Afternoon Tea @ The Westbury

An Open Letter...

Dear Mr. Chwyl;

They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but quite frankly it is just lame.

You have been calling yourself the 'Fashion Guy' and doing TV spots for West Edmonton Mall, since I was a child. I would think that someone who has amassed the experience you surely have would be more innovative and creative; yet here you are, now at Kingsway Mall and shamelessly copying an approach from Southgate Centre.

To be fair I think I understand where you're coming from, and I do sympathize. Afterall it must be difficult to be a one trick pony in a city as small as Edmonton. With new talent emerging all around you, I too would be frightened, clinging on to my past successes and last season Prada's for dear life!

Alas, the jig is up John. We can all see what is happening. Kingsway is a far cry from West Edmonton Mall and the 'fashion guy' hasn't been relevant since the Bush administration...the first time. So perhaps it is best to go quitely, do not pass Bonnie Doon and for heavens sakes avoid Londonderry.

We'll miss you, but this is goodbye.


be relevant.
style guy.

Summer Wedding Season is Coming! Tuxedo Ideas and Tips for Destination and Beach Weddings

There are lots of places that a wedding and a reception can take place - from a country club, to a hotel, to a backyard, a home, or even on the beach. However, where the event takes place does not dictate whether the event will be formal, casual, or somewhere in between.  Just because you are having a wedding reception at an upscale hotel does not automatically mean that it has to be black (or white) tie, and similarly, getting married on a beach doesn't mean you can't have a formal wedding.

Rather, the bride and groom should decide how they want the wedding to look, so they can have an event that they are happy with.  This post provides some ideas for a beach or destination wedding that is formal - but sometimes with a twist.

A solid semi-formal beach look is a beige or khaki tuxedo suit. As you can see from the picture above, you can pair it with a long tie if you want to keep things a little less formal.  And, as long as you're going for the beach vibe, forget about shoes and wear a pair of sandals. 

For a more formal look, wear a vest and bowtie - but keep the colors breezy. A matching pocket square can bring together the whole look. If you want to take the beach theme even further, wear a pair of themed cufflinks - nautical perhaps? Trust us, people will notice.

You can go all the way with the "casual" theme - skip the tie and roll up your pant legs.  You'll look cool, casual, and absolutely appropriate. Notice how in this picture the coat is paired with a ivory vest - this will ensure that even though you want to look casual, you're still giving a nod to the fact that you're the groom.

Another option for beach weddings is a white tuxedo.  Here are two options:

 

This pinstriped tuxedo has a modern touch, and paired with a dark tie and pocket square, is a great look. You could wear this tux with a white tie, but the look would be a little too formal for a beach wedding.

 

An all-white look is clean and fresh.  By adding just a touch of color, the look remains youthful.

A gray tuxedo can set a formal mood but also keeps things light enough for a daytime wedding. This can be paired with any number of color combinations for the vest and tie. The look is very elegant and upscale while reflecting the fact that the wedding is outside or during the day.

Another option is to wear a blue tuxedo suit jacket with a formal vest - it's an unexpected look but every bit as appropriate. This look works especially well is you are going for a formal look without being too uptight or traditional.

Here are some additional tips for your beach wedding:

• Generally, we'd prefer that you not wear sunglasses.  We understand that you're out on the beach and the sun gets in your eyes - BUT - it's just one day, you'll live. Plus, everyone wants to see you looking into your to-be-wife's eyes.
• Wear sunscreen if you're going to be out in the sun for a while. 
• If you have longer hair and are getting married on the beach itself, there's a very good chance that the wind will wreak havoc on your hair if you don't use a little hair product to keep your hair in place. While the windblown look may be in style, you don't want to have to keep moving the hair out of your eyes while reciting your vows.

All tuxedos seen here are available at Metropolitan Formalwear at SEARS Fair Oaks Mall, a Jim's Formal Wear retailer.

Different Patterns in Men’s Suits

Just as suit style, fit and color, suit patterns are also important. Solid, Pinstripe, Windowpane, and Check patterns are four main suit designs to consider.

Solid Suit:
The solid suit is a plain suit which consists of only single color. These suits must differentiate themselves with pocket, button, lapel, and vent style. They are versatile, neutral and safe for all situations. The popular colors include black, charcoal gray, navy blue and even white.

Pinstripe:
This style of pattern consists of vertical lines running all over the suit jacket and pants. These stripes of color can vary in thickness depending on the designer's vision. The Pinstripe is by far the most popular striped suit and men use this suit to look more formal and authoritative.

Window Pane:
This suit pattern is created by both vertically and horizontally running lines to make square or rectangular "windowpane" patterns. These suits are more stylish than the previous models.

Plaid:
The plaid suit is one of the fancier patterned suits on the market. This  mens suits can’t be seen as often as many of the other suit patterns on the market because of its high cost and difficult tailoring methods. This suit is similar to the windowpane suit with its use of vertical and horizontal lines. However, the lines will run in close knit groups with various gaps to create the box like openings. This pattern can be worn to less formal office settings and fun social gatherings such as church, weddings, and parties.

Check Patterns:
The check patterned suit is similar to the window pane suit with one exception. This suit has every other square or rectangle filled with horizontal lines.This suit pattern is one of the trendier styles that can be worn to important social events. You can wear this suit on formal dates, church, weddings and even parties.

Tips to Find Cheap Mens Designer Suits

Don’t worry, if you are in need of a mens suit but don’t have enough money to purchase one. It’s possible to get cheap suits, if you know where to look.

• Visit your local thrift store. Thrift shops are a great resource to locate cheap men’s designer suits. You would be amazed at how many designer suits that you can find at a thrift store. They will all be extremely discounted. Ensure that there is nothing wrong with the suit before you purchase it.

• Visit local garage sales. Many people sell their old suits at their garage sale rather than trying to sell it online. 

• Browse online. Many designer websites clearance last year’s style during the year. These suits are ideal if you want to have the designer label but not pay the designer price.

• Look into online auction sites. Several people try to sell their suits online to get more money out of them. Many online auction sites have thousands of suits up for sale. Watch out for fakes and knockoffs.

Ryan Gosling is Killing It !!!

Salvatore Ferragamo Custom-Made Tuxedo