Black Friday (sales), Christmas and more moans.

November is traditionally our quiet time.  Wedding season runs all year for us, however we do less weddings in November. We try to make the most of this time.  We have photo-shoots, refits, we paint, we clean, we make everything look shiny and new.  Towards the end of November there is not so much to do.   Like everyone else we start thinking about Christmas, we put in some nice Christmas displays and make the shop all Christmassy and generally get ready for the festive season.

But what's this?  Retailers now have to slash their prices for one day only?  'Black Friday'  

I'm sorry but no.  Nope, nada.  We will not being doing that here.  And this is why.

The run up to Christmas should not be about how much money we can spend, how much stuff we can accumulate.  In my opinion Christmas should be about spending real quality time with those you love.  Yes you may buy gifts, but hey don't feel obliged!

The media tells us this is nonsense, we are bombarded with 24 hours of adverts, telling us what we should buy, how much we should buy and why we should buy it.   Non-sensical perfume adverts, gluttonous frozen foods and sickly alcohol adverts start in November.  TV programmes advising on what we should wear for Christmas, how we should cut our hair, how we should think, but most importantly on what we should buy!  Buy, spend, buy spend.

Sure if you want a break from all this expenditure you can hide until after Christmas.  Nope.  No you can't.  Here is the footage on the news of the housewife who left her family to fend for themselves over Christmas so she could stand (camp) in a line for two days, just to be first in line for the DFS Boxing day sale.

You get the idea.  Consumerism is out of hand.  'Black Friday' is just another example of the rampant disease that is in real danger of sucking any goodness from what should be a lovely time of year.

I know what you are thinking, this guy works in retail, surely he knows about margins, seasonal purchasing and all the other fluff retailers should know?    Well yes I do.  And I don't care.  Yes I could have a sale.  Yes I could take some extra money over Christmas.  In the short term this would seem great but Jack Bunneys is different.  We don't have to have a sale and we would rather not take extra money over the Christmas period, instead we will use this time to meet new clients for next year, we will clean, tidy, reorganise but most importantly we will spend (real-quality-time) time with our families.

2015 Wedding Suit Fashion - What Will Happen!

Earlier today I wrote a blog post about what I would like to see happen in Wedding Suit Fashion throughout 2015.  Here it is: Click 

However we all know what I would 'Like' to see and what actually 'Will'  happen are two very different things!

There are a few things that I am 100% convinced will be massively popular throughout 2015:

1.  Tweeds/Checks/Country

The whole country check and tweed suit thing will continue and grow throughout 2015.

Bespoke/Hire from Jack Bunneys

2.  Blue, Blue & More Blue

Blue is by far the most popular colour and this is going to continue throughout 2015.

Blue Wedding Suits from Jack Bunneys

3. Slim & Slimmer

Slim fit will continue.  Slim is becoming the usual and slimmer will be the new slim. (makes sense)

Slim Fitting Wedding Suits Jack Bunneys

4.  It's all about the Groom!

The groom wearing a different suit and being unique has been our preferred set-up for some years but I think this will become the usual in 2015.

Bespoke/Hire from Jack Bunneys

5. Collar Bars!

Everyone loves collar bars!  2014 saw a surge in collar bar sales and this can only continue to grow throughout 2015.

Collar Bar from Jack Bunneys

6.  Coloured shirts!

Why are wedding shirts always white?  Or do they have to be? in 2015 you will see less white and more colours.

Coloured Shirt Jack Bunneys

7.  The Waistcoat is back!

The biggest and most important trend for 2015 will be the waistcoat.  Over the last few years we have seen the decline and virtual extinction of the 'Wedding Waistcoat' but it is now time for it come back and it will be back bigger than ever!    Woollen waistcoats in flannels, tweeds, checks, tattersalls and doeskins.  Single breasted button 4 or 5, horseshoe, double breasted, double breasted horseshoe, with lapels and without!  All sorts of contrasting waistcoats worn by the groom!
I predict that by the end of 2015 the wedding waistcoat will be back!

Woollen Wedding Waistcoat

Tweed Country Wedding waistcoat

2015 - Wedding Suit Fashion; what I would like to see happen!

Every year I like to make predictions about what I think will happen the next year in regards to 'Wedding Suits'    Most years I am mostly correct in my predictions,  last year I think I was 100% correct!
 In fact I think the fact that I posted the prediction in August 2013 by no means influenced why those things were so popular throughout 2014!   That post was one of the most popular blog posts I have ever done, it was read by literally 1000's of people!

Men's Wedding Fashion Trends - What Will Happen 2014 



I will write another post just like that one, where I predict what will happen. And I will probably by quite close to 100% correct again .. however!  I also wrote another blog post.  This post was about what I would 'Like' to see happen in 2014.


Men's Wedding Fashion Trends - What I would 'LIKE' to see happen in 2014

That post was not as popular!  But covered some great trends and some of those trends although not mainstream were certainly very popular throughout 2014.



So todays post is about what I would 'LIKE' to see happen in wedding suit fashions for 2015.  Not what I think will happen but rather what would happen if the whole world agreed with me!

No 1:

Flannel, Flannel and more Flannel.    

Tweeds are nice, mohairs are lovely but what about Flannel for a wedding suit?  Never considered it, then now is the time!  Flannel cloths do not have to be heavy or low quality, beautiful lightweight flannels give the comfort of a superfine wool and a quintessentially English country look.

Blue  Flannel 

No 2:

Patterned Waistcoats!

What!!!!!! patterned waistcoats are you sure?  Well yes actually but not those swirly polyester things, but what about a prince of wales check or fine tweed?  Contrast waistcoats give you a definitive wedding look but you do not have to have an ivory one!  Try flannels, checks, tweeds, tattersalls or doeskins.

Check waistcoats

No 3:

Colour!!!    

Ok so blue is really popular, it has been for years now!  But please can we all just try some other colours which are not black, blue or grey!   Just try brown, give it a go.  It can look great!  What about Burgundy?  sounds horrible, looks amazing!

brown wedding suit

Burgundy wedding suit

No 4:

Bow-Ties (again)

I say this every year!  But this year I am adding a caveat to my prediction, please please let bow-ties be popular but please please for the love of all things that can dress themselves learn to tie your bow! A ready-tied bow looks like a ready-tied bow.  This is fine if you are 8 years old, if you are 25 you look a little silly.  

Bow Tie wedding suit

No 5:

Individualism!  

I would love to see (more than everything else I have stated) each and every customer dressed completely uniquely and perfectly 100% happy in their choice.  That is my ideal.  If that ever happens I will retire and leave this business forever because there would be nothing left to do! 

I would love for every groom to know exactly what he wants, to have done his research, to know about cloths and styles.  To be 100% happy that he has made an exact choice and it is as unique to him as his own DNA.   

So that is what i would like to see happen in 2015!  What will happen?  Well I have a very good idea. Blog post to follow shortly.

Bespoke Wedding Suit