It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year! The holidays are here and love is either madly in the air, or it’s most definitely not. But the fact of the matter is, right around the corner, is wedding season.

There are fewer and fewer reasons to wear formal clothing these days, but one of those that still holds on is that of a wedding. Now, while wedding season might still be a few months away, being prepared for that time of year, believe me, is the right thing to do. Whether you’re buying suits or dresses, here are some things to consider before you find yourself overwhelmed shop-hopping trying to find your wedding best.

THE POCKET SQUARE

Men are in a somewhat fortunate position (actually a lot of fortunate positions if you ask me lol) in that suits tend to come in a small variety, and are quite frankly, the only expectation people have of you when it comes to formal attire. Especially for a wedding.

That said there are parts of suit buying and wearing that we should discuss, especially if you’re not used to the clothing, such as how to fold a pocket square .

And let me share with you my thoughts on pocket squares: I FLIPPING LOVE THEM. These little guys will take a look to the next level. They come in so many different styles, colors, fabrics. Oh my gosh, I just get so excited by them, for ALL looks and styles, from wedding formal to street and smart casual.

I included some of my favorites here, scroll to the right to view them all!

THE SUIT STYLE

While the number of jobs requiring suits has decreased in the last couple of decades, so too has the need for men to own them, so let’s take a look at the different styles and the etiquette of wearing one.

SINGLE OR DOUBLE-BREASTED

Suits do come in various styles, and this tends to be for different reasons. If you’re not the groom, you’ll likely be considering a single-breasted or double-breasted style and the decision will come down to your personal preference.

The double is more traditional for a taller man to wear and will usually have four or six buttons. Whereas a single-breasted jacket will have only one set of buttons - up to three - and holes that do not overlap. There’s a great article on this here

Now if you’re the man of the event, or in the main wedding party, there are of course the wedding suit and tuxedo for the much more formal look.

THE WAISTCOAT

Once you have chosen a style, you may then wonder whether or not you should purchase a waistcoat. Well, for starters, most suits will come as two or three-piece and so the decision will be made for you. The waistcoat is a personal choice once again, but it does a little more than just adding to the style. It in fact should be doing two things. One, to direct attention towards your face, and two, to keep your tie in place. It can be a great complement to your suit, but again the personal preference is yours.

SHOES

Once you have the suit sorted, you’ll need to start considering the shoes. Your dilemma could be around the color, whether to match the shoes to the color of the suit (black, brown, or burgundy are most common). OR, your dilemma could be on style, i.e. formal or casual, slip-ons or laces, minimal or funky loud. Suits or Sneaks. :) But for all the shopping in the world, make sure they are comfortable and fit you properly. Weddings can be lengthy affairs.

I just started a Pinterest Board - Wedding in Sneakers and pinned some of my favorite looks. Go check it out and follow along if you think you’ll be in the market soon! :)

ACCESSORIES

The most important, of all the accessories that make up formal wear, is the tie. This is where it gets overwhelming and I feel for you guys. There are so many different types of ties! From the skinny traditional, to the wide traditional, to the bow tie. Your selection will need to consider several details, most importantly, your size. If you are a tall man you will require a longer tie, if you’re a short man then bow-ties are great! If you’re a skinny man then you might want to consider purchasing a tie that isn’t too wide.

And then there’s the colors. I love this part. First consider two factors - the color of your suit and your complexion. Then figure out the statement you want to make. Formal and serious? Go with your traditional colors and patterns. Prefer to be loud and proud? Then the possibilities are endless for you my friend. Go bright, crazy-patterned, and flashy for that matter if you want. Here are some of my favorite looks.

You can shop some of my favorites right here! Scroll to the right to view them all.

Finally, other accessories include the aforementioned pocket square which should complement your tie. Cuff links for a shirt with French cuffs are a nice addition to the formal attire and give you an opportunity in a limited environment to add some character to your wear. And lastly a dress watch or tie clip; both of these can complement the suit you are wearing and add an air of elegance to your wedding appearance.

Happy shopping!

-Kristin