HEADING TO A WINTER WEDDING?

If you’ve been invited to a wedding that’s taking place somewhere in the UK in the next few months, then this is your moment to make the most of wintry woollen fabrics like  Donegal, tweed or herringbone.

Tailoring cut from this trio of textiles is a great alternative to the usual lightweight wedding offerings, especially at this time of year. Having such a dense weave, they’re brilliant cold-wedding options as they’ll trap heat in and keep wintry chills at bay.

It’s the middle of winter, so the short answer is yes. As with most weddings, there’s often a fair bit of hanging around outside waiting for the bride or groom. Worse still, you might find yourself listening to unending declarations of love while sitting inside a damp and drafty venue.

Here’s where the welcome addition of a suitable piece of outerwear – like a well-cut overcoat – will come in handy. Paired with, say, a tweed suit, your coat will keep you insulated from the winter weather and prove that you can look both warm and wedding-appropriate at the same time.

If it’s been made clear you’re expected to turn up in black tie, there’s little leeway for dodging this specific dress code. But as daunting as it might sound, it’s actually a really easy rule to follow because, in a way, the decision about what to wear has already been made for you.

That doesn’t mean you can’t do it your own way, though. Sure, you can play it safe and stick to a traditional men’s tuxedo – black jacket with satin lapels, matching trousers and patent leather shoes – but you can also bend the rules with a tux jacket in coloured velvet over a fine-knit rollneck instead.

Lucky enough to be invited to a set of nuptials somewhere hot and exotic? Then a lightweight linen suit is your best bet. But just because this will probably be the most relaxed suit you’ll ever own, don’t fall into the trap of wearing a suit that’s baggy and shapeless – look for something lightly constructed in a trim fit.

If the wedding you’re going to is so semi-formal it’s almost laid-back – like if they’re getting hitched on a beach – leave the tie at home and wear your suit with a crisp white shirt or one in a printed floral. And just because the weather is going to be undoubtedly hot, that’s not an excuse to go barefoot; finish your outfit off with a pair of leather plimsoles.