of the bridegroom should look classy and dignified for this special occasion, and I hope my suggestions help.

By: ken

ken — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:04:10 +0000

I am attending a daytime wedding in June (Calif). As the grandfather of the groom what is appropriately formal?