Post # 1
Member
417 posts
Helper bee
Alright, so I’m having a tiny wedding in Paris. My SO is a big burly heavily tattooed guy, and I want him to be comfortable, so I figured a dress shirt, vest and dress pants would be better than a full suit (less formal and hot). I originally wanted grey, my colours are blush and gold. (i have gold kate spade shoes, his bow tie will be blush, gold jewelery, my bridesmaids will either be in gold or blush etc), and now I’ve had a bout of last minute doubt (we’re going shopping tonight). Here’s my dress and shoes.
Would you pick grey vest/dress pants or black?! Thanks so much!!!
Post # 3
Member
2274 posts
Buzzing bee
Grey. Way more useful colour to own. Especially if it’s a day time wedding.
Post # 4
Member
714 posts
Busy bee
I feel like gold would look great with brown or taupe. I think deciding between grey or black I would pick grey. It seems warmer to go with your colors.
Post # 5
Member
2274 posts
Buzzing bee
I would aim for a three piece suit anyway, because then its in the closet should it be needed in the future, and all the parts can be worn individually. Charcoal is the best colour to own, def. solid.
Post # 6
Member
752 posts
Busy bee
Yes, grey is more casual and it is a day time wedding, BUT IT’S PARIS! Your look is a bit more dressy and black and gold always look good together!
Post # 7
Member
655 posts
Busy bee
I would definitely go for grey over black, but you could also do a darker shade of grey, like a charcoal, if you want a richer color without being super formal
Post # 8
Member
540 posts
Busy bee
@Duncan: +1 A three piece is definitely a purchase that could be useful in a variety of ways at a later date…also agree on the darker grey like a charcoal, it goes with just about everything and hides any spills better. 🙂
Post # 9
Member
2274 posts
Buzzing bee
@Lbward6: Black and charcoal are equally formal, below formal wear. A vest without jacket is not just informal, but fairly casual. Black suits are not particularly appropriate for a wedding. Navy and charcoal are much more so. Neither a black suit, nor an odd black vest are useful items in a man’s closet. The vest is too dark to wear as odd, generally, and the suit just isn’t a very good look.
@lollygagon: A suit is informal already. Regardless of colour, with no jacket, I can’t imagine there being a risk of any colour being super formal.
Post # 10
Member
752 posts
Busy bee
I have to politely disagree with you. I worked in menswear for a long time and think a black vest is very useful in a man’s closet as it can be worn formal or more casual with jeans. In fact, my Fiance wears his often to work. I am confused by a black suit being inappropriate? I see plenty of men wearing black suits for weddings.
Post # 11
Member
417 posts
Helper bee
@Lbward6: I’ve also seen black vests being worn without the suit, infact I was in Hugo Boss today and the guy had a black vest, dress shirt, bow tie and jeans on.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Only issue with getting a 3 piece suit, is that the jacket alone, costs as much as the pants and vest. We decided to wait until after Christmas (since there will be sales), so I will have to try out all the options!
Post # 12
Member
1158 posts
Bumble bee
@sillygoat: I have to disagree with previos posters, I love the idea of the black. It pairs with blush so well!
Post # 13
Member
417 posts
Helper bee
@MissLibra: See that’s why I’m second guessing myself. I feel like black would go better with blush and gold 🙂
Post # 14
Member
2274 posts
Buzzing bee
@Lbward6: They simply don’t know any better. Oatterned suits also really shouldnt be wprn to a formak event, but it happens. Just because people do it, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Black is best reserved for an evening, as it tends to be very unpleasant in sunlight, on any man with a lighter complexion. On a black man, it’s not quite as bad, but then the lack of contrast between the man and is clothes tends to make the eye scan, instead of moving upward to the face. Generally, a man’s layers should get lighter as they get farther from the surface, to gradually draw the eye upward, to the man’s face. A darker vest under a lighter jacket tends to grab, and hold, the eye much longer than it should. A black vest cod be fine with jeans, but then we are talkingabout a vest of an entirely different texture. When you start mixing levels of formality, you start to look rather shambled, primarily due to textures. I still wouldn’t opt for black, mostly, in that context, since a lighter colour would give hat texture more chance to sing.
@sillygoat: in Hugo Boss, honestly, he’s trying to help older men feel younger, and young men feel rich. Knowkedgable men, who prefer the cut if HB suits, because it is the right shape for them, would tend to buy them elsewhere than a HB store, because they’ll want someone with a good, tailor, whether in house or otherwise.
On the subject of what pairs best with your colours, you should think about whether you want the men (including the one you love) to look great, or make you look great. The men will look better in charcoal or mid grey, period. Md grey more suits the formality of your event; charcoal is a more versatile colour. And really the absolute best colour if it is to be your only suit.
Post # 15
Member
2175 posts
Buzzing bee
@sillygoat: 
Creepy expression of the dude in black not withstanding, which look do you and your fiance prefer? I should’ve cropped that guy’s head out, he looks like a chiseled, kind of evil version of Prince Harry.
Also I think if a man is really only going to own one suit it’d probably better be black, only on account of the fact that he’ll need a black suit for funerals.
Post # 16
Member
2274 posts
Buzzing bee
@jennmariee: Charcoal suits are fully appropriate, and acceptable, for funerals, and all other occasions. Black suits are really only useful at funerals.
Navy should be your firest suit, unless it’s your on,y suit, then it should be charcoal.