Navy Suit + White Shirt + Red Tie = American Flag?

[avsmusic1]

Hello All,
Here is my situation - I'm getting married in November and I'm having a heck of a time finding cloths (some of you may have seen my recent thread on 3 piece suits and already be aware of some of my challenges). One of the issue that keeps coming up is the potential combo of a navy suit, white shirt, and red tie. The bridesmaides dresses will be red so my groomsmen and I are obligated to match them (probably with our ties / pocket squares). I greatly prefer navy suits and a white french cuff shirt just seems classic and classy (especially b/c we're not wearing tuxedos). That brings us to the potential American Flag effect.

My stance: I've worn that combo more times over the years than I even care to count and, prior to this, the thought of resembling the flag never even crossed my mind. I view it as a classic combo and one of the more common color pairings.

My fiance's stance: Those three colors together instantly remind her of the American Flag. She views it as out of place, inappropriate if you're not in the armed forces, and unacceptable. Furthurmore, she seems to think everyone will instantly draw the same conclusion.

We couldn't be further apart on the spectrum here.

Anyway, I wanted to put it out there to get some additional opinions. For the record, I'm not looking for something to show to her to help me prove that I'm right. Rather, I'm looking to pressure test her theory that everyone's minds will instantly draw the same comparison as hers. So what do you all think? Is this combination a no-no? Have you thought "flag" when you've seen this in the past?

Thanks in advance

 

[jpakstis]

I don't think its a no-no at all. I sometimes wear that combination. A white shirt is just that, and a navy suit is dark enough not to evoke the blue in an American flag. So really the only clothing item that would evoke the flag in any way would be the tie. However, as I learned when I got married, or really anytime my fiancee and now wife has a strong opinion about something, I should probably "re-think" my position, in the best interests of harmony. Especially when it comes to wedding photos. If you think that on your 20th wedding anniversary she will open up that album and immediately grind her teeth about the color combo, maybe its best to go another route.

Maybe, instead of red ties, you have the pocket squares and a red flowered boutonniere?

 

[Doc4]

Your fiancée is wrong. Flat out wrong.


Now ... do you want to be "right", or "married". Pick one. (PS: dark grey suits look great, too.)

 

[Prince]

Your fiancée is wrong. Flat out wrong.


Now ... do you want to be "right", or "married". Pick one. (PS: dark grey suits look great, too.)

Spoken like a true husband.

I agree with you navy, white and red is a classic look, but maybe a different color tie is needed.

Take her to the store and have her pick out a nice tie for your special day.

If the groomsmen match the bridesmaids, then you shouldn't match them, unless your bride is wearing red.

I'd go with a nice dark tie. What's classier than a navy suit, white shirt and a charcoal tie?

Congrats on your big day.

Oh and remember, it's all about chosing your battles.

 

[Darkbulb]

She's wrong, and oh btw it's fiancée (not fiance) when you're talking about a female.

 

[Doc4]

... The bridesmaides dresses will be red so my groomsmen and I are obligated to match them (probably with our ties / pocket squares).

IMHO, the groomsmen "match" with the bridesmaids, and the groom himself is "different" and a bit "better" ... it should be easy to pick out of a photo who is the groom.

Spot the groom game: hard:

Spot the groom game: easy:

(not that I would have chosen tan for a groom, but you get the idea.)

For your groomsmen, consider:

 

[avsmusic1]

Your fiancée is wrong. Flat out wrong.


Now ... do you want to be "right", or "married". Pick one. (PS: dark grey suits look great, too.)

It's funny you say that about grey. That was my initial fix too. Unfortunately, finding a solid grey three piece in a suit that will fit me is proving to be far more difficult that I expected. For whatever reason, navy seems to be easier to come by.

 

[KW Driver]

Get a new wife. It's all downhill from here

 

[avsmusic1]

I'm leaning toward a navy suit with a grey vest just to break up the red, white, and blue and mitigate some of her concerns. I don't have a grey vest but I can have one made for <200 at my local shop and just pair it with a navy suit. Anyone here ever done that?

 

[MichaeltheRomanHistorian]

I'm leaning toward a navy suit with a grey vest just to break up the red, white, and blue and mitigate some of her concerns. I don't have a grey vest but I can have one made for <200 at my local shop and just pair it with a navy suit. Anyone here ever done that?

I've paired my suits with an odd waistcoat and it's a nice look (I also do a navy suit, white shirt, and tie with a grey sweater vest). The odd waistcoat is pretty useful as it's not a true three-piece suit and can soften the tone of the more business-like navy suit. I prefer a good medium-grey solid for a waistcoat when I do this.

 

[nehpets4627]

Even though he wears a blue suit and black tie, the first thing that popped into my head was "American Dad". Beyond that association (which few others are likely to make), I don't see it as fashion problem, meerly a marital harmony problem.

I was in a similar situation where I desperately wanted to wear the black/white wingtip doc martens I had worn all through high school and college (a new pair, not a ratty old pair) for my wedding but my fiancée refused. The "compromise" was I could wear them at the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and reception but not the ceremony or posed pictures. Like others have said, I chose "married" over "right" and moved along. In the hustle and bustle of the post-ceremony pictures I didn't get to change into my Docs before the ceremony. In hindsight, it's not something that I think of in regards to that day but it very well may have been something she reminded me of frequently for the rest of my life had I "stood my ground".

 

[Doc4]

It's funny you say that about grey. That was my initial fix too. Unfortunately, finding a solid grey three piece in a suit that will fit me is proving to be far more difficult that I expected. For whatever reason, navy seems to be easier to come by.

Solution #1 ... instead of a grey vest, have them make a red one. Then, to avoid "american flag" overtones ... wear this tie.

America ain't the only country with a red-white-blue flag, you know.

... okay, being serious ...

 

[Doc4]

I'm leaning toward a navy suit with a grey vest just to break up the red, white, and blue and mitigate some of her concerns. I don't have a grey vest but I can have one made for <200 at my local shop and just pair it with a navy suit. Anyone here ever done that?

Let me run this up the flag pole and see if anyone salutes ...

Groomsmen: navy suit with cream vest & red tie
You: navy 3-piece suit and dark silver tie


http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com/2012/12/a-change-of-pace.html
http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com/2012/05/cream-waistcoat-once-again.html

 

[Shaving_CHENG]

I would also call into question pocket squares, especially if you're sporting boutineers.

I also like Doc's idea of you with a different tie; make your groomsmen uniform and you stand out. My suggestion would be a silver(or white) & blue tie in a traditional wedding tie pattern.

 

[avsmusic1]

Interesting, so you're saying no pocket square if we are doing boutineers? Is that typical? I was in a friends wedding a month ago and we had both but the pics posted earlier seem to indicate that is not the norm

 

[Doc4]

Interesting, so you're saying no pocket square if we are doing boutineers? Is that typical? I was in a friends wedding a month ago and we had both but the pics posted earlier seem to indicate that is not the norm

Both would be fine, IMHO. But the risk you run is looking too "busy" if the colours are not meshed up with the rest of the outfit. I'd suggest a white linen handkerchief (aside: spellcheck just reminded me that there's a silent "d" in the middle of "hankerchief" ... oh, and "spellcheck" apparently is not a word, according to a computer programme that actually may not exist) in a "tv fold", or else matching the colour of the boutineer.

 

[Boro62]

first off, navy suit with white shirt and red tie, I think is a great look. But since we are looking for other options, this would be my suggestion if you want to stick with the 3 piece navy suit.

Instead of a white shirt, go with a light blue one. And instead of a solid red tie some sort of red with patterns or red with stripes tie. Also I'd say lose the pocket square if your going with a boutineers and vice versa, makes it look a little too busy. If your going with the boutineer, I would suggest maybe a red rose or red orchid.

 

[StillShaving]

Both would be fine, IMHO. But the risk you run is looking too "busy" if the colours are not meshed up with the rest of the outfit. I'd suggest a white linen handkerchief (aside: spellcheck just reminded me that there's a silent "d" in the middle of "hankerchief" ... oh, and "spellcheck" apparently is not a word, according to a computer programme that actually may not exist) in a "tv fold", or else matching the colour of the boutineer.

Colours? I see your spell checker is quite broken. I guess there is a different spell check plug-in for those outside USA.

Navy Suit + White Shirt + Red Tie = American Flag?

It might remind me more of fortune 500 corporate headquarters or government politicians more than the American Flag, but I am not the important one here. I see a red tie as a way to spice up an otherwise conservative navy look. Maybe your SO has seen too many presidential debates. These guys were wearing their team colors and maybe she is on the blue team.