Groom Guest Blog: Suit Up

*This is the first in what will (hopefully) be a series of Groom guest blogs by JT!

When Candice and I began planning our wedding, I had decided early on that I would be wearing a suit, rather than a tuxedo. In fact, I had pretty much decided that even before proposing. I have two brothers and a sister, and I've been in all of their weddings. And at each of their weddings, I wore a rented tux. The first two times, I didn't think much of it, maybe because I was younger. But by the third time around, I couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable tuxedo pants are. And on a summer evening, the last thing you want to be wearing is a pair of pants made of a synthetic fabric that doesn't breathe (granted ours will be a fall wedding, but comfort is comfort no matter the season).

Beyond comfort, however, I like the look of a suit better, and Candice would wholeheartedly agree. There's something more stylish about it, more classic. A tux seems a bit too formal. If I were to rent one, I'd feel like I wasn't putting enough effort into how I looked on our big day, and if I bought one, I'd feel like I was wasting money on something I'd never wear again, and quite frankly, probably wouldn't want to. If I were to buy a suit, however, I would have numerous occasions to wear it, making it more practical. When it comes right down to it, it's a pretty easy decision. Stylish look + practicality - itchy polyester pants = win.

This weekend, Candice and I went on our first excursion to shop for a suit, starting with Banana Republic and J. Crew. At Banana Republic, I tried on two styles: the modern fit and the tailored fit. As a slim gentleman, I fit into what was essentially the smallest size in both.

The modern fit wasn't a bad start, and came in a broader variety of colors. However, the jacket seemed a bit too wide and boxy, which is a problem I notice in a lot of men's suits. As I said, I'm on the slim side, and a more tapered fit is more flattering on me.

With that in mind, the tailored fit was a much better option, making my torso look far less square shaped. Yet while the fit was good, the colors left something to be desired. Blue pin stripes just aren't going to cut it for our needs.

After Banana Republic, we went to J. Crew. They had nothing. Not one suit. Not even a proper pair of dress pants. Some faded khakis if I recall, a few casual dress shirts. That's about it. We suffer the misfortune of living in a city where CEOs and attorneys can feel comfortable wearing Hawaiian shirts and flip-flops apparently, or so you would believe by the terribly limited selection at some retailers. Nonetheless, I expected more from J. Crew.

From there, we went to Barney's Co-op, which had a few suits, but they were either too large or the wrong color or pattern (plaid might be fun for another occasion, but not our wedding). And after that, we called it a day. Next time, we plan to tackle some designers' stores, which should yield better results. If nothing else, we have a better idea of what looks good on me.