Dressing to impress

As we hit the peak of the wedding season, Anthony Loonam, manager of Club Dangan, Ennis, speaks to The Clare Champion about suit hire, which the company has just branched into, and trends in men’s formal wear

SPRING and summer are the busiest seasons for suit hire, with weddings and graduations coming quick and fast.
Anthony explains, “Our main clientele would be wedding parties but also students who have graduations and people who are attending a sombre occasion and need a suit to hire”.
According to Anthony, despite weddings becoming less formal than their Celtic Tiger peak, a three-piece suit is still a must for most Clare grooms.
“It would have to be a three-piece suit when it comes to events like a wedding. It’s the biggest day of your life and you will want to stand out from the guests attending and also feel confident you are dressed appropriately for the occasion. A three-piece suit means you and your groomsmen will first of all be able to co-ordinate colour-wise with your counterparts on the day, the bridesmaids, as often waistcoats and cravats are chosen to do so and also it will differentiate the wedding party from everyone else at the event,” he outlines.
But who makes the decisions when it comes to the all-important bridal party attire?
“I think it’s good to have consensus from both the bride and groom on what the groom and groomsmen wear on the big day. What we do at Club Dangan Formal Wear is listen to what styles are of preference and then guide the couple in terms of what is the best fit and style and then work at bringing in some continuity in the colours of the accessories the guys wear on the day. So the waistcoats and cravats can really finish off the look and are really important for photographs,” Anthony asserts.
Most Irish men are more conservative in their dress sense than their European peers and this is reflected in their slower embrace of tailoring and more slim fitted suits. That said, they are moving in a more easterly direction.
“Things are definitely moving towards a European continental fit. Jackets are more fitted and trousers have a more parallel leg. In Ireland, we don’t tend to completely conform with our European counterparts in terms of fashion but we have definitely responded to subtle suit trends and it’s great to see trendy linings, as well as ticket pockets on jackets,” Anthony comments.
He adds that while the shop has received some slightly unusual requests so far in terms of styles, there has been nothing too out of the ordinary.
“We haven’t had any requests we couldn’t cater for. If we don’t stock a style we often do our upmost to source it. For example, we are currently sourcing kilts for a customer who has a wedding in Scotland,” he outlines.
The classic tux remains popular too, according to Anthony, despite there being a notable decrease in the number of black tie events.
“What we’ve done is showcase a style that is a bit more modern with a nice, tailored fit, with a peak lapel. It suits the younger more fashion conscious guy, who wants to stand out a little from everyone else attending. Subtle styling means you can do this and also it means black tie does not have to be boring.
“That said, we still have the more classic fit so the choice is up to the wearer. It’s good to try things on and see what suits best and above all feel confident and comfortable in the suit,” Anthony concludes.
Club Dangan Formal Wear is holding a wedding information evening this Friday from 6pm to 8pm.