 
          F A S H I O N S , J E W E L R Y , A C C E S S O R I E S F O R M E N & W O M E N
        
        
          C H I C A G O W E D D I N G & P A R T Y R E S O U R C E
        
        
        
          
            46
          
        
        
          Grooms: Sharp in Their Own Way
        
        
          From trim tuxedos to funky, casual footwear, the men are making waves
        
        
          with their wedding style
        
        
          By Nola Sarkisian-Miller, CTW Features
        
        
          Billions of viewers around the world watched a tuxedo-clad
        
        
          Daniel Craig escort Queen Elizabeth II to the Opening Cer-
        
        
          emonies of the 2012 London Olympic Games. All eyes may
        
        
          have been transfixed on the Queen as she “parachuted” into
        
        
          Olympic Stadium, but what also stood out was the slim fit of
        
        
          Craig’s striking ensemble.
        
        
          It just so happens that style is all the rage when it comes
        
        
          to men’s wedding attire. There’s something so chic about a
        
        
          one-button, single-breasted jacket that can highlight a man’s
        
        
          broad shoulders and trim waist. This past spring, bridal
        
        
          designer Vera Wang launched a tuxedo line in partnership
        
        
          with Houston-based The Men’s Wearhouse clothing chain,
        
        
          featuring fine wool tuxedos with shorter jackets, tapered
        
        
          sleeves and narrower lapels in grosgrain or satin for a sleek
        
        
          silhouette.
        
        
          Fitted is a huge trend right now. Everything is a fitted
        
        
          look. No boxy coats. The flattering style also impacts the
        
        
          look of the tuxedo slacks.
        
        
          Everybody wants flat-front trousers. Pleated trousers are
        
        
          out.
        
        
          Cummerbunds also are yesteryear. In addition to skinny
        
        
          ties, grooms are opting for natty self-tie bow ties in colors
        
        
          corresponding to wedding themes. Plum and royal blue are
        
        
          popular colors, along with neutrals such as latte, silver and
        
        
          ivory.
        
        
          While black tuxedos still take the spotlight, grooms are
        
        
          embracing gray tuxedos as the hot-color alternative followed
        
        
          by tan. From light gray to dark heather, gray’s tonal shades
        
        
          make it a year-round pick for fall to summer weddings. Gray
        
        
          also complements a number of pastel colors that brides are
        
        
          wearing, such as champagne, blush and pink.
        
        
          Both gray and tan are good options for less formal or day-
        
        
          time affairs, and they open the doors for personalization,
        
        
          like more flamboyant ties or other off-the-wall styles.
        
        
          Lots of guys are wearing Chuck Taylors or Vans- it can be
        
        
          hard to find the right shoe to pair with nontraditional tux
        
        
          colors.
        
        
          Vans checkerboard slip-ons are a wedding favorite for a
        
        
          “striking juxtaposition.” Men are also wearing the lace-up
        
        
          Authentic style in Italian leather, an upgrade from the tradi-
        
        
          tional canvas style for a dressier look.
        
        
          In warmer climates, such as Las Vegas, grooms are ditch-
        
        
          ing their jackets for the big day. Instead, they’re wearing
        
        
          slacks, shirts and vests for a laid-back approach, especially
        
        
          with gray or tan styles.
        
        
          While fashion purists may run amok at such a thought,
        
        
          weddings rules are taking a back seat to individualization.
        
        
          Tradition is out the window.
        
        
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