Mr. Buttons, our in-house, house-broken style expert, fetches answers to the most challenging formalwear queries. He never barks up the wrong tree.
Dear Mr. Buttons,
I got invited to a September wedding, and am having trouble figuring out what to wear. The wedding date definitely feels past summer dress code territory—problem is, it’ll probably still be about 80 degrees and humid at the time. How do I dress for a Fall wedding when the weather hasn’t caught up yet?
Sincerely,
Stuck Between Seasons
***
Dear Stuck,
September is a strange month. Society is telling you to buy decorative gourds, drink hot tea, and wear turtlenecks, while your iPhone weather app shows nothing but sweltering temps for the foreseeable future. Of course, I can’t use an iPhone since I don’t have thumbs—or fingers, for that matter—but, you know, I’d imagine that’s how it goes. After Labor Day, linen shirts and light colored suits suddenly feel inappropriate, but it’s still too hot to break out the Fall go-to heavy flannels and velvet that your sartorial soul longs for. Lucky for you, there are a few outfit options that bring on the Fall vibes without making you sweat, literally.
First of all: layering is a man’s (and this fashionable dog’s) best friend. Not only because the Fall weather could end up being unpredictable (it might be really warm during the day, but suddenly drop to cold in the evening), but mostly because it will allow you to bring different patterns, colors, and textures into your look that make it feel more autumnal.
For your foundation, stick to a darker-colored suit—like grey or navy—or a tuxedo in a color other than black. We’d recommend our Midnight Pin Dot Tuxedo, Rose Shawl Tuxedo, or Gingham Jacket Tuxedo as black tie styles that don’t look super summery, but aren’t too heavy and cold weather-feeling, either.
We know what you’re thinking: all those suit and tuxedos are made of wool, and wool is freakin’ warm. But here’s the common misconception that we need to clear up: wool does not equal sweaty. Wool breathes. It keeps you warm when it’s cold out, but it also cools you down when you need some ventilation. It’s kind of a wonder fabric, which makes it perfect for Fall’s weirdo weather. Honestly, the absolute worst thing you could wear to this wedding would be a synthetic material like polyester. Synthetics not only tend to look cheap, they also don’t breathe. If you want to melt into a sweat-drenched mess before you even get to the dance floor, wear a poly blend to this wedding. If not, a natural fabric like wool is your best friend.
For your shirt and accessories, opt for Fall-appropriate colors and patterns, ideally in lighter fabrics to keep you cooler. If you want to bring in a pop of color, choose rich shades like emerald, indigo, rust, or wine, over summery colors like pastel pink or light blue. Of course, plaid is the official print of the season, so any opportunity to bring in some checks through a pocket square or neckwear would instantly up your autumn factor. We also love the idea of mixing prints for Fall—especially pin dot and plaid—just make sure you keep the patterns and colors subtle, or you’ll end up looking clownish.
Lastly, Fall style means texture—but like I said earlier, since it’s going to be warm, you’ll want to stay away from heavy flannels and velvet for now. Instead, go with lighter knit or textured silk neckwear, or shoes in rich brown suede. Speaking of shoes, a loafer worn without socks—and a slightly cropped pant for a modern look—would also give you nice breeze around the ankles. Hey, not exactly the floaty linen shorts you’d like to be wearing in 80 degree weather, but you gotta take what you can get—at least until social media stops trying to sell us pumpkin-flavored everything in August.
Stay cool,
Case. Closed.
Mr. Buttons
Have a life or style question for Mr. Buttons? Send it to support@theblacktux.com. And for more information about what to wear to a wedding, check out our Style Guide.