MORNING WEAR

Tailcoats

AKA: ‘Morning Suit’

Intro: The quintessential wedding outfit, the Tailcoat has been worn by Grooms up and down the country since the Regency era. With a traditional, stylish look that wouldn’t be out of place at Royal Ascot, the Tailcoat is Wedding favourite and its clever cut complements guys with beer bellies just as much as it does those with six packs.

The Look: The Tailcoat features a knee length jacket that tapers from the mid-rift away toward the hips providing the ‘tailed’. It has typical suit lapels and normally one or two buttons (not usually fastened) and is difficult to track down in anything other than the classic suit colours – black, dark grey, light grey and navy.

Essential Extras: Waistcoats look fabulous with Tailcoats and are a modern alternative to the traditional cummerbunds which work also. The trousers are either a single colour (matching the jacket), or striped (usually black and grey pinstripes). Plain collar and winged collar shirts work well and are usually accompanied by a ruche, cravat or bow tie (although bow ties look better with the similarly styled Tail Suit – see Evening Wear).

Finishing Touches: Top Hat (sometimes referred to as an

‘Ascot’) and gloves were made for Tailcoats. Neither need be worn and can simply be carried, but you can guarantee that you will need to have at least one photo taken with you wearing them!