{"id":36906,"date":"2015-10-01T12:11:44","date_gmt":"2015-10-01T02:11:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/au\/articles\/groom-guide-perfect-suit\/"},"modified":"2021-11-10T04:16:36","modified_gmt":"2021-11-09T17:16:36","slug":"groom-guide-perfect-suit","status":"publish","type":"au-article","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/articles\/groom-guide-perfect-suit\/","title":{"rendered":"A groom’s guide to finding the perfect suit"},"content":{"rendered":" A perfectly cut suit can transform the average Aussie bloke into a suave, dapper gentleman on his wedding day.\n

A suit can make or break how a groom looks and feels on the day of his wedding. Ill-fitting and misshapen, it can be a disaster. But a perfectly cut and sharp, well co-ordinated suit can transform the average Aussie bloke into a suave and dapper looking gent who truly looks as good as his beautiful bride.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one of the days in your life when you should look the best you can, I think,\u201d says Chris Edwards, director at Melbourne-based tailors, Oscar Hunt<\/a>.\u00a0\u201cBut from a practical point of view, there\u2019s a lot going on during the day, too.<\/p>\n

“You\u2019ll be moving around, taking photos, standing at the altar and walking down the aisle. It might be really hot and you might feel the pressure, so you don\u2019t want to be worrying about your suit and constantly trying to fix it or fiddle with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oscar Hunt<\/a>\u00a0specialises in made-to-measure suits for men and has recently expanded its Melbourne operations into Sydney. The company began five years ago and was the brainchild of Chris and his two high school mates who wanted to bring back for men the old-world experience of having a beautiful suit tailored, but at an accessible price point.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had the vision of making sure that the experience wasn\u2019t intimidating and it came with passionate and informed fitters who would talk you through the design, fabric and cut of the suits, so that even if you had no knowledge of what you wanted, you would be safe in the knowledge that we had you covered and the end result would be an amazing suit you\u2019d wear with confidence and you knew fit well,\u201d Chris explains.<\/p>\n

In the past, Chris has worked with high-profile Australian designers such as Toni Maticevski, Dion Lee and Josh Goot and helped launch Oscar Hunt<\/a>\u00a0in the hope of bringing that same level of care and quality of materials to menswear.<\/p>\n

One of the benefits of a good tailored suit is that not only will it fit you perfectly, it will be made in a way to help you feel comfortable on your day and look sharp, he says.<\/p>\n

For example, grooms that have worn Oscar Hunt suits<\/a> during their summer weddings have chosen lightweight fabrics and their suits have been constructed in a particular way to allow for breathability. If a customer has a tendency to sweat, the Oscar Hunt tailors usually suggest a mohair fabric which has a natural quality of moving fabric way from the skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat can only be found in tailored suiting, which helps to make sure everything runs as well as it can on the day. The photos look good and the groom is comfortable,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

Here, Chris offers his ten top tips for grooms on the hunt for the perfect suit (with some advice for brides, too).<\/p>\n Image:\u00a0She Takes Pictures He Makes Films<\/a>\n

What does a quality suit look like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Not really sure what to look for when choosing a great suit?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe game is won and lost in the shoulders and chest. So if you have a nicely shaped shoulder, one that\u2019s not caving or has any indentation and it just falls nicely from the shoulder, that\u2019s one tell-tale sign,\u201d reveals Chris.<\/p>\n

The chest area shouldn\u2019t be too tight and the rest of the suit should fall well, which is where tailors focus a lot of their attention when it comes to measuring, he adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can also look for particular features, like working buttonholes in the cuff or handmade finishes. It\u2019s a little more difficult to pick out, but I think checking out how a nicely finished wool catches the light or the way it performs under certain conditions are good signs, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what a bad suit looks like<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If the chest piece looks like it\u2019s bubbling a bit and it has a stiff finish, that often means that it\u2019s a canvas piece made from horse hair or mohair and glued to the fabric, which often doesn\u2019t give it a natural drape, says Chris.<\/p>\n

And if the sizing is wrong or something is tight or pulling in wrong places, put that suit back on the rack.<\/p>\n

Embrace the experience of seeing a tailor<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Men don\u2019t always enjoy shopping for clothes or have the patience for it, but if you have an expert tailor to help create a beautiful suit for you, take advantage of his skills and be open to the experience.<\/p>\n

“We see guys who know a lot about tailoring and others who know very little, but it\u2019s important to embrace the experience. Get involved in looking through different fabrics and what fabrics work for you. Ask questions about what works for your body type, even though it can be a bit awkward,\u201d advises Chris.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could almost become a little bit of a suit connoisseur – that way, you\u2019ll walk out of the experience knowing what looks good on you and it will give you confidence when you wear your it on the day.\u201d<\/p>\n Image: Dan O’Day Photography<\/a>\n

Invest in a decent suit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Suits come at all different prices, but Chris advises grooms to buy the best that they can afford. Your tailor should be able help you and your groomsmen work within your budget and may even be able to offer you a certain group deal. He should also be able to show you a wide range of different fabrics, which often will influence the overall price of your suit, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe suit is for your wedding day, but to that end, it shouldn\u2019t be something you just wear once. From a dinner suit to a casual, less traditional suit, a tailored suit will fit your body and you should enjoy it for years to come. In that sense, this is the time to invest,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Image: Raspberry Robot<\/a>\n

Keep it simple<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cGuys tend to do too much sometimes They might see something in a magazine or in a film and go, \u2018I want this big check or colour or this particular look\u2019 and it becomes a bit confusing,\u201d says Chris. \u201cThey start to second-guess things and do too much with their suit. We tell them to keep it simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t focus on matching everything<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While it\u2019s ideal for the bridal party to wear complementary outfits, it\u2019s not necessary for everyone to completely match each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere can be a tendency for bridal parties to want to match their accessories or to make sure there\u2019s a piece of colour that bounces off another floral arrangement or the groomsmen, which can compromise the overall look of the suit,\u201d says Chris.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur advice is that the real focus should be on the cut of the suit, because that is a stunning statement in itself, even if it\u2019s a simple black. We can work with all the groomsmen, and we\u2019ll make sure the colours don\u2019t clash with the wedding party – so long as that\u2019s right, the overall look is a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n Image: She Takes Pictures He Makes Films<\/a>\n

It\u2019s all in the details<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The difference between looking a bit blah and brilliant is all in the little details, says Chris.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure the shoes are shined and you wear good socks that are a step up from the old holey socks you usually wear,\u201d he advises.<\/p>\n

Accessories can add some sartorial flair to your suit, such as a simple pocket square in an interesting colour or print. Polka dot and paisley patterns that complement the colours worn by your groomsmen or the bridesmaids can give your overlook some polish, too. They\u2019re really simple touches that can make a good impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuspenders are good too. They\u2019re hidden by the jacket during the ceremony but later on, when it comes off, the suspenders give you a different look, which is nice,\u201d offers Chris.<\/p>\n Image: Erin and Tara<\/a>\n

Think outside the box<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Not up for a simple black and white suit combo? If you\u2019d like something a bit more quirky, consider experimenting with different colours or even mix and matching your trouser and jacket combination, says Chris. You may have a subtle trouser to act as a good foundation for your suit, but then choose a coloured or patterned blazer. Or you could even go for a linen or cotton suit if your wedding will be held during the warmer months.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecently, we did a light blue three-piece suit with a white overcheck pattern. The groom didn\u2019t come in with that particular fabric in mind. He just came in and said \u2018We\u2019re doing a non-traditional wedding and I don\u2019t want the suit to be formal and stuffy. I want it to be really something I can wear again\u2019,\u201d recalls Chris<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom there, we went through our range of fabrics with him and started to get the picture that he was keen to make a statement and play around with some patterns and colours and when we arrived on that overcheck pattern, it was love at first sight\u2026 The suit ended up being spectacular.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe game is in the accessories \u2013 you\u2019ve got a great little pocket square combination, whether it\u2019s a tie or bowtie to go with it, you could throw in a pair of tan brogue shoes and suspenders, which can really define that quirky look,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Accept that you\u2019re not (quite) Ryan Gosling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are some customers who have a specific vision of what they\u2019d like their suit to look like, which can be helpful, but it\u2019s also important to be open to different ideas when you see your tailor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do find that people come in and say, \u2018I want that suit that Ryan Gosling wore in 2011 at this Academy Awards night\u2019 and that becomes a fixation for them. But the truth is no-one looks like Ryan Gosling except for Ryan Gosling,\u201d explains Chris. \u201cFinding a great suit is more about what works for the individual as opposed to what works for someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

While you may have certain preferences for the kind of style that you would like, be open to suggestions when it comes to other details like the colour or fabric, which often depend on your complexion, hair colour or whether your wedding will be indoors or outdoors, he adds.<\/p>\n

A tip for brides<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chris encourages brides to join their partners during suit fittings, as they can often offer a valuable third opinion. However, there are brides who sometimes have a specific idea of what their husband-to-be should look like on the day, which isn\u2019t always what the groom may actually want to wear.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019ve got a clear vision of what you want your partner to look like on the day, that\u2019s totally fine, but\u00a0be conscious of the fact that it\u2019s going to be the guy who\u2019s wearing the suit on the day and if he\u2019s uncomfortable with the colour or style, it will make a lots of things uncomfortable,\u201d Chris warns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe get a lot of girls telling the tailor what needs to be done. But it\u2019s important to try to compromise. You don\u2019t want someone being awkward or posing weirdly in photos and not enjoying the suit.\u201d<\/p>\n