Full dress (tails). For the ultimate in formal attire, a groom could arrive at the wedding in a full tailcoat. These traditional jackets feature two long tails in the back and two to six buttons. Cropped to the waist in front, the tailcoat has been immortalized in classic film as the paragon of taste among the wealthy elite. It’s especially elegant on the dance floor, since the cut allows full motion around the waist. According to the etiquette experts at the Emily Post Institute, grooms can opt for white tailcoats between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Fashion experts again recommend a single-breasted, low button model, since double-breasted versions of full dress have been co-opted by waiters and other members of the service industry. (Even though they wear coats of a different color.) Complete this look with a classic top hat and even a cane or a walking stick.
The Nehru Jacket. Otherwise known as the Mandarin or the Mao, this formal jacket lacks a lapel. Instead, a small collar stands up around the neck to accentuate a similar-collared shirt. Instead of wearing a necktie, a gentleman in a Nehru jacket might wear a small, decorative shirt stud. Tall grooms look especially handsome in this attire, as do gentlemen of color. Short, stocky grooms should avoid this look, opting instead for something with more pronounced vertical lines.
The Morning Coat. Known in some circles as the “cutaway,” this tuxedo style has been the choice of grooms at formal daytime weddings for over a century. Originally cropped short in the front to accommodate grooms on horseback, the morning coat offers grooms an elegant option for early ceremonies. With a long tail in the back, the morning coat slightly resembles an evening tailcoat. Instead of being black or white, however, the tailcoat can be either black or gray. Contemporary designers have even added experimental checked and striped designs to the traditional morning coat array.
Stroller coat. For less formal ceremonies in the early afternoon, especially outdoor ceremonies, a groom might opt for a stroller coat instead of an ordinary suit jacket. Cut like a traditional tuxedo, but without satin lapels or other extra frills, a stroller coat in black or charcoal gray can often be mistaken for more formal attire. Usually made from light wool, stroller coats offer grooms a comfortable alternative to full tuxedos, especially if they must move between indoor and outdoor settings during a wedding celebration.
Learn more about tuxedo styles from any of our favorite
online formalwear specialists:
· FineTuxedos.com: http://www.finetuxedos.com
· DiscountTuxedos.com: http://www.discounttuxedos.com
· CheapTux.com: http://www.cheaptux.com
· DiscountFormalwear.com: http://www.discountformalwear.com
