Groom Style Tip #5: Mad About Bow Ties

Madras bow ties from J Press

I'm not talking about your straight, and might I add, boring silk bow ties. I'm talking about it's friendlier, more approachable cotton cousin. Maybe it's the return of Americana style that's made me fall in love with the bow tie again? All I know is that the punchy colors of the madras, floral and paisley patterns are perfect for an end-of-summer beach or farm chic wedding.

All bow ties above from Beau Ties Ltd.

Just take a look at the J Press site. All of the madras bow ties are "out of stock." It's not hard to see why the preppy options don't stay on the shelves for very long.

There's another reason to rejoice...Apparently, the bow tie has been so popular that even the LA Times featured a "How To Make A Bow Tie" piece! Click here for the how-to. For those of you who are very crafty, you can make your own bow tie that matches your color and wedding themes. Pick your fabric from a place like, Gorgeous Fabrics, get your sewing machine and presto! A DIY gift for your groomsmen. Brilliant.

Let us know if we can help style your groom. E-mail us at weddings@9tailors.com.

Grooms Style #6: The Country Club Set

Having lived in the Boston for quite some time, I'm no stranger to her residents' affinity to belts, shoes, pants and bags with whales, anchors and dogs on them. I imagine them wearing these outfits and sipping chilled drinks at the "Club," while playing golf, lawn bowling, and the like. So, I decided to pull together pieces that would complement this look. Today's dress is a beautiful, lace gown by the very talented Monique Lhuillier. For the groom, he needs a navy blazer, chinos and bright bow tie (yes, they have marlin on them!). To update the look, I added a pair of Gucci loafers. Game, set, match - Playing croquet on the country club lawn never looked so good.

Inspiration? Lace dress by Monique Lhuillier

Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Brides.com; Blazer/Pants: Moss; Loafers: Gucci via Bluefly.com; Ring: H. Samuel; Bow tie: Vineyard Vines via Nowell's; Boxers: Paul Smith ; Boutonniere: Teena's Creations

The Country Club Set - on Polyvore.com

Grooms Style #5: Bali Hai

My brother and his lovely fiance, Joan, are getting married in Bali. Jealous? Um, yes. It can seem like a daunting task to get married on a beach (e.g., the heat, the sand, the humidity). However, I created a very carefree groom's look that complements an equally breezy wedding dress by J. Crew. Lightweight suits in linen are a great way to beat the heat (no one likes underarm stains) and stay stylish. I also like a good ol' pocket square as an alternative to some kind of orchid boutonniere (talk about predictable). Since I know my mom would have a fit if she saw my brother in flip flops at the wedding, I completed the look with a pair of white, lace-up sneakers.

Inspiration? Tulle Dress by J. Crew

Tulle dress: JCrew via Brides.com; Linen/silk suit/pants: Jaeger; Linen shirt: James Pearse; Sunglasses: Ray Ban; Sneakers: Lanvin; Stainless steel ring: J. Leigh Jewelry

Bali Hai - on Polyvore.com