The Journal — Formalwear / Weddings

The question of what groomsmen wear is one of the most overthought decisions in wedding planning and one of the most underthought in execution. Many wedding parties end up in rented tuxedos that fit badly, or in matching navy suits bought off a rack in sizes that fit no one exactly. The result is a wedding party that looks like a group that got dressed together, rather than a group of well-dressed individuals with a shared aesthetic thread.

The shirt collar is the frame for the face. It determines what tie knot works, how the jacket's neck sits, how formal or relaxed the overall look reads, and — in a way that's hard to overstate — whether the garment looks considered or accidental. Most men own several collar styles without knowing what each is for. Here is the complete guide.

Matching a tie to a suit is not a code to crack — it is a relationship between colors, patterns, and scale that follows a few clear principles. Once you understand those principles, the combination becomes intuitive. Until then, the default settings described below work consistently and give you a foundation to build from.

The number of buttons on a suit jacket front is one of the most consistently misunderstood details in men's tailoring. Most men accept whatever button configuration came with the suit they bought. In a custom commission, the choice is deliberate — and it changes the suit's formality, silhouette, and character in ways that are worth understanding.