Suit Shopping Adventures with Adam: Where Romance Meets Tailoring

There are few moments in wedding planning as iconic as dress shopping—cue the “Say Yes to the Dress” montages, tearful moms, and glasses of bubbly. But let’s talk about the unsung hero of wedding prep: suit shopping. That’s right. It is simply one of those quintessential wedding tasks that often gets overshadowed by the glitz and glamour of dress shopping. But let’s get real for a second: a wedding without the groom’s suit? That’s like a taco without guac. And since Adam and I are equal-opportunity fashionistas (okay, mostly me, but we’re in this together), we recently embarked on the all-important mission to find the suit for him. So in this post, it’s not just about lace and tulle; sometimes, it’s about fabric swatches, bow ties, and whether my fiancé knows the difference between a shawl lapel and notched (spoiler alert: he doesn’t).

So, cue the cute moments, quirky one-liners, and a surprising amount of suit-related banter.

Step 1: Convincing Adam That Suit Shopping is Actually Fun

Let’s start here: Adam is the love of my life. He’s charming, funny, and has a heart of gold—but let’s just say he’s not exactly an aficionado when it comes to wardrobe choices. His idea of “dressing up” is putting on the one button-down shirt he didn’t spill coffee on. So, when I mentioned the words “suit shopping,” I could see the hesitation on his face (he also put it off for 3 weeks following our initial conversation).

But here’s the thing: I’ve learned the secret to getting Adam excited about anything—bribery, in the form of food. I dangled the promise of brunch after the suit appointment, and suddenly, he was all in. Pro tip: when in doubt, offer bacon.

Step 2: Entering the Suit Wonderland

We walked into the suit department, and it was like a fancy men’s wonderland. There were more shades of grey than a paint store, and don’t even get me started on the lapels and fabrics. Adam immediately gravitated toward the “safe” options—black, grey, something that said “I’m going to an important work meeting” instead of “I’m getting married to the love of my life.”

But Noah, Adam’s brother and a fashionisto himself, wasn’t having it. “Let’s change things up a little, huh?” he said, with a little wink to me. He pulled out a gorgeous slim fit, Calvin Klein dusty blue suit, complete with a subtle pattern. Adam looked skeptical, but I could already tell this was going to be a winner.

Step 3: The Suit Try-On Extravaganza

Adam stepped into the dressing room like a lamb to the slaughter, while I waited outside like a proud fashion coach, ready to cheer him on. A few minutes later, the curtain pulled back, and… wow. There he was, in all his suit-clad glory, looking like the cover model for GQ’s Grooms Who Clean Up Too Well issue.

Adam did a little spin in front of the mirror, pretending to size himself up like a pro. “What do you think?” he asked, with that adorable grin I love so much.

“I think we might need sunglasses at the wedding because you’re shining, babe,” I replied. To be honest, it took every ounce of self-control not to propose to him right then and there.

**Note: the suit coat is a little off in color as they need to order the exact color in Adam’s size—but that will be in next week!**

Step 4: Bow Tie or Traditional Tie: The Great Debate

The next hurdle? The age-old question: bow tie or traditional tie. I was team bow tie all the way because, hello, they’re cute and quirky—just like Adam. But he wasn’t so convinced. “Do I look like a professor who’s going to teach history in this?” he asked.

I gave him a look. “Actually, yeah, kinda like my law and ethics professor I had in grad school—maybe we should rethink this.” I was shocked to be disappointed at my own first personal choice. However, in the end, Adam did find an absolutely gorgeous, traditional, tie (and well okay, my mum found the tie and ordered it from Italy). And I, in turn, promised to stop making dad jokes about it. (But let’s be real, I’m not actually going to stop.)

Step 5: The Final Decision: Dusty Blue All the Way

After trying on a few more suits—some that were, shall we say, interesting (there was a plaid situation that we won’t speak of again)—we came back to the dusty blue number that had stolen both our hearts. It was sleek, timeless, and made Adam look like a dashing 007, minus the Aston Martin.

He looked at me in the mirror and said, “I think this is the one.”

I couldn’t resist. “You mean I’m the one, but sure, the suit’s great too.”

We laughed, and with that, the decision was made. Our sales associate Marina rang us up, we high-fived, and I made sure to snap a mental picture of Adam looking ridiculously handsome. (There may have also been a sneaky selfie or two. For posterity, of course.)

Step 6: Brunch, Because Priorities

As promised, we ended our shopping adventure with brunch. Over seasonal features and espresso martinis, we basked in the glow of another wedding task checked off the list—and, let’s be real, we also basked in the glow of how fantastic Adam looked in that suit.

I’m not saying the suit is what’s going to make our wedding day magical—that’s all about the love and commitment (and maybe the cookie table)—but let’s just say, when I walk down that aisle and see Adam waiting for me in his navy suit and tie, I’m going to swoon. Har’

One Last Look

Suit shopping with Adam was everything I hoped it would be: cute, quirky, a little chaotic, and a lot of fun. Sure, there were moments of confusion (why are there so many types of lapels?) and a near-miss with a plaid blazer, but at the end of the day, we found something that was perfectly him—and perfectly us. Plus, we got brunch, so really, it was a win-win.

Now, onto the next wedding adventure… I think Adam heard me mention “floral arrangements” and has suddenly developed an intense interest in golfing.


Are you getting married or have you ever planned a fall wedding? Let’s chat about it in the comments below and you can also always hit me up on my socials! Which are on Instagram (and connect with me on Threads!), Pinterest, BlogLovin, Twitter (oops I mean “X”, eyeroll), you can also like/follow me on Facebook and connect with me on LinkedIn!

Later babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Pssssst! If you love this outfit and want to shop Adam’s closet (at least for this post), you can find these pieces and similar ones here in my LIKEtoKNOW.it shop!

Winter Style Essentials 2018 (Feat. StyleWe + SheIn)

Even though the winter season has been upon us for a little over a month now (am I the only one who has had enough of this deep freeze business?), we, unfortunately, still have about 2 more months to go. And though I am sure many of us already have our favorite winter pieces out and ready to go, if you are anything like me and hate to be cold, I am sure there is always some room for a new coat or winter accessories in your closet. So to help everyone keep toasty warm and stylish through the rest of the winter, I decided to share my top style essentials for winter 2018, featuring fabulous looks and accessories from my sponsors StyleWe and SheIn!

Cozy Hats

Though I am sure hats are one of our must have favorite products in order to keep our ears and head warm, this year they are also much more stylish than years past. This season you can be expecting to see embroidered embellishments, fur accents, and lots of color which is great for giving your winter outfit a nice pop.

Items Left to Right: White Beanie With Fur Puff, Black & Grey Fur Hat, Black Beanie With Embroidered Bee, Brown Fur Cap, Classic Beanie.

Fuzzy & Fashionable Coats

It wouldn't be the winter season without snowy and cold weather, which means if you have to be outdoors for any reason, you're definitely going to need a warm coat. Though being warm should be everyone's main priority in this weather, many of us also focus on fashion and styling as well. So, this season's best looking coats have lots of patterns, color blocking, and fur! The other trend you'll be seeing more of is winter are three quarter coats opposed to shorter jackets that were more frequently styled in years past. The reason this is great is because the added length helps keep you warm.

Items Left to Right: Black, Red Print, Fur Hood, Down Coat, Tan Color Block Coat, Yellow Plaid Coat, Color Block Fur Coat, Grey Fleece Coat.

Snuggly Sweaters

Another winter style staple is no other than classic sweaters. Again, to keep warm in the winter is a must, and obviously you can do this through layering warm pieces with your sweaters or cardigans. This year, much like with coats, the sweater trends include pops of color, color blocking, and loads of embroidering. 

Items Left to Right: Pink Color Block Cardigan, Light Grey Sweater, White Embroidered Sweater, Tan Patchwork Sweater, White and Tan Cardigan.

Captivating Capes

Here is probably my favorite style trend of winter 2018: Capes. I have always loved capes ever since I was little just because they have such a pretty and sophisticated look to them, so I'm surprised it took this long for this trend to catch on! The trends you'll be seeing in capes will include pretty accents such as buttons and bows, along with fur and fur trim.

Items Left to Right: Black Double Breasted Cape, Long Black Cape with Fur Trim, Maroon Cape with Bow, Short Green Cape, Red Print Cape.

Gorgeous Gloves

Another important accessory that is a must are gloves! Though many of us just wear gloves as a extra precaution to keep us warm, they're also essential to keep your hands from getting chapped and cracked during the cold winter months. Big trends that you will be seeing in gloves this season will be fur trims and accents, along with deep lush colors.

Items Left to Right: Black Fur Cuff Gloves, Grey Puff Ball Mittens, Red Fur Puff Ball Gloves, Grey Fold Back Mittens, Grey Patchwork Gloves.

Wonderfully Warm Winter Dresses

Though I personally avoid wearing dresses at all costs during the winter, sometimes I have events that require me to be a little more dressed up than just jeans and a sweater. So, considering I'm sure most of my readers have a similar dilemma, I decided to include some of my favorite dress trends for winter 2018. The top trends you will be seeing are cowl neck or turtle neck sweater dresses, a lot of plaid, fur accents, bold colors, and velvet.

Items Left to Right: Long Tan Sweater Dress, Rose Calf Length Sweater Dress, Royal Blue Velvet Dress, Grey Dress With Fur Collar, Grey Wool Plaid Dress.

Statement Making Pants

In case you are really opposed to wearing dresses in the cold months, another route to go is to add some dress pants to your wardrobe. And actually, due to the cool styles and trends in pants we will be seeing this winter, there is really no better time to snag some! Much like with dresses, you'll see lots of bold colors and patterns, along with pretty velvet material this season. Another trend is actually wide leg pants, which is quite the switch from the tapered and skinny pants we've been accustom to seeing in past years.

Items Left to Right: Blue Velvet Pants, Tan and Green Plaid Pants, Olive Wool Pants, Velvet Multi Color Print Pants, Yellow Wide Leg Pants.

Bold Boots

Last but not least, one of the most important things to keep warm are our feet, which means in the winter season we definitely need to invest in some warm boots! The top boot trends in 2018 include patterned boots, bold colors, fur accents, along with suede accents. 

Items Left to Right: Purple Bow Boots, Black Suede Boots, Black Leather Boots, Brown Checkered Boots, Brown Knee High Boots.

What are some of you favorite style trends this winter season? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Later, babes, try and stay warm!

Xx, Bree

P.S.  Having trouble finding all the goods you see here and on my Instagram? Fear not! I am a member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

#BLOGMAS: Gift Guide 2017

Whew! I don't know about all of you, but this holiday season has approached rather rapidly for me this year. From me being sick with pneumonia, my mum getting a hip replacement, and this semester at school winding down (Only one more exam left after today, yay!) I have most definitely been slacking on my holiday preparations this year, one of which is holiday shopping! So, while I was brainstorming gift ideas for my own Christmas shopping list, I decided so share some of my fool proof gift ideas, just in case some of my readers are late to the gift shopping game too. And to boot, I've managed to find some major steals through my sponsors as well, so not only can you nab some awesome gifts, you won't break the bank by doing so!

For Him

Let's face it: Though I'm sure we all love shopping for the fellows in our lives, sometimes it can be incredibly frustrating. This is due to the fact we are never quite sure what to buy them or in cases like mine, they end up buying something for themselves that we planned on getting them. So, I've compiled these following items that are sure to be a hit even if you're guy has everything he could possibly need.

Watches

Though I'm sure most men already own a watch, in my opinion they are one thing a guys can't have too many of (kind of like how I couldn't possibly ever have too many shoes). The reason being is due to giving their wardrobe versatility. For instance, on a more casual day out, he may want to go with a more modern or laid back watch than the dress watch he wears everyday to the office. 

Items Left to Right: Citzen Eco Drive, Movado Bold, JORD Sawyer Koa & Bronze, Bulova Stainless Steel Automatic, Michael Kors Chronograph

Accessories & Jewelry

Though not every guy is much for jewelry, some of these simple and understated pieces above could be the perfect gift for the man who like to accessorize. But there are also some more classic choices that may be better suited (and practical) for the more classic guy, such as cuff links, scarves, and ties.

Items Left to Right: Tiffany & Co. Paloma's Groove Bead Pendant, Burberry Cuff Links, Lacoste Logo Scarf, Tiffany & Co. Paloma Picasso's Knot Single Braid Bracelet, Tiffany & Co. Engine Turned Cuff Links, Ralph Lauren Bumble Bee Silk Tie.

Extras & Such

Last but not least, I decided to through in some practical options because one thing for sure is, I love to give useful gifts. So I figured I would throw some of these nifty options out their because I am sure any man would love them. 

Items Left to Right: Master Dynamic Ear Buds, Kiehl Men's Grooming Kit, Fendi Logo Wallet, Chanel Bleu Cologne

For Her

And since I know many of us ladies find it hard to shop for the men in our lives, I can only imagine that many guys have the same problem shopping for the women in their lives! So, if you happen to stumble upon this page (Hey, I don't only post fashion, so maybe you'll find something you like!) here are some great gift ideas for her if you're needing inspiration. 

Makeup & Skincare

Though I personally hardly ever wear makeup on a daily basis (not for lack of not liking too mind you, it mostly boils down to laziness on my part), I know there are many women who do and above are some of my top picks for makeup kits and brushes. There are also some killer skin care routines because who wouldn't want to give the gift of pampering and good skin?

Items Left to Right: Rouge Dior Bijou Lipstick SetYSL Dazzling Lights Palette, Burt's Bees Four Piece Face Essentials, Clarins 24 Piece Advent Calendar, 32 Piece Makeup Brush Set.

Jewelry & Accessories

If the gals in your life are anything like me, that means you can never go wrong with jewelry or warm and snugly accessories. From watches to bracelets, and from scarves and hats, these gift ideas are sure to please this holiday season. 

 Items Left to Right: Plaid Blanket Scarf, Grey Scarf and Pom Pom Beanie Set, Lira Coins Charm Bracelet, Givenchy Rose Gold Choker, Movado Two Tone Watch, Movado Bold in Rose Gold, Animal Pattern Socks.

Extras & Such

Much like for the guys, of course there is always room for practical gifts for us girls too. So, here is a broad selection of some very useful gifts that I'm sure any lady would adore. 

Items Left to Right: Heart and Lock Key Chain, Mermaid Tail Blanket (I have one, and I love it! It's soooo warm!), Workout Phone Case, Geometric Phone Case, Chanel No. 5 Perfume, Calvin Klein Cross Body Bag.

For All

Last but certainly not least, I decided I wanted to cover "gifts for all" in this post. Mainly because though it can be hard to shop for our loved ones, it's even harder to shop for people who we do not know that well. Whether it be for a work Chinese auction or even for an extended family member of your beau in their family grab bag, all of the following gifts are universal and are sure to thrill whoever may receive them!

Home Goods

The best thing about giving the gift of home goods is you really can't go wrong with them! People are always looking for nick-knacks, decor, candles, and anything to set their home apart and make it their own. The other great thing about home goods is many of them can be practical and useful too, making them a major hit.

Items Left to Right: Tea Kettle, Nest Fragrances, Crossley Record Player, Bar Set, Yankee Candles.

Gift Baskets

Gift basket, in my opinion, are best for holiday work parties that require a grab bag or Chinese auction. The reason being is you can find a gift basket filled with just about thing! From spa treatments, to chocolates, to wines, and even meats and cheeses, there is definitely something for everybody when it comes to gift baskets.

 Items Left to Right: Spa Gift Basket, Ghirardelli Gift Basket, Tea and Coffee Gift Basket, Wine Gift Basket, Hickory Farms Perfect Picnic Basket.

Subscription Gifts 

And lastly, if you are feeling extra generous, you can give the gift of a year of a subscription service! These are great because many of them are geared towards practicality, healthy living, and some are even for our furry friends!

 Items Left to Right: Amazon Prime, Graze, Bark Box, Bourbon of the Month

What are some of the gifts you will be giving this holiday season? I'd love to hear about how you will be spreading cheer, so let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Later, babes, and happy shopping!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! Love the flat lay I posted earlier on Instagram today but not sure where to get the goods? Well, no fear! I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!