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Now, as you may already know we at The Idle Man have already covered everything you need to know about buying a suit in our Men’s Suit Buying Guide. However, buying a suit for a summer wedding abroad is a whole other different ball game!
Here in the UK, we are usually prepared for British weather and for the sudden pouring rain joined by crazy winds. Our wardrobes tend to match this weather too, with everything from warm fuzzy jumpers, thick coats, to heavy warm wool suits. I mean, who wants to be underdressed when we have a sudden great British pour down?
So, if you are like the majority of men living in the UK, you probably don’t own summer suits. It’s not because you’re unprepared, it’s just the need for a lightweight slim lined suit probably isn’t high on your clothes list. Although the idea of choosing and putting money towards a new suit might not be your idea of a good time, don’t panic. By the end of reading this you will be nothing but a pro in easily choosing and styling your new summer suit!
First things first, where is the summer wedding going to be held? If the answer is somewhere exotic, the joyous occasion demands for lightweight, breathable fabric, so remember to give your dapper dark wool suits a miss! The beauty of a classic breathable white linen or cotton suit is that it’s extremely comfortable yet classy at the same time. You can be comfy, cool and collected while looking incredibly dapper- win, win!
Location. Location. Location!
If white isn’t your colour of choice that’s fine too. You can add a pop of colour with with a classic blue or grey, and both will go perfectly with either a plain white oxford shirt, or even something patterned. Pairing a patterned shirt and turn-ups with a pair of loafers (without socks!) will give you a cool sophisticated edge that still gives a lightweight, cool edge.
Another thing to consider with regards to the location is if there is any legal restrictions on what you can wear in public. If you are travelling to Dubai for a summer wedding you are not allowed to show too much skin while in public places. Dubai has a dress code based on respect for their culture and religion so there are certain rules such as men not being allowed to wear shorts above the knee. The last thing you want is to offend the locals and get yourself into a pickle, so make sure you know the do’s and don’t of the country!
Time and Venue
The time of the wedding is just as important as the location, if it is in the evening, it may be a bit chillier, so you need to take this into consideration while planning what suit to buy. And vice versa- if it is going to be held during the day, you will be facing the hottest hours of the day, so a lightweight suit is a must. Warm feet mean sweaty feet, and sweaty feet is never, especially at a wedding. Keep your feet cool by choosing light weight shoes made from breathable material like suede.
Also, if the venue is inside you need to consider whether it will have air conditioning or not, as well as not wanting to get too hot, you also don’t want to be shivering inside the venue!
Weather
Be careful, although you may think that all exotic weddings are the same, whether you vision it to be like The Hangover 2 or the Wedding Crasher’s beach wedding, the weather can vary from place to place. If the wedding is being held somewhere like Thailand, be prepared for the likeliness of humidity, whereas with somewhere like the Caribbean it may be drier and breezier.
Even though most exotic places are extremely hot in the summer, some have monsoon season during this time too, if so, don’t forget your umbrella! The best advice to give for this aspect would to be to research the average temperatures before you start to think about what type of suit you want. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a back up suit which you can take along with you!
Dress Code Tips for Wedding’s Abroad
The dress code is obviously ultimately determined by what has been stated on the wedding cards, and it has probably been thought over quite a lot! However, this section will be stating our top tips on how to choose and style your wedding suit.
A Smart Lightweight Shirt
A warm climate requires a shirts made of lightweight linen or cotton-blends. This is because it’s smart and classic while offering the possibility of making a statement with other items of clothing. It additionally doesn’t show creases as badly as darker shades and will keep you cooler in the midday sun.
Trousers
What colour goes well with a classic white shirt? Luckily, quite a lot. From flaming red and aqua blue to mint green and salmon pink, it’s literally impossible to find a pair of pants that doesn’t pair well with a white oxford shirt. Choose a fit that’s light and not too binding, and make sure you choose a neutral coloured suit jacket to go over the top if you can’t find one that matches with it. If bright colours aren’t your thing, a subtle camel/beige tone will help give you a light, easy look that’s easy to pair with suit jackets and shoes.
Why Not Try Shorts?
The shorts suit is just like a regular suit except the pants are replaced with tailored, above the knee shorts. As this clearly gives a more informal look it’s important to make sure that they fit perfectly to your shape, are made of a sturdy material and match with your suit jacket. This will help give a more uniformed look that will prevent you looking too relaxed.
The Jacket
You could easily add a breathable blazer, which should ideally be linen or cotton-blend so you don’t burst into flames! If you are considering an outfit with a colourful statement bottom half, its important that your jacket is a neutral light colour. In this case it should only be used as an anchor. Conversely, if you have decided to go for a neutral bottom half, you can use your jacket to add a pop of colour and create a statement.
Tie, Bowtie or Suspenders
Unsure on what to go with? Well this is where you can have some fun, express yourself with literally whatever you feel like wearing! For some inspirations on all three styles have a look below.
Material
Whatever you end up choosing, you definitely don’t want to be the guy sweating unable to enjoy the ceremony! As weddings abroad are becoming increasingly popular, you’ll find more suppliers stocking up on lightweight and breathable suits. The most popular material for summer suits is linen, and linen suits don’t just have to be white, but be warned, linen is very susceptible to creasing!
If you want to avoid this mishap of a creasing suit, a cotton fabric suit may be more suited to you. Cotton is stiffer than your wool suiting but it is also cooler. The cotton suit is actually one of the most versatile choices, as it allows you to have a refined yet casual look that is extremely summer-friendly.
Colour
As we all know, darker colours attract heat. That means the darker your suit, the more it will attract the sun’s rays and the hotter you’ll get! So, instead of darker colours, why not choose light coloured suits? Light blue, grey, white, camel…you’re spoilt for choice!
Layering
A traditional three piece suit is always going to be the most popular choice for a wedding in the UK, or even somewhere not as hot for that matter, but for a summer wedding abroad, the less layers the better! We suggest maybe going for a modern day suit- simple, classic, and preferably should be slim fit.
Smart Casual Attire
If you want, why not ditch the suit jacket altogether? That is of course, if the invitation doesn’t state otherwise. This means you don’t have to be bogged down with your jacket, yet you are still looking sharp! Mix things up by matching your shirt with some slim fit jeans, or neat dropped chinos. This will keep things looking clean and relaxed, but not so understated that you look like you’re not trying.
Casual Attire
If the wedding invitations state ‘casual attire’ you are in luck if the thought of wearing a suit in the hot temperatures isn’t at all appealing to you. You can still look great if you choose to go with a lightweight white shirt and smart shorts!
Matching Attire
This section is mainly for the Grooms and best men if applicable. It is imperative to match to your beautiful bride, which means you may need to discuss colours with her, if you haven’t already! Although matching may not be necessary, the Groom’s men may want to co-ordinate their suits with each other too.
The Fit
Even though you are advised to stick to linen, cotton or even a thin wool blend materials when it comes to picking your summer suit, an ill-fitting suit looks just as bad as sweat stains would. It is so important that everything fits you just right, from top to toe.
- Make sure your suit tapers in at the waist, but not so tightly that you create an X mark across your chest.
- Your suit jacket sleeves should fall on or slightly above your wrist when your arms are down by your side.
- Make sure your suit fits properly around your shoulders by making sure the seam connecting the base to the arms runs along your shoulder.
Accessories
Accessories will complete a suit and perfectly tailor your look to be as minimal or creative as you’d like. Generally, if you’re keeping the suit light and simple, opt for one or two loud accessories, such as bright socks or a hat. If you have a statement suit in a bold colour or pattern, streamline your accessories and keep them simple to refine your look.Sunglasses are a must while attending a summer wedding abroad! They are needed to protect your eyes from the sun’s harsh UV rays, they may even hide an emotional tear or two, but above all they will add the cool factor to your attire!
The Shoes
Make sure you research the venue before making your final decision on which shoes to wear. You can either opt for drivers or suede loafers if you will be outside mostly on cobbles, their firm rubber soles will ensure your comfort all day. Or you can choose espadrilles or even deck shoes which are more suitable for sandy surfaces, perfect if you will be on the beach!
Final Note Well there you have it. Follow these guidelines and you’re sure to look stylish with minimal effort. You might even score a afterparty invite with one of the bridesmaids! This whole summer wedding suit business can be really enjoyable, and unlike weddings in cooler climates where the standard dark wool suits are customary, this can be a chance for you to show off your personality. Have some fun with it! Remember, when choosing and styling your perfect summer suit for any wedding it’s important to be aware of the exact location, weather and dress code. If you’re not the star of the show, rather than attempting to steal attention away from the bride and groom, you want to look dapper and well-dressed, as well as understated and above all comfortable. After all, social etiquette and good manners are fundamental components of the modern gentleman.
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