Is a pin-stripe suit too "business like" for a wedding?

May 31, 2006 8:01 PM

Is a pin-stripe suit too "business like" for a wedding?

Its a dark grey suit with thin lighter grey or light bluish type stripes.

posted by mi6op to clothing, beauty, & fashion (23 comments total)

If you're the one getting married, probably yes. If not, it depends entirely on what the wedding's going to be like. At my wedding, there were people wearing everything from formal wear to t-shirts, and I don't think anyone really thought much about it. But then, I'm a little off . . .
posted by JekPorkins at 8:05 PM on May 31, 2006

A charcoal (i.e. dark gray) suit is good for basically everything. I agree with JekPorkins that if you are the groom, then there are better choices, but otherwise, it's fine. It's fine for a wedding, it's fine for a funeral, it's fine for an interview, whatever.

Just wear black shoes with it.
posted by bingo at 8:11 PM on May 31, 2006

I'm not the groom, just a friend of the groom. I've only ever used it for interviews so thats why I get the business mentality when I put it on.
posted by mi6op at 8:14 PM on May 31, 2006

I think it is, yes. Not horrible, but not quite right. I suspect you could minimise the effect if you got the shirt and tie just right - maybe in the same color?
posted by crabintheocean at 8:41 PM on May 31, 2006

If you aren't the one getting married, I wouldn't worry about it. People are going to be looking at the bride and the groom - they aren't going to be noticing what you are wearing. I think it would be fine.
posted by Ostara at 8:45 PM on May 31, 2006

Nobody's going to notice. If anyone does notice, they won't care. If anyone cares, they are a freak.
posted by Saucy Intruder at 8:56 PM on May 31, 2006

Well, for what it's worth, my fiance has bought himself a lovely dark grey suit with very faint blue pinstripes to wear when we get ourselves hitched later this year. But we're mavericks, so what do we know. (Yeah, I'm wearing red and black, so have probably lost the right to answer questions like this.) It depends on the tone the couple are setting. Can you ask them?
posted by hot soup girl at 8:59 PM on May 31, 2006

It follows that you also aren't a groomsman, right? Otherwise, you would have had instructions on what to wear. So you're just a guy who got invited to the wedding. All that matters is that you are dressed respectably, and with a gray suit, you're covered. Wear a bright tie if you want to brighten it up.
posted by bingo at 9:11 PM on May 31, 2006

It's fine.
posted by cribcage at 9:12 PM on May 31, 2006

Don't sweat it. Have fun!
posted by Opposite George at 9:19 PM on May 31, 2006

No
posted by caddis at 9:23 PM on May 31, 2006

only if you carry a briefcase with you and whip out your laptop at the dinner table ...
also depends on your conversation. if you keep trying to talk about increased revenues and net margins you're going to look pretty "business like".
posted by 5bux at 11:24 PM on May 31, 2006

Not sure, but if you're debating the point, that means that if you wear it you'll spend the whole wedding wondering if you look silly and it will ruin your fun. If you have another suit that seems appropriate, go for that.
posted by grandstand at 2:56 AM on June 1, 2006

Well I'm best man at a wedding next week and I'm wearing a dark charcoal pinstripe suit at the request of the bride, so i really wouldn't worry. A wedding is about the people getting married, not those about them.
posted by twistedonion at 4:41 AM on June 1, 2006

around them even.
posted by twistedonion at 4:42 AM on June 1, 2006

No, I don't think it is. Is it a summer wedding? If so, seems that the jacket will be abandoned fairly early anyway.

twistedonion, I always assumed you were a woman!
posted by jamesonandwater at 5:02 AM on June 1, 2006

lol! and there was me thinking you were a man!
posted by twistedonion at 5:47 AM on June 1, 2006

You should consider wearing a pink tie, it will make the outfit sufficiently far away from business attire that no one will notice the pinstripes.

But really, unless the invitation specifically instructs you to attend in formal wear or similar, you shouldn't have a problem.
posted by oddman at 6:11 AM on June 1, 2006

Hrm. I wore one to a wedding on Sunday, no one mentioned any fashion problems. I also ran into at least one other person wearing one (this by no means validates me wearing one). I was told it looked good on me and that was good enough for me to not worry about it.
posted by Atreides at 6:36 AM on June 1, 2006

My dad wore a gray pinstripe suit to my niece's wedding last Saturday. He wore a cobalt blue shirt and darker blue tie with it. He looked quite dapper, though I did tell him he looked like a successful gangster in it;-)
posted by orange swan at 6:51 AM on June 1, 2006

i like to buy 10 dollar suit or jacket and pants at the thrift store for weddings so i dont care if it gets dirty at the reception, combined with a cool tie with flowers or unicorns or some such festive shit. I know i'm definitely more relaxed than when i wear my more expensive 'interview suit'. example in my profile pic.
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 7:13 AM on June 1, 2006

It's fine. It's also a good excuse to run out and buy a new suit.
posted by notyou at 7:13 AM on June 1, 2006

Pinstripes and chalk stripes are in style right now. If the suit has a fashionable cut, it'll look fashionable. If you're still afraid of sending "banker" vibes, wear a pocket square and French cuffs with nice cufflinks.
posted by mendel at 7:36 AM on June 1, 2006