Photos (above) : Costumes: Café Costume - Photographer: Marvis Chan
Article in collaboration with Café Costume
Stefan from Café Costume talks about (wedding) suit customisation and the practical idea behind it: "We don't just focus on the idea of “getting married”, but rather on the customisation and long-term use of the suit. In doing so, we're primarily interested in how it fits you, and we like to make it a unique and personal suit. Instead of saying ‘it's your wedding, splurge’ (which is allowed, of course!), we're more interested in practicality and how the suit can be worn after the wedding. Tenue de ville suits- or ‘outfits’ as we call them - are a perfect option for this'.
What is formal wear?
Stefan explains what streetwear is and the origins of this style of costume: "It's essentially streetwear, i.e. clothing worn by the modern, trendy citizen in everyday life. With the city dress code, we're aiming for made-to-measure outfits with an option for everyday life. Our outfits were born out of the fact that suits are worn less and less in the workplace. Many people now only wear suits to weddings or special occasions, rather than to the office on a daily basis. Even for weddings, people are more often departing from tradition, wanting to get married more casually and, above all, to have fun. That's not to say that customisation is no longer necessary; you still want a well-fitted suit, perhaps in a unique or special fabric that you love. That's what our suits are all about’.
He continues: ‘Suits tend to be more comfortable, looser and more mobile; your clothes fit you well. With a different suit, you also have room to move, but it's a bit tighter. For example, you have wider shirts, firmer shirts - lined or unlined - and trousers that stand up. Often the trousers are slightly wider or have a higher waist. Theylook like suit trousers, but you can wear them with trainers".
When should you wear streetwear?
‘At the same time,you can wear business casual to your wedding (or any other wedding). Your suit is more casual and simple, but it suits you perfectly. So you look distinguished and you ‘shine’ without overshadowing the bride or groom," explains Stefan.
One of the main advantages of formal wear is that it can be worn often, even after the wedding. Stefan: ‘You might prefer to spend your budget on a wedding suit that you can also wear afterwards. That's why it's perfect. You dare to take it out of your wardrobe again and again, unlike the ‘Holy Grail’ of a wedding suit, which you can only wear once. What's more, the suits are slightly less expensive, although they are still made to measure. This is because, for a standard suit, you have a complete canvas to which the fabric is attached. The outfits, on the other hand, have no fabric. For example, we also make bomber jackets this way - it's practical and much cheaper. If you have a longer upper body or longer arms, such a tailored bomber jacket is very interesting!"
Different combinations with streetwear
Stefan talks about the different possibilities offered by business suits: "With us, people often order a jacket or dress shirt in the same fabric as the suit. On a normal weekday, they combine this jacket with a T-shirt. So it's possible to split the outfits and wear the trousers or waistcoat separately, for example. This way, you suddenly have several outfits. You can then use a tie to make your outfit more chic. For example, if you like wide or long trousers but don't have the figure for it, we can offer you a cut that fits your legs or figure perfectly, but is still reasonably casual."
Golden advice for your wedding suit
Finally, Stefan from Café Costume has another golden tip for buying a wedding suit: "Decide in advance what you like and what you simply don't like. If you know what you don't like, it will be easier to find what you do like, and it will be much easier to make your choice."
Good luck!
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