Menswear, tuxedos, and formalwear for your Portland wedding {Vendor Spotlight}

It seems like it can be hard to find the local flavor when looking for menswear and formalwear in Portland. Many wedding clients get steered towards giant warehouse-type stores and I know I’m not the only one wondering where you can get personal service.

Tuxedos-for-rental-and-purchase

Este’s Menswear in Northwest Portland is stepping up to the plate and offering an excellent wedding and formal wear line that includes rental tuxedos and suits. I stopped by to visit with Kelsey and Tony recently, to see what they had to offer. It is a neat little shop that reminded me a lot of the J. Press in New Haven where I went to school.

Este’s is carrying a wide variety of popular tuxedo lines, including Joseph Abboud, Oscar de la Renta, Perry Ellis, After Six, Jean Yves, and Chaps Ralph Lauren.

A few thoughts:
-They recommend coming in as early as possible to start the selection process, at the least 1 month before the wedding to give enough time for rental and alteration.

-In addition to the formal tuxes, Este’s also has suits for rent. Colors include mostly grays and navys, but brown or seersucker are possibilities.

-Grooms can get formalwear selection advice. Tony has 30+ years experience in men’s attire and is happy to assist in decision making, especially with regards to formality level, black tie vs. white tie, what colors are appropriate for what time of day, and all kinds of other questions one might have.

-Finally, Este’s offers a service-oriented experience with local flavor for the men that equals what women are used to. Men can relax in the “club room” that includes a traditional barber shop. Go ahead and have a beer, enjoy the massage chair, watch sports, get a haircut or even a straight razor shave. Sounds like a great atmosphere for the guys!

Store info:
Este’s Men’s Clothing
1633 NW Glisan
Portland, OR 97209
503-227-0275

{ Attire tips } Can I wear the tux I already own to the wedding?

Tips-for-wearing-tuxedo-wedding

Weddings are all about personalization.  And we find that many of the men out there already own their own tuxedo.  That's great!  If you want to wear your own tuxedo in yours or your friend's wedding, here are some must-do tips for success:

– Check with the groom first to make sure that this is OK! He may already have a look in mind, and if so you should go with his decision.
– Coordinate your accessories with the group for a polished look.
– If you are the groom, you might be able get away with a slightly different style.  However, if you're not the groom, your tuxedo style should not be radically different from the rest of the wedding party.  No mandarin collars if everyone else is in a notch collar!
– If you are bringing your own accessories (tie, bowtie, vest, etc.) don't forget to pack them in your wedding kit.
– Consider renting or buying the same accessories and shirts for the group for a coordinated look (and also to make sure everyone has them!)
– Don't forget to pack dark socks and the shoes that go with your tux.

Hope you find these tuxedo tips helpful!  Next up we'll talk a little bit about ivory vs. white in the wedding colors.