I’ve been invited to a wedding in Australia and the invitation says “Lounge Suit”. Are they going for a funky theme or does that mean something different in that part of the world? Where I’m from, I’m usually fine in a blue blazer and khaki trousers.
Mr Dapper: My dear sir, it certainly does not refer to a gimmicky theme. It has evolved from a more formal era when men wore either morning coat or tuxedo to weddings, depending on the time of day. “Lounge” indicates a more casual mode of dress; simply put, you should wear a suit. I would recommend one in navy but grey would be perfectly acceptable, too. If it is a garden or beach ceremony during daylight, you might even consider a summery beige suit. It goes without saying that it is worn with a dress shirt and tie.
Mr Dandy: Wearing something fabulous only adds to the festivity of the celebration and people usually appreciate it – as long as you don’t steal attention from the bride. Other things to consider are: location, location, location! So, that’s one thing Dapper and I agree on. Is it going to be somewhere hot and tropical? I don’t see anything wrong with the cool, minimalist look of head-to-toe light grey or light beige. Calvin Klein is the master of this look and even pairs it with (Dapper, take a deep breath) a beautiful T-shirt, or button-down shirt sans tie. If you usually wear khakis then instead try coloured or even cream chinos, which are available everywhere including The Gap. What are the wedding’s theme colours? Green is a popular one these days. Hey! Green trousers would look great. Warning: I didn’t say green suit. That would just make you look like Jim Carrey in The Mask.
I’m not a tracksuit kind of guy and my style is modern black and grey, but I do occasionally wear casual clothes. When I was leaving yoga the other day, I saw a guy wearing a cool sweatshirt-like top, not a hoodie, but it was streamlined and simple. It seemed like a designer had had a hand in it and the guy didn’t look like he was wearing a jock’s team kit. The question is, who makes them?
Mr Dapper: Have you all gone mad? I think I made my position clear on such matters when we discussed “Normcore”. My only recommendation is: don’t.