Ask Captain Dapper: Help Me With My Garden Party Fashion

This week's Ask Captain Dapper question comes to us from a reader who needs help dressing for a garden party wedding. This is not just any wedding, mind you. This is a gay wedding. You know what that means ... the pressure is on to dress to impress. This married father of two wants to get out of his fashion comfort zone and impress the gays. Captain Dapper to the rescue!

Dear Captain Dapper,

I'm going to a wedding this weekend and the theme is 'garden party'. I've decided to go a little outside my comfort zone and I bought a pair of nantucket red chinos and a plaid shirt to match. Now that I've got the pants and shirt, I need a little advice on accessories.

Is it kosher to wear a pocket square with just a shirt and no jacket? I'm also thinking about a bow tie, but I've never worn one before and that seems daunting. And for a belt, is a light brown leather okay, or should it be cloth? Cloth seems like a better fit but I'm not sure.

Any advice you can give is appreciated.

Trying to Branch Out

Read Captain Dapper's advice below...




Dear Mr. Branch Out,

First of all, I must congratulate your for getting a very good start with your garden party ensemble. The chinos and shirt are a smart combination. The look so far is a nice mix of dressy and casual, perfect for a garden party wedding. Now, let's answer your specific questions...

So you know how dress shirts have a pocket on the chest? Please don't put things in that pocket. I'm of the opinion that those pockets are to never be used. Perhaps it's because my father would load his down with glasses and checkbook and pencils and pens when he would begrudgingly take me to the mall to satisfy my burgeoning fashionisto (and to stop my hours of hours of pestering) but I just don't like seeing things stuffed into shirt pockets. This includes pocket squares. Don't worry - I'm not nixing the pocket square completely. I'm just saying that if you're going to use a pocket square, you should wear a jacket.

Speaking of, I think a jacket is necessary here. A jacket will help pull the look together and, this being a wedding, seems a little dressier than the look sans jacket. Here's a little roundup of lightweight jackets that would take your look to the next level:

Top row, left to right:
Original Penguin Chambray Blazer from Amazon $117.99
Lightweight Suit Separate Jacket in Dark Denim from Penguin $134.99
Two-Button Knit Blazer in Charcoal Heather from Forever 21 $49.80

Bottom row, left to right:
Ludlow Sportcoat in Indigo Navy Herringbone Linen from J. Crew $249.99
Armani Jeans Jacket Chambray Blazer from Macy's $189.99
The Nottingham Blazer in Khaki Herringbone from Bonobos $398

All of the above jackets would work with your trouser/shirt combo. I chose jackets in blues and grays because they're complementary with your trousers and they'll also coordinate with your brown shoes. My personal favorites for your look are the Penguin chambray jackets and the Armani blazer.

I would love to recommend that you wear a bow tie but I do know that they can be intimidating. There's nothing intimidating about wearing a bow tie but tying one is another story. If you choose to wear a bow tie, practice tying it for a few days before the party. Trust me when I say that you don't want to be in a panic about tying a bow tie for the first time the morning of the party. You could also enlist a friend who is familiar with tying bow ties to prep it for you. Most bow ties have buttons or a clasp on the back so that they can be removed without being untied. Ask your friend to tie it on you, use the buttons to slip it off and then it's ready to go at party time.

That said, if you add the jacket to the look, I think you can skip the bow tie and opt for an open collar. Use a pocket square in the jacket's breast pocket to dress up the look. Even a simple white hankie will add a little extra interest to your jacket. (Just look at the bottom right photo in the jacket line-up. Doesn't that look great?) When mixing casual with dressy, I think it's best to pick one accessory: bow tie or pocket square. Wearing both seems a bit fussy.

Lastly, you asked about the belt. I like the belt you're wearing in the photo, Mr. Branch Out, but I prefer leather belts with leather shoes. In this case, I think a brown leather belt would make the look feel a little more refined.

Good luck with your look, Mr. Branch Out. Let us know how it all comes together!

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Image: Submitted by reader