Custom Suits for Fall Weddings

Here at Watson Ellis we’ve personally been attending more weddings than ever this fall. We've also been making more wedding suits and tuxedos than ever before. We know next year will bring even more! If you’re anything like us, then you probably look online for inspiration on what to wear to the next wedding on the calendar. Here’s what we, along with our very stylish clients, have been into lately. 

When you’re tired of your go-to blue suit

Try a green or brown! You don’t have to re-invent the wheel here. If your go-to suit makes you feel good and look good, keep the concept and try an of-the-moment color in place of the standard blue.

The idea of brown may make you wrinkle your nose in confusion at first, but trust us: The color pairs well with what you probably already have in your closet, and has a range of undertones from orange to green-ish or taupe that make it gorgeous on a range of skin tones. A muted color allows you to play with texture, which amps up the visual interest of your suit without being too out there. Long story short, you’ll be reaching for your brown suit all the time.

Or try green! From dark forest to close-to-teal, it’s easier to wear than you might think. Especially if you opt for a pattern with streaks of your old standby (blue), you’ll be right at home in a green suit. As blue and green are side by side on the color wheel, we can find the right shade that still makes your features pop like they did in your blue suit. You’ll also get points with the high fashion set for wearing THE color right now. 

If you’re sick of wearing dresses

If, as a wedding guest, your go-to outfit has always been a dress and you’re beyond bored of it, try a vest with a skirt or with a flowy pant. If the affair is elegant and formal, go the pant route. If it’s daytime or more casual, shorten your hemline with a skirt. The vest-as-shirt is the real star here, and we promise you’ll be reaching for it outside of the wedding context too. 

We make sure the armhole is cut to your liking to hide or show as much skin as you’re after, and can play with shape. Halter, backless, collared, double breasted: there is as much style and nuance here as in a dress. It doesn’t hurt either that everyone from The Frankie Shop and Moda Operandi, to Abercrombie and Fitch and H&M, are offering waistcoats as tops right now either! But you can bet that the fit of your vest will be uncompromisingly perfect.

Photography of Chloe by Diana Ascarrunz Film and Destination Wedding Photography

If you’re going to a formal affair in, say, London

Get dapper with your choices and wear a three piece suit. For a femme vibe, try the halter-vest-as-shirt style in a classic color or weave under a cropped jacket. Pair with a pant that has some attitude, and you'll have a super-sharp look. Later in the event you can take the jacket off to really let loose and still look tailored with your matching two piece. 

For a masculine look with nods to British heritage, try a double breasted waistcoat or one with a U-shaped lapel under the jacket. The formality won’t be lost when you eventually lose the jacket. Taking a risk with the styling of the vest rather than the jacket and pant keeps the whole thing safely in your comfort zone, even as you push the boundaries in terms of style.

If it’s a casual wedding in, say, Italy

Fall is a great time for texture, especially if it’s a casual event! Try linens in a bold color. Keep the cut classic or go for it with a silhouette -- it doesn’t matter, because in linen you won’t be overdressed no matter how many sartorial risks you take. Even if you make like Melissa and wear orange. They say do one thing a day that scares you — but we won’t tell if you just do one thing a season. 

If you’re a guest of honor somewhere that’s still warm 

Say it with us: Fox Brothers Air fabrics. If you’ve been to see us lately, then you know how much we love this book for warm weather and breathability. With subtle patterns and tasteful colors, your suit will never go out of style even as you wear it to death because it’s so comfortable. The matte fabric will make you look dignified, while the rest of the guests wonder what it is they like so much about your suit that they can’t put their finger on. Fox fabrics also travel well so you won’t need to spend hours prepping your ensemble.

If you want to totally refresh your guest-of wardrobe

Try a vest in a complementary fabric for your next suit. What we mean by this is doing a traditional two piece suit, but the vest in a different fabric. We’re really into Abraham Moon for this, as the historic mill offers varied weights and weaves across their fabric books but a steady color palette. Mixing and matching like this is all about color and scale: we can help you find the perfect pairing and keep the rest of the styling status-quo. Trust us. You’ll be getting too many compliments to count, and then you'll start wondering why you didn't think of doing this sooner.