Save the Date: The Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair, 8th March, 2015

What is it that makes the Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair one of the highlights of our calendar year? You!

Of course, the venue, the Clifton Pavilion, is beautiful. With it’s art deco architecture and view out over the Bristol Zoo, it is a wonderful place to while away a morning or afternoon perusing the wares of the wedding faire stallholders, and, perhaps, afterwards, to take a stroll around the historical zoo gardens.

But it is, for the most part, your love and appreciation of all things vintage which makes it such a hit for us exhibitors you see. We work ourselves into a frenzy preparing and fine tuning our displays for your delectation, because, unlike so many other wedding fair’s, the stallholders at the Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair enjoy exhibiting as much as you like attending.

In fact, I am still working on commissions I took following enquiries from last year’s Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair. So why do Brown in Town’s grooms favour a vintage look for their wedding suits: is it because they have always hankered after a suit that reminds them of the suits which their grandfather’s wore, most commonly a three piece suit of grey flannel, and in some instances, tweed? Or is it because they want to do something a little bit different (or, at the very least, avoid hiring).

And why not. Our forefathers suits were all tailor made for the individual using the best of British materials – which explains why vintage garments have stood the test of time – and were cut to flatter the individual and make them appear more elegant. Which they always did.

Ergo, because they were tailor made, there is generally to be found inlay within the garment which can be adjusted, both by taking the seams in and also by letting them out – which is so often not the case with todays off-the-peg clothing at it is so often trimmed out – you won’t find as many of todays off-the-peg suits available in your favourite thrift store or charity shop in years to come, as we do vintage suits.

Undoubtedly, there will be the question of ensemble: three piece suits are often considered to have vintage appeal, as, historically, we have worn waistcoats to keep us warm – waistcoats are also a great way for the groom to wear a fob watch, a popular family heirloom – but two piece double breasted suit were almost equally as popular, and are now enjoying something of a renaissance all their own in sartorial circles.

Once it has been decided if the groom will be wearing a two piece suit, or three piece suit, the next question is invariably one of colour. There are myriad cloths, and cloth colours, but those which strike a resounding chord with vintage lovers are tweeds for their autumnal shades i.e. brown or fawn. A herringbone pattern in the cloth is another popular choice.

Which colour is correct, however, is a cloth colour that flatters the wearer, one that compliments either the wearer’s skin tone, hair colour, eye colour, or, here in Bristol at least, one’s beard colour. Assuming the suit colour has not been chosen based on wedding dress colour or colour scheme, the reason that it is of the utmost importance that a groom look good in his wedding suit, is that those wedding photos will last for years to come, and wearing a suit colour which compliments the wearer, not just the event, is essential.

This will be Brown in Town’s second year exhibiting and we are honoured to be a part of the Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair. Moreover, we’re looking forward to the opportunity to wax sartorial with the discerning groom, for it is our experience that brides and grooms that appreciate all things vintage appreciate the fine art of bespoke tailoring.

And with only a few weeks to go, both myself and Brown in Town mannequin, Douglas (who adorns the window of Zip Pin Alterations in Clifton Arcade) are busy preparing our suits for this years event, wanting to be sure that we do not wear the same outfits that we wore to last years event, naturally. That’s our excuse anyway!

See you there..