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Men in blue.....

(24 Posts)
Katek Sun 18-Oct-15 14:34:56

I've been to two weddings this year where both grooms wore blue suits. They looked smart with colourful silk linings but there's something in the back of my mind that says blue suits are/were thought of as being a bit cheap. Did they have some association at one time with the criminal fraternity and brown shoes?

People can wear what they like I know, but the blue suit didn't look as sharp as a charcoal grey with highly polished black shoes.

rosesarered Sun 18-Oct-15 15:54:33

I agree Katek! Perhaps used to be thought a bit Spivvy? Or American, or show offy?Comedians who do stand up used to like them, so maybe there are show biz connotations, but also tacky ones?Interesting point about the brown shoes too, they were always looked down on ( remember the song 'brown boots'?)

feetlebaum Sun 18-Oct-15 16:08:52

Brown shoes with a blue suit? Good grief... they'll be doing up the bottom weskit button next... I must say that weddings seem to bring out the sartorial worst in people (I live opposite a Church close so I see some strange sights!)

Katek Sun 18-Oct-15 16:09:21

That's the word roses, spivvy! You're also right about the showbiz connection-a lot of the 80's stand ups like Ben Elton used to wear that particular shade of electric blue with a sheen in the fabric. It's not a colour DH would consider buying and nor would I suggest it.

I remember the ' brahn boots ' -was it Stanley Holloway of Albert and the Lion fame?

rosesarered Sun 18-Oct-15 16:18:02

grin yes, think it was Stanley Holloway.
It is hard to think why anyone would choose that colour and sheen isn't it?
Who wants to look like The Lavender Hill Mob?
Probably, if you are just in your twenties now, it seems new and different and the bride wanted a blue themed wedding.

hildajenniJ Sun 18-Oct-15 16:32:47

I knew a couple once who had a reverse wedding. The bride wore a beautiful black wedding dress and the groom wore a white suit.
I agree about the blue suit though. When I got married the groom and best man wore top hat and tails. (Hired of course).

Pittcity Sun 18-Oct-15 17:55:40

Blue suits and brown shoes in the Rugby commentators box.

DH wore a light blue suit at our wedding, it was the 80s!

ninathenana Sun 18-Oct-15 18:33:41

DD wanted fathers and best man to wear dark green morning suits with gold cravats (groom was in uniform)
FiL flatly refused grin
They actually wore mid grey. Nothing wrong with a blue suit IMHO but not with brown shoes !

Katek Sun 18-Oct-15 21:15:24

It's normally the kilt here for formal dress, so surprised grooms wore lounge suits at all. Just spotted an Antiques Road Show presenter in a blue suit!

tanith Sun 18-Oct-15 22:06:25

I like blue suits it makes a change from blooming grey which I think is quite aging.

Teetime Mon 19-Oct-15 09:04:24

DH has a lovely navy blue suit and a black one left over from his working years when he wore a suit every day. He wanted to throw them all out but I salvaged these two for weddings and funerals.

Nonnie Mon 19-Oct-15 09:43:55

I read a few years ago that all men look handsome in a blue suit and pink shirt.

I hate the brown shoes with blue suit but DS1 says it is right and he should know. As Mr N acknowledges that he has no dress sense I can ensure he never wears them.

rosesarered Mon 19-Oct-15 10:34:43

Nonnie..... I feel a little faint, 'blue suit and pink shirt' you mean as in
( sound of thunderclap overhead)..... 'Worn together'? I think that bit of sartorial advice was probably published on April 1st.grin

Nonnie Mon 19-Oct-15 11:21:15

I did see a rather nice (totally gorgeous actually) 40 ish man on holiday last year wearing a nice pink shirt sitting at the bar with his girlfriend and he really did look good but no suit.

DS3 has quite a bright blue suit but he is an extrovert. I think a navy suit on a man is very nice.

ninathenana Mon 19-Oct-15 11:31:43

Navy suit and pink shirt...........
very smart in my opinion as long as the shirt isn't bubblegum pink !

ffinnochio Mon 19-Oct-15 11:44:19

My son wore a navy blue suit, white shirt, ivory silk tie and navy blue suede shoes for his wedding. He looked superb. Oh - and red socks!

rosesarered Mon 19-Oct-15 16:56:11

Hope nobody stepped on his blue suede shoes?

ffinnochio Mon 19-Oct-15 17:48:04

grin

Iam64 Tue 20-Oct-15 08:05:49

Come on gransnet - blue is the new black, all the young men I know are wearing blue suits grin

feetlebaum Tue 20-Oct-15 09:21:45

I have to say I loathe the American Business or Lounge Suit - makes any man look like a tax collector or a con artist - and the one time I was forced into a corner and made to hire a Morning Suit I made sure to 'forget' the hat, and wore a raincoat over the whole mess as long as I could get away with it! I knew that marriage would never last anyway...

My second wife insisted I buy a suit for a wedding to which we were invited and she wore me down to the point where I gave in... we went to somewhere called Next, in the Kings Road. I went to a rack that had my size and took one to the till. 'But... aren't you going to...?' 'No', I replied, handing over the dosh. She obviously wanted me to look at bunches of the things, and try bits on - no way, Gonzalez... I wore it once and gave it away some time later.

I still get Christmas cards from her.

bookdreamer Tue 20-Oct-15 09:59:01

Yes they are. Blue suits with tan shoes. They look great.

ffinnochio Tue 20-Oct-15 10:04:22

It's how you wear the clothes, not what you wear, that counts. smile

grumppa Tue 20-Oct-15 10:55:33

It's the shade of blue that matters: dark blue - black shoes, light blue - brown. Shiny blue: stick it in the dustbin.

Grandma2213 Wed 21-Oct-15 01:21:02

feetlebaum grin Morning suits hired for a wedding that never quite fit - yuk.

I'm not a great fan of suits of any kind especially the modern ones with narrow trousers and short jackets that look like they are too small.

It might be just me but I think suits usually look as if they might smell (a bit sweaty?)