The Greater Vancouver Wedding Guide

Back To Wedding Hints and Tips

Men's Formal Wear The Tuxedo Glossary

Men's formal wear has its own lingo---

SUITS

Cutaway and Stroller

For formal daytime weddings (11am to 4pm), the groom wears the cutaway/morning coat, which tapers from the front waist button to a long, wide back tail. Accessories include a wing-collar shirt with an ascot and a coordinating vest. Attendants wear the stroller/walking coat, which is cut slightly longer than a suit jacket, and is worn with a lay-down collar shirt and a four-in-hand tie. Both jackets, in either black or gray, are worn with matching striped trousers.

Dinner Suit
A white or ivory jacket with black formal trousers is an ideal option in spring and summer months or year-round in warmer climates for formal and semiformal evening weddings.

Tuxedo
A single- or double-breasted jacket with matching trousers for formal or semiformal evening weddings, tuxes come in a variety of fabrics. Accessories include a dress shirt with cuff links and studs, and a bow tie with a vest or cummerbund.

White Tie
This is the classic choice for the ultra-formal evening wedding. The tailcoat jacket is short in front with two long back tails. A white pique (a waffle-textured fabric in cotton or cotton blend) front wing-collar shirt, tie, and vest are also worn. Tailcoats can be worn for formal daytime or evening weddings in gray, navy or burgundy with matching ties and cummerbunds.

LAPELS

Notch

A triangular indentation is cut where the lapel joins the collar.

Peak
A broad V-shaped lapel that points up and out just below the collar line.

Shawl
A smooth, rounded lapel.

SHIRTS

Band Collar

A collar that stands up around the neck and above the buttons; this is the most contemporary style.

Classic Shirt
The traditional formal shirt is white with buttons or stud closures. It may or may not have French cuffs and usually has pleats on either side of the buttons or studs.

Laydown Collar
Similar to a man's standard button-front shirt, it fold over around the neck with a wide division between points in front.

Wing Collar
A band that encircles the neck with turned-down points in front.

ELEMENTS OF STYLE

Ascot

A wide necktie (almost like a scarf) that is looped over and held in place beneath the chin with a tie tack or stickpin. Worn with a wing-collar shirt and the daytime wedding cutaway jacket.

Bow Tie
A short tie shaped like a bow that can be worn with a wing or laydown collar. Most bow ties adjust to fit al neck sizes and are available in a variety of widths, colors, and patterns to match the vest or cummerbund.

Cuff Links and Studs
Decorative jewelry used to close cuffs and button formal shirts.

Cummerbund
A silk or satin sash worn at the waist and covering the trouser's waistband.

Euro-tie
A long, knotted, square-bottom necktie worn with a wing or laydown collar shirt.

Four-in-hand Tie
A standard, long, knotted necktie worn with a laydown collar.

Pocket Square
A small pocket handkerchief tucked into the left breast pocket worn by groomsmen instead of a boutonniere.

Suspenders
Two supporting bands worn over the shoulders to support the trousers. They can coordinate, in color or pattern, with a cummerbund.

Vests
Worn in place of a cummerbund to cover the trouser waistband. It's often worn with a coordinating bow tie. Some are adjustable at the neck and waist with an open back, while others have a fully covered back.