So raise your hand if you are tired of COVID-19?! So are we! Sadly, all of those weddings, formal galas and annual corporate parties that occur this time of year are pretty much not happening this year because of coronavirus restrictions. While this is very disappointing, I’d still like to talk about what I would have worn had these events occurred. We are certain better times are coming and next year we all hope to be back to a normal festive schedule.
I feel pretty lucky because my wife and I own Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo and I have a choice of over 70 suits and tuxedos to wear every year. Add to that over a 1,000 different styles and colors of bow ties, long ties, vests, pocket squares and shoes and you can probably say I have quite a large wardrobe!
Every year, we add several new suits and tuxedos to our already large selection of rental and purchase offerings. This year was no exception and I was personally excited to wear some of our new styles.
While I will not have an opportunity to show off our new suits and tuxedos this year, I would still like to tell you what I would have worn had ‘COVID-19 not interrupted life.
Personally, I am a huge fan of Ike Behar suits and tuxedos. Why? There are two precise reasons: 1) all of this designer’s suits and tuxedos fit like a custom suit; 2) I have yet to find another designer that has more comfortable and luxurious fabric than Ike Behar.
Having said that, I have worn Ike Behar’s navy tuxedo, charcoal gray tuxedo, checkered tuxedo jacket with black pants, burgundy tuxedo jacket with black shawl lapel and black pants and his classic black tuxedo with full satin peak lapel.
This year, there are two new styles I really wanted to try for our formal galas. The first one was quite unusual and I thought it would have been perfect for an October or November event. It is the Allure Men Mulberry tuxedo. The super elegant 130’s wool was one of the most comfortable I’ve felt in a long time and the unusual color was both subtle and handsome.
While this style is considered a tuxedo, there is no satin to be found on it! Allure Men cleverly created a stitched outline on the fabric of the lapel to emulate a satin border on the lapels. It adds formality to the tuxedo without giving it any sheen. In addition, the buttons on the jacket and matching vest are covered in the fabric of the tuxedo. I find this to be a nice touch. I would have worn the jacket, matching vest and slim fit flat front pants with brown shoes, a textured wine colored bow tie and pocket square, white and gold studs and cufflinks and a swiss pleated microfiber shirt.
The next styles I wanted to wear would have been more for a November or December event. I think it would have been more appropriate closer to the holidays. It is Ike Behar’s hunter green suit. We already went over how amazingly well his suits and tuxedo’s fit! The hunter green color is festive yet understated. The trim fit notch lapel suit is made of comfortable 100% worsted wool and has a matching hunter green vest. The hunter green flat front slim fit pants have very fashionable straight leg bottoms which is a common and great design of all Ike Behar pants (no bell bottoms here!). I certainly would have worn brown shoes with this suit and the long tie or bow tie and pocket square would have either matched my wife’s dress, shoes or had a festive theme to it.
Finally, if I needed a classic tuxedo for a formal event, I would have probably gone for the Ike Behar black tuxedo with full satin notch lapel. This tuxedo is striking in its looks but doesn’t make you stand out in an unusual or flashy way.
So there you have it. My two new picks for future galas are Ike Behar’s hunter green suit and the Allure Men Mulberry color tuxedo. And of course, my classic perennial standby black Ike Behar notch lapel tuxedo.
We hope next year brings a lot more cheer and festivities. When 2021 arrives, Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo will be ready to make you look your best. Any questions, text us at 215-491-8500. Browse one of our many suits and tuxedos here.
About the author: Franco Salerno is co-founder and co-owner of Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo, now in their eighth year in business. In that time, he built the tuxedo department into a force rivaling big box stores by providing expertise, caring service, and beautiful, quality formal wear. Personally invested in every transaction, Mr. Salerno provides customers with the utmost trust and confidence, assuring their wedding or formal event attire will be perfect. A native of Philadelphia, he currently resides in Warrington, Bucks County with his wife and store co-founder/co-owner Wendy, and their two daughters for whom the store was named, Daria and Deanna.