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The height of wedding season is July to September, typically. I know what you're thinking: July is so far away, so why should you even bother getting your wedding fit ready now? I'll tell you: it's because if there's one occasion that you do not want to fumble, it's being the guest at a wedding.
Seriously! All eyes will initially be on the happy newlyweds, sure, but for the rest of the afternoon/night, you're on mingling duty, baby. People are going to be looking at—and judging—what you're wearing. Photos are going to be taken more often than you can even count. And at the end of it all, when you're tired and tipsy, you're going to be beyond glad that you thought ahead with your outfit, and wore something stylish yet comfortable, lightweight yet classy. Which is why you need to start shopping now for pieces you can wear, and rewear, and rewear—all wedding season long.
Whether it's an elegant, black-tie affair, a beach wedding, or something more laidback, we've got options galore for you below.
Beach Casual: The Linen Suit
Bonobos Italian Stretch Linen Suit
Beach Casual: The Linen Suit
Bonobos Italian Stretch Linen Suit
Nothing says beach vibes more than a linen suit. And in green! You're sure to be one of the sharpest dressed men at the wedding, and you get bonus points for not opting for a boring neutral tone, too. Plus, linen is the perfect summer fabric to keep you cool and breezy under the sun.
Beach Casual: The Perfect Polo
Banana Republic Luxury-Touch Performance Polo
Beach Casual: The Perfect Polo
Banana Republic Luxury-Touch Performance Polo
If the wedding's at the beach, chances are a polo shirt is going to do the trick instead of a long-sleeve button-down. Choose something simple that looks good with your suit jacket but is also versatile enough to rewear for different occasions.
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Dressy Casual: The Unstructured Suit Jacket
J.Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket
Dressy Casual: The Unstructured Suit Jacket
J.Crew Ludlow Slim-Fit Unstructured Suit Jacket
If you're going to a dressy-casual wedding, you need to know where to amp up the elegance and where to tone it down. An unstructured suit does both for you, with minimal effort. It's still a suit, sure, but not as stiff and formal as a structured one.
Dressy Casual: The Easiest of Shirts
Amazon Essentials Regular-Fit Long-Sleeve Poplin Shirt
Dressy Casual: The Easiest of Shirts
Amazon Essentials Regular-Fit Long-Sleeve Poplin Shirt
Now 15% Off
It's summer, and there's a good chance at some point in the course of the wedding, your suit jacket is coming off. Therefore, a poplin shirt that still looks good with your pants is the hero you need.
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Dressy Casual: The Matching Derbies
Beckett Simonon Dunham Derbies
Dressy Casual: The Matching Derbies
Beckett Simonon Dunham Derbies
...And when you match your shoes to your tie, you're hitting the nail of dressy casual on the head. Derbies are an infallible option that toe the line between elevated and everyday.
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A semiformal wedding still means you should wear a tie! You have to have the formal in there somewhere, after all. It doesn't have to be something ridiculously elegant, but we do recommend something recognizable, whether by logo or design, just to show you went the extra mile in dressing up.
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Semiformal: The Oxfords
Dr Martens 1461 Mono Smooth Leather Oxford Shoes
Semiformal: The Oxfords
Dr Martens 1461 Mono Smooth Leather Oxford Shoes
You don't have to go crazy with the shoes, here. Something simple, clean, and black should do the trick. If you have a pair of classy Docs in your closet already, pull 'em out for this wedding.
Cocktail: The Elevated Suit
Kingsman Harry's Navy Pinstriped Super 120s Wool Suit
Cocktail: The Elevated Suit
Kingsman Harry's Navy Pinstriped Super 120s Wool Suit
Ah, the cocktail attire wedding. Scary! But it doesn't have to be. There's a good chance this dressier wedding will take place at night, so you don't have to worry about overheating in the summer sun. A wool suit is the perfect way to elevate your look, and pinstripes only add to the elegance.
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Black Tie: The Ultimate Tuxedo
Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Wool Barathea Peak Tuxedo
Black Tie: The Ultimate Tuxedo
Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Wool Barathea Peak Tuxedo
So you've been invited to a black tie wedding. Depending on the kinda guy you are, this is either going to be very exciting or very terrifying. Either way, you can't go wrong with our black tie fit. It all starts with the perfect tuxedo—clean, elegant, timeless.
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Black Tie: The (No Longer) Dreaded Bow Tie
Tom Ford Self-Tie Satin Bow Tie
Black Tie: The (No Longer) Dreaded Bow Tie
Tom Ford Self-Tie Satin Bow Tie
If you know how to tie a bow tie, congrats on being better than everyone else. If you don't—you should probably learn, because a self-tied bow tie looks a hell of a lot more impressive than one that comes tied.