Ok, aside from the fact that my man's wardrobe generally needs help, he just informed me that we have this function to go to on Friday evening. He's known about it for over a month.

Anyway, we are also going to an outdoor wedding in July so I was thinking I could get him an outfit for both.

Here's the thing. We are in the middle of moving so none of his regular stuff for these kinds of things (as minimal as his wardrobe is) are in storage.

What kind of outfit should I get him? Like I said, the wedding is outdoors in British Columbia, so I don't think a suit is needed. This thing on Friday is a classical concert followed by a dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this huge project that created the place he works. He's not an office guy, he is a millwright, so I think he is probably ok without a suit there too.

He wants to wear khakis and a golf shirt. I said hell no.

I will be wearing either a beautiful white with large black polka dot dress (think 50's inspired) with peep toe pumps and a gold clutch, or a silk Banana Republic wrap dress that is cream, bright green and navy with peep toes cream and gold wedges and probably the gold clutch. Not sure which outfit is going to which event. This is a total aside, but I bought the polka dot dress on a whim on Friday night, before I knew about this thing because I loved it so and it was a steal and I figured if I ever needed a dress for an event, I would have one and HA, I was right!

Anyway, I don't have a lot of time and there are crappy stores here so if I just had a look in mind, I could attempt to find something. Even if you think he needs a suit, that is ok too. I will also probably have to get him shoes since his are in storage too.

Thanks again!

sorry about the spelling and grammar errors!

you are right that a suit is to much for an out door wedding.Because you will be dressed nice i would stay you ground on the no khakis/golf shirt stuff...i would wear a pair of black dress pants, belt and shoes with a cotton dress shirt in a light blue,creme or light orange.No tie.

A lot depends--my cousin was married in an outdoor ceremony, but the reception was indoors and a suit and tie was completely in order for the men. Less would have been too casual.

I would say that for both events, a sport jacket and tie should be added. If it is apparent early on that it's all too much, the jacket and/or tie can be removed. But if you don't have them on hand, they can't be added if not having them would be too casual.

I just found out that the Men's Wearhouse website organizes looks by occasion: Men's Wearhouse looks by occasion.

I think that the "semi-formal" looks are closest to the one you're after. Even if you don't buy from them, having everything organized and displayed on one page (and I mean everything, except for unmentionables!) helps a lot in putting the right thing together.

Thanks ladies. That Men's Warehouse site is good. He hates shopping with a white hot intensity of a thousand suns, but maybe I can get him to look at a web site to tell me what he likes and dislikes instead of waiting until I get it home ...

I did go to a thrift shop today and picked up a pair of black flat front dress pants. I thought they looked a bit more casual with the flat front yet still a dressy fabric. I also got a brand new Jones New York cotton shirt (but a fine weave) that is white with light blue, black and caramel stripes. The strips are very light and not overwhelming. I also picked up a caramel colour jacket with a bit of a check in it but the sleeves were a tad too short and can't be altered (he's 6'4 so that is a problem). There were a couple of other options so I will probably get him a similar jacket at the thrift store or brand new. I also picked out a black tie with all those colours in it too to tie it all together.

Since his dressy stuff is in storage he will either have to borrow a belt and shoes or I might get him something a little more modern and fashionable than what he has (i.e. not boring!).

As a wardrobe consultant at Men's Wearhouse, I need to tell you that just because a wedding is outside, doesn't mean that a suit and tie are inappropriate.

A wedding is a formal ocassion. For me it just shows respect to the couple getting married that the guests be dressed nicely--unless, of course, the bride and groom are going casual. Outside means not necesarrily black suit. For both of these ocassions, a pair of dress slacks and a sport coat and preferably a tie are the best minimal option. If you're a tad over dressed, he can always take off the tie and slip it into a jacket pocket, but if he's underdressed, he can't move up.

Unfortunately, people are not only dumbing down, but dressing down. They have lost their sense of ocassion. Elsewhere here I posted the experience of our store's assistant manager: A customer came into the store looking for something to wear to a black tie event. (For the uneducated here, a black tie event is traditionally a tuxedo event, adn at the very most informal a black suit with a black regular tie.) He informed our AM that he intended to wear jeans to the event, and then he selected a tan, rough silk jacket to go with his jeans and cowboy boots to the black tie event.

Even though your man hates dressing up, a suit for weddings and funeral should be in his closet. It's only respectful.

Take your man into Moore's. It's owned by Men's Wearhouse, and they can assist you in putting together some appropriate outfits.

With you being dressed so nicely, the way he wants to dress will drag down your look.

Thanks for your input matthelm. I have emailed the bride to ask her about the attire for the wedding. It is being held at a rustic lodge near Whistler, British Columbia, which is a pretty laid back area.

sorry, posted too soon..

It is a laid back area but I do like the idea of having a sport coat if needed. Rather be to dressy than too casual.

Whistler is laid back and rustic, however, it is a high end sort of place. A wedding there would not be inexpensive and despite being in a rustic location, you could expect it to be more formal than it may first appear. Don't confuse the natural beauty of the location with a casual atmosphere.

I've been to Whistler before, I've spoken to the bride, I'm good to go on what my man will wear.