Dapper or Crapper: Shivang’s Wedding (Attendee) Outfit
36 Comments Published by Joel January 5th, 2007 in Clothes. Share This
Shivang P. writes:
I need some advice on putting an outfit together for a wedding I’m attending on saturday. I’m 22 if that makes a difference, and the wedding is for a similarly aged friend of mine. I’ll attach some pics I took. I bought this Kenneth Cole blazer last year and haven’t had a chance to wear it yet. The shirt is dark blue with light blue stripes. The tie also has both colors. The blazer is a creme color. The pants in the first one are a very dark blue. I’m not sure what color pants to go with, or whether to just scrap the whole idea and wear my suit.Shoes will be black square-toe or I’ll get some brown ones if necessary.
That’s a lovely blazer, first of all. (I’d take the tags off, though.) I suspect blue slacks with a blue shirt and tie will be too much; the chinos brighten up the whole thing. I’d go with those, personally. Then again, I wear jeans with everything, so I may be slackstarded.
I think the shirt and tie individually are fine, but I’m not loving them together. You might consider ditching the tie entirely, especially since the jacket is so flashy; no need to show up the groom. (Unless he stole your girlfriend, which means I want you in all white and embarrassingly drunk.)
Speaking of which, do you know what color the tuxedos will be? It might be a little awkward to be the only other guy besides the groom wearing white. (That said, it’s a sharp, nicely-textured jacket, so I’d be trying to find any excuse to wear it, too.)
For those interested in helping Shivang find a better shirt and tie combo, I’ve reproduced the last frame in a larger image after the jump.
the jacket is nice, but it needs some tailoring. it is too wide, and makes him look larger than he is. definitely do not pair the shirt and tie together. they are nice individually, but together are a mess.
i also agree that he probably shouldn’t wear a white jacket to a wedding. especially one in the winter. if it were a spring or summer wedding, and held on the beach or something, that would be fine.
but if he is going to wear that jacket, and the shirt, go with the khaki pants. too much blue would be overkill, and you can’t wear black with that dark of a blue shirt.
It’s a good start, but the Jacket doesn’t fit quite as well as it should. Get the jacket tailored.
Then, pick a pattern in the tie or the shirt. Not both. Remeber, you’re not the bride here.
So, if I have to choose, I’d call this crapper with promise.
the jacket sleeves are a touch long … my opinions mirror those above. Nice pieces individually but i just don’t think they work together or for the occasion.
I’ll stick with my suit then, I don’t want to go overboard for the wedding.
Thanks for the advice.
That Jacket is a summer jacket for starters. It’s very nice though! The ties and the shirt do not go together in addition that shirt does not go with a tie at all.
Stick with a suit with a nice pinstripe or an olive color if you want to stand out. I’m saying nay on the outfit.
The jacket feels very heavy for a summer jacket.
I have a dark olive colored suit; suggestions on shirt color?
You can wear white in winter. It’s time that bullshit meme was shot down.
i would say that you can wear *some* white during winter. not something big like a jacket. unless you want to go way over the top and wear a white suit, but that’s mostly for us dandies.
Shouldn’t the “no white in winter” idea be region-specific? I live in Florida. It’s 80 degrees and sunny today. Light, bright clothing still look/feel fine. When I lived in southern California, I felt the same way.
And if you live up north, why would you want winter to feel even more oppressive and drab than it already is? Besides, isn’t snow white?
CASE CLOSED
My grandmother always told me: “The only person who should wear white at a wedding is the bride. Unless she’s a whore. You’re not going to marry that whore are you? Give me another Manhattan!”
Based on her advice, I’d say skip the (otherwise nice) white jacket at the wedding (and stay away from Manhattans at the reception). And although the shirt and tie are both great, I think they don’t mesh well. Switch either one for something without stripes (or polka dots)–maybe a nice solid color.
Crapper.
Don’t wear a white jacket in the winter. Don’t wear a white jacket with khakis. And I’d never mix patterns on a shirt/tie combo. The whole ensemble is just ugly.
I’m in minnesota, so its semi-white right now. There’s been an absence of snow this winter.
I don’t think tailoring is going to make that jacket fit. It looks to be the wrong size. And you definitely want a solid-colored shirt for a tie as . . . active as that one.
crapper.
the jacket doesn’t fit you, get it tailored for pete’s sake and stick with the black pants. I’m not a fan of the tie and shirt combo but one mans coffee is another mans tea.
I Joel hit it on the head with the shirt and tie. Very nice just not together. I like the tie with a solid color shirt (preferably dark blue like the tie) and you’re all set. As far as tailoring that jacket, I think the sleeves are just a touch too long, but it fits otherwise.
Not crapper, necesarily, but definitely inappropriate – you’re trying waaaay too hard. You want an outfit that says “congratulations on your wedding!” What you have is an outfit that says, “I’m so cool, I wore this to your wedding!” I’m with those above who advised toning it down a bit.
for this conversation alone ..thank you Joel. I can think of no other site that provides the ability to have candid discussions and opinions without feeling like a complete dolt.
i would think the question should be… will you stand out more than the wife, and will she be upset about it?
remember this is her “special day”, unless shes an ex then show that bitch up.
Thaddeus is spot on. I have 1, maybe 2 friends who know what they’re doing when it comes to fashion. This site is a big help.
I wouldnt wear white for a winter wedding period unless your in a hotter area like the southern US. Darks = fall winter, lights = spring summer.
The reason you wear darks in the winter has a lot to do with what darks do. Darks keep you warm, which if your in a winter wedding and expect to be standing outside, guess what your going to be wanting.
Granted if its like 80 outside you dont want to be wearing darks, but if its 40-50 you bet your ass your going to be the moron standing outside in the white suit jacket while everyone else is warm with a darker color.
Also trend in Tuxes are leaning to blacks and dark grays for winter weddings, (I know this thanks to getting engaged lol) so you will be the only one wearing white likely.
It’s a nice look.
But while I know they are in fashion, I hate the dark shirts w/stripes. Something about them just screams z-list reality show celeb to me.
I think I wore this exact outfit once to a paintball tournament when I was feeling particularly masochistic. Boy, did it work! Though it would have been nice if the guys on my own team hadn’t shot me too.
Crapper. There’s too much modification that has to happen to this to make it look good, just to justify wearing a white jacket to a wedding. The jacket needs to be tailored, the shirt/tie are all wrong and you can’t find pants that aren’t white that would go with it anyway. If you’re not IN the wedding just wear nice slacks, nice shoes, a nice shirt and tie. You’re not performing at the wedding, you’re an invited guest, there to congratulate and support the new family on the best day of their life. Don’t show them up, don’t even try to show them up. Look appropriate, but blend in.
At the risk of repeating everything that has been said …
The color of the jacket is weather specific. However, one shouldn’t wear white in a prominent way (jacket/dress/pants; shirt is O.K.) at a wedding unless a member of the wedding party (i.e., the bride). If it’s hot, then a light tan jacket is a good way to go. But white, no.
I think the tie is nice, but doesn’t work with the shirt. On the shirt, from my NYC-centric point of view, it has a definite “bridge and tunnel” vibe. Some people can get away with it, but it brings to my mind a lot of the goofballs that line the streets outside of clubs on Friday and Saturday nights.
That said, I think you can get away with it under a jacket.
Trying to imagine different combinations, it seems the big problem is the jacket. I can see the look working with a dark jacket, even if you keep the khakis (although the khakis aren’t ideal).
“I have a dark olive colored suit; suggestions on shirt color?”
A light tan or white are very safe bets. The harder pick will be the tie. Sometimes a deep red or maroon will work. It’s hard to say.
Winter white people. And the whole no white in the winter thing traditionally only applies to shoes, so he’s safe. The jacket is off-white anyhow, but i’d still scrap it because of the fit, or lack thereof. And nothing says wedding like a pair of roller skates.
Can you back me up here please, Alex?
Ditto on Mike B’s statements above. Unless it’s a very casual, non-traditional wedding, don’t show up looking to make any sort of fashion statements besides maybe “understated.” You’ll be fine in your dark olive suit.
Specifically on the jacket:
It’s hard to tell, but it looks like the shoulders of the jacket are slightly too big for your shoulders…if thats the case you may be better off returning the jacket for a smaller size rather than having a tailor take the whole thing apart.
The sleeves look a touch too long, easy for a tailor to deal with.
The bottom of the jacket needs to be taken in. Unless you’re really oddly shaped, the shoulders should be broader than the waist of the jacket…right now the jacket makes you look like a pear (a very unflattering profile). Once again, easy for the tailor to deal with.
From the closeup shot, it looks like the jacket is made of something like camelhair, with a very soft hand. This would also explain your statement that the material feels heavy enough for winter. If so, my guess is this blazer will really only work with jeans and casual shirts, not as a “dress” item. That being said, I can see it working REALLY WELL with jeans and casual shirts (once it’s tailored and fits you correctly of course).
Returning is not really an option as it was super cheap (clearance) and I bought a year ago. I’ll get it tailored soon.
“From the closeup shot, it looks like the jacket is made of something like camelhair, with a very soft hand. This would also explain your statement that the material feels heavy enough for winter. If so, my guess is this blazer will really only work with jeans and casual shirts, not as a “dress” item. That being said, I can see it working REALLY WELL with jeans and casual shirts (once it’s tailored and fits you correctly of course).”
It is thick and I look forward to trying it out with some jeans once I get it fitted correctly.
shivang …you took a beating today! thanks for letting us rip your outfit apart and keeping a stiff upper lip.
Its been a while since there were any submissions so I decided to take a chance, and I’m glad I did. If I get some pics at the wedding, I’ll post a follow-up
I don’t want to say it, he seems like a nice guy and all, but… crapper.
We all agree (even Shivang, apparently) that the jacket doesn’t fit well. Beyond that, the shirt/tie combo aren’t working at all.
I wouldn’t wear that shirt with any tie at all, ever. If you’re trying to look all fancypants, maybe keeping that tie with a white shirt and dark pants is the way to go… but I think we all also agree that there’s a limit to how fancypants one should get at a wedding.
White jackets in general are tough to know what to do with. Unless it’s a tux, of course, options are limited. White linen can go a long way, or even ordinary wool (see the suggestions of the folks above), but a heavy, soft material like that? Maybe over a dark sweater and jeans, but that’s all I can think of that would work with it in any way.
that blazer reminds me of my lab coat i wore when i was doing rounds in school…better wear a stethescope round yer neck with that
I love that some of you guys stand by the no-white-after-labor-day crap, but you think it’s ok to wear a white jacket with khaki pants. it’s like wearing cream and pee-yellow. it just makes me think of dirty snow.
Joel, I come into work today only to be stung by your harsh words… I’m sticking to it, no white in winter unless you live in Miami in which case you are obliged to wear an art deco shirt underneath whilst donning boat shoes with no socks. The no white in winter I believe is more a product of function than it is form. darks retain more energy from light hence in cold weather blah blah blah. On the other hand in the Here in Cleveland or in the picturesque suburb of my upbringing white in winter just looks bad. I’m sure this isn’t the first time this conversation has been brought up in the history of man. This is kind of one of those time tested things has has been challenged long before you were born. It looks bad.
Hi guys,
Guys thinking about fashion is so cute … ok, I’m sorry. But here are two tips after reading all the comments. One, if it’s on clearance, beware. Beware. It’s rare that if it’s been picked through that much it’s any good. Second, and this is a better rule: when you’re trying something on, review the three F’s: Fit, Fabric, and Fashion. Sounds like with the this blazer, the Fit was pretty bad, the Fabric was fantastic, and the Fashion was, well, let’s be honest, not really so hot. So there you have it, you can do the math. Hope the wedding was fun.
Love ya.
A couple of closing thoughts (in case any of you are still paying attention)…
1. I get the gist of you guys not liking white during winter. However, as stated by senseigmg himself, the jacket isn’t white. It’s cream. They’re actually different colors. There are no faux pas about wearing light colors in the winter, unless it’s the 1960s (and doesn’t it suck that it’s not?). As for it being a matter of personal taste, i’ll all about it. But the first rule of fashion is to not follow the rules. Keep in mind that this is coming from someone who wears vintage polyester year round, and sees nothing wrong with a floral blouse paired with plaid pants and roller skates. Nuf said.
2. Khaki pants. Guys, these almost never look good. Mostly because you wash them in the washing machine and dry them in the dryer. They end up faded and, imho, frumpy. If you must wear them, please have them dry cleaned. They’ll look nice longer and last longer to boot.