Formal Menswear for a Daytime Summer Wedding

Cotton

Cotton is a favorite fabric for summer for some pretty obvious reasons: it’s lightweight, it breathes, and it’s always a classic. J. Crew’s Aldridge suit separates are great choices because they’re so versatile; available in wheat, navy, or stone, the jacket comes with either two or three buttons. Their Ludlow suit separates come in navy, wheat, stone, and also black, but the jacket is only available with two buttons. To dress either suit up a bit, turn it into a three piece with a vest. All separates are made from Italian Chino, exceptionally soft cotton twill that comes from the Crespi mill. All the jackets are $248.00 each, pants are $118.00, and the vest is $98.00. For another cotton option, there’s the Garrison Cotton Twill Suit from Ralph Lauren’s Polo collection. The two-button suit retails for $1395.00 and the pants are un-hemmed for easy custom tailoring. Don’t forget Brooks Brothers, who have several cotton suit options. Available in several colors and fits, such as the Madison and the slimmer Fitzgerald, they sell for between $398.00 and $598.00 each. The more adventurous grooms may want to try the 60s-inspired super slim-cut Oxford Milano Fit suit in light blue. Banana Republic also has some chino suit separates, a one-button jacket for $250.00 and pants for $130.00.

Linen

Linen is also a great choice for summertime menswear because of its heat-beating properties. While linen is a bit more prone to wrinkling, the lovely texture of the fabric makes enough of a statement to make it all worthwhile. You may want to schedule your photography session between the ceremony and the reception, however, before groomsmen have a chance to sit down too much. J. Crew’s Ludlow suit separates are available in Irish linen in warm-toned British khaki. The two-button jacket is $258.00, pants are $128.00, and vest is $98.00. Brooks Brothers also offers an Irish linen suit in light khaki with subtle plaid patterning for $598.00. The suit has a two-button jacket and plain front trousers in the Madison fit. If you love the idea of linen but the wrinkle factor makes you a little nervous, try a cotton/linen blend for the best of both worlds. Calvin Klein has cotton/linen suit separates in three colors; the jacket is $179.50 and the pants are $79.50.

Seersucker

If you really want to embrace the summer season, try a seersucker suit. J. Crew has the Ludlow pants, $98.00, jacket, $198.00, and vest, $88.00, in khaki or blue. To get the spirit of seersucker without all the pucker, try their Ludlow suit separates in fine-stripe cotton, available in sophisticated faded black. Two jacket styles are $248.00 each, two pants styles are $118.00 each, and the vest is $98.00.