THE JOURNAL
Illustration by Mr Calum Heath
We don’t get many opportunities to flex our personal style. Like, really flex it, take a risk, make a statement. We’re talking bedazzled, bare-chested Mr Timothée Chalamet strutting down the red carpet or Mr Harry Styles whenever he steps out anywhere. The fact that a few good outfits are headline-worthy in a perpetually insane news cycle is testament to the power of formalwear done right – that is, polished, personal and with just the right amount of peacocking.
Awards-season red carpets, film premieres and festival stages are not readily available to most mere mortals. There is, however, one forum that comes close: weddings. Think about it. There are photographers, grand entrances, long-winded speeches and a banquet hall full of guests dressed to the nines. Well, most of them. There will always be a handful of people who dig out their only ill-fitting suit because they don’t know any better or simply don’t care. But you care. And by now you may feel as though you’ve hit the buffers when it comes to your wedding outfit. It’s either the blue-suit-white-shirt combo or the black-suit-white-shirt combo. If you’re lucky, you may have had the chance to throw a linen suit in there for a tropical-destination wedding.
If you’re feeling boxed in and bored before your next wedding (the season is upon us), we suggest thinking outside said box and embracing your personal style. We have pulled together a few unconventional ensembles to prove that stale suits and stuffy dress shirts aren’t your only option, especially if that’s not how you would usually dress. Throw out all the rules and focus on what’s important: wearing what makes you comfortable and that’s true to your personal sense of style while still adhering to the dress code.
Chalamet and Styles get away with wild looks on a regular basis, so you can break a few rules yourself – without upstaging the happy couple. Even if you do take things too far, there’s a good chance everyone will be too tipsy to remember.
01.
Workwear, but fancy
If taking on the rigid rules of wedding formalwear feels daunting, then your best bet would be to take the tried-and-tested staples that have never let you down and simply polish them. Even utilitarian workwear can turn it up when called upon. An elevated version of a camp-collar chore jacket fromour in-house label Mr P. is just such a piece. The cotton-twill fabric and attention to detail upgrade this hardy worker jacket and refine it so you’ll shine on the dance floor. Pair it with a luxurious polo shirt and leather derby shoes and you’re ready to go. Consider this a recipe for a dapper outfit that’s tough enough to withstand the inevitable conga line.
Get the look
02.
Do or die Japanese brand loyalist
If your middle name is Indigo or you get whiplash whenever someone says “selvedge denim”, chances are you’re already a Japanese fashion aficionado of the highest order. Translating that aesthetic to meet cocktail dress codes may seem daunting, but if you stick to what you know, it can work. Start with a monochrome colour palette (indigo will do just fine) as your foundation and build up from there, incorporating various textures, tones and patterns. The good thing about a deep, rich hue such as indigo is that it’s extremely forgiving. You can’t go wrong, no matter what you throw at it. And it’s a colour that’s perennially in season and always on trend. Go the traditional route with a patchwork haori if you can cut it or opt for a modern interpretation of a formal blazer. Throw in a terrifically well-made T-shirt and seal the deal with an indigo handkerchief in lieu of a sad old tie. If the bride’s uncle asks why you’re looking so blue on a happy occasion such as this, just quaff some champagne and walk away.
Get the look
03.
Daytripping, all night long
Weddings have traditionally been stuffy affairs – ceremonies that go on for what feels like an eternity to catered dinners that taste like shoe leather. To top it off, you’re stuck wearing an uncomfortable suit that’s supposed to get you from the chapel to the end of the reception. To take the edge off this marathon engagement, we propose drastic measures. Go wild. Let loose. Bust out your vibiest pieces that look sharp without sacrificing an ounce of comfort. The secret weapon is a luxe satin shirt with a statement print, such as this one from Dries Van Noten. Pair it with some classic-but-suave trousers that won’t cause the mother of the bride to flip out and loafers. You’ll be floating on cloud nine while the stiffs in their rented tuxedos look on with envy.