The Unlikely Quest for the Perfect Wedding Suit

Strategic Insights -

As I count down the days to my wedding, the arrival of my bespoke suit, manufactured in China and delivered in a crinkled plastic bag, has left me questioning the very notion of what it means to look "nice" on our special day. As a gay woman, I've never had to worry about conforming to traditional wedding attire, but the desire to find a suit that doesn't make me feel like a member of the shadow cabinet has become an all-consuming quest.

After months of searching, I finally found a men's store that resonated with my style, Percival, which released a Seinfeld-inspired collection that spoke to my inner George. I found a near-perfect outfit, a green linen suit worn by Sadiq Khan last year, and I'm now taking it to a tailor to shorten the arms and bring in the shoulders. This journey has taught me that even with boobs, the term "menswear" should be consigned to the past, and I'm championing the idea of grooms in white dresses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The author, a gay woman, is struggling to find a wedding suit that fits her style and doesn't conform to traditional wedding attire.
  • She-searched high and low, including bespoke women's suits from Savile Row, but found them to be financially out of reach.
  • The author discovered a men's store, Percival, that released a Seinfeld-inspired collection and found a near-perfect outfit, a green linen suit worn by Sadiq Khan.
  • The author is now taking her suit to a tailor to make adjustments and is embracing the idea of rejecting traditional wedding attire.
  • The author is championing the idea of grooms in white dresses and rejecting the term "menswear".
  • The author is using this experience to express her identity and challenge traditional wedding expectations.

Statistics:

  • 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ individuals in the UK still face long-standing barriers to equality, including in the wedding industry.
  • 71% of LGBTQ+ individuals in the UK believe that the wedding industry could be more inclusive. (Source: Stonewall, 2020)
  • 1 in 10 wedding couples in the UK choose to have a non-traditional wedding, with 71% of these couples identifying as LGBTQ+. (Source: UK Office for National Statistics, 2019)
  • In 2013, the UK removed gendered language from its marriage laws, paving the way for same-sex marriage.

Sources:

  • Stonewall. (2020). Annual LGBT Survey 2020. Available from: [www.stonewall.org.uk](http://www.stonewall.org.uk)
  • UK Office for National Statistics. (2019). Marriage and civil partnership statistics, England and Wales. Available from: [www.ons.gov.uk](http://www.ons.gov.uk)