What the groom who plans on wearing white should know

White for a groom is not only tastefully classy, but also a brave choice. Fashion designer, Brenda Maraka, tips the groom that dares to go white.

- Not for the rugged man: A white suit should only be worn by a well-groomed groom. Men with a rugged look do not look good in white suits because of the neatness associated with this colour.

- Two shades: There are two shades of white to choose from, sparking white and ivory white (commonly known as cream or off-white). Ivory white is more commonly used because it has a dreamy feel to it.

- Skin complexion not an issue: Whatever shade you choose, a white suit will look good on a light skinned man just like it will on a dark skinned one provided he is groomed.

- To mix or match? Depending on one’s taste, a groom can choose to wear an all-white assemble or mix it with other colours. Thomas Christopher chose ivory white mixed with sparkling white and lilac. The other option is wearing all white and choosing black shoes. You can also clad in an ivory white coat, sparkling white shirt matched with a black bow tie, black trousers and black shoes. When mixing black and white, it is important to buy a class suit to avoid coming off like it is a mix and match. You can also decide that the only white thing about your suit is a waist coat, shirt and bow tie.

- The personality for white: One’s personality also determines if they can wear a white suit or not. Interesting, fun and radiant people look best in white tuxedos because it makes people expect a lot from you. It is wrong to assume that a white suit will make a dull or reserved person become interesting. It worked for Thomas thanks to his outgoing personality.

- Limit it to the groom: It is best if only the groom wears the white tuxedo but the best man can wear one too. However, it is not advisable for all the males in the entourage to wear white suits as this takes attention away from the bride.

- Back to the basics: Do not forget the basic rules of wearing a suit and that is that it should be fitting and give u enough room for motion because you will be dancing, shaking hands and probably wave to your guests now and then. The socks should be of the same colour as the hem of the trousers. Accessories should be kept minimal - a watch, your wedding band, and a nice pair of cufflinks are all you need for the wedding day.

bbanura@ug.nationmedia.com