As the groom, you may consider wearing a morning suit for your upcoming wedding. Alternatively, you might be a member of the wedding party who has been informed of a morning dress code. But what exactly is a morning suit, and what are the rules for wearing one?
This guide will cover everything you need to know about morning suits, ensuring you look your best on your wedding day.
What is a morning suit?
A morning suit is a traditional outfit for gentlemen at formal events, such as weddings or race events such as Royal Ascot.
A traditional morning suit features a formal jacket with peak lapels and swallow-tail, a waistcoat, and trousers. The jacket’s tails should hang just below the knees, creating a distinguished silhouette. This attire is often chosen for its elegance and formality, ensuring the wearer looks polished and refined, especially when their back is facing wedding guests during the ceremony.
What should you wear with a morning suit?
Morning Coat
A morning coat is a formal jacket characterised by its peak lapels and distinctive swallow-tail at the back. It is the key component of a morning suit, tapering at the waist and featuring a cutaway front which descends to a long, split tail that falls just below the knees. The morning coat is typically worn in black or grey and pairs with matching or complementary trousers and a waistcoat to complete the morning suit ensemble.
Trousers
Trousers worn with a morning suit should be well-tailored and complement the jacket and waistcoat. They should be properly fitted, neither too tight nor too loose, ensuring a smooth and polished appearance. The trousers should break just above the shoes, maintaining a clean line and contributing to the overall elegance of the morning suit. They typically feature a striped or checked pattern in muted tones.
Waistcoat
The waistcoat worn with a morning suit should be well-fitted and match the cloth of the rest of the suit. Double-breasted waistcoats can be worn with lapels and single-breasted waistcoats can be worn with or without lapels. Most importantly, the waistcoat’s colour should complement the overall appearance of the morning suit. Beige, grey, and cream are classic waistcoat colours.
Shirt
A morning suit should always be paired with a white dress shirt. A plain turn-down (‘cutaway’) collar and double cuffs worn with cufflinks will heighten the elegance of the suit and create a refined look. It is crucial that the shirt is well-fitted as it serves as the centrepiece of the outfit.
Shoes
Highly polished, non-patent leather Oxfords are appropriate footwear to wear with a morning suit. Typically, they will be black to ensure that the outfit’s elegance is maintained from head to toe.
Tie
A morning suit tie should reflect the formality of the occasion. A silk tie in a subdued pattern or colour will pull the outfit together as long as it is neatly tied.
Accessories
If you wish to elevate your morning suit’s appearance, you can complement it with a subtle silk or linen pocket square. Wearing a top hat will also achieve a traditional look.
When should you wear a morning suit?
Morning dress is designed for formal events held in the morning or afternoon. This makes them a popular choice for formal daytime weddings and highly formal social events. Morning suits are advised not to be worn for formal evening events or for weddings that start after 6 pm. Morning suits have traditional elegance and are therefore reserved for events of the highest formality and distinction.
How Phillip Alexander can help
Whether you’re the groom, a member of the wedding party, or a guest, we can help you find your perfect suit.
Philip Alexander Bespoke Tailors are experts at dressing gentlemen. We’ve been crafting stunning bespoke suits, from tuxedos to morning suits, since 1976. Based in Manchester and Cheshire, our master tailor can create a unique and personalised garment that fits perfectly.
We offer a range of tailoring services, including bespoke suits, semi-bespoke ‘made to measure’ suits, and tailored suit hire.
Bespoke suits
If you want an unparalleled experience and an entirely unique suit handcrafted by our master bespoke tailor, consider our bespoke suit service. We have years of experience creating luxurious bespoke suits for weddings and other formal occasions. Our one-of-a-kind bespoke tailored wedding suits are perfect for an elegant and timeless look for your upcoming wedding.
At Philip Alexander, we always listen to our customers, and our master tailor will consider your style and preferences. We will craft an individual hand-cut garment made from your chosen cloth. Multiple fittings ensure that your luxury bespoke suit is a perfect fit!
Made to measure suits
If you need a luxury, high-quality suit quickly, then our made to measure suits might be a better option. These are ready in less than two months as they involve fewer fittings than our bespoke suits. Using a mixture of handcraft and machine work, we create a stunning and well-fitting suit on a tight time and budget. You can choose your preferred cut, fabric, and style to create a unique made to measure wedding suit.
Luxury tailored suit hire
Our luxury tailored suit hire is perfect for weddings and other special occasions. You’ll benefit from our high-quality, luxury suits without the monetary investment of purchasing your own. We include several fitting sessions to ensure your hire suit fits perfectly and you look stunning on your wedding day. You’ll also get invaluable styling advice from our master tailor.
Get in contact with us today to request a short call and get one step closer to the luxury suit of your dreams!
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