It’s been a year since my monthly column on groom style kicked off, so as 2013 draws to a close it seems an appropriate time to take stock and look back to see if my musings and predictions still hold water or if I should resign them to my shoe box of mobile phone shoulder holsters.

The year started on a particularly dapper note with the recent launch of Skyfall causing the usual spiked interest in tuxedos, how to wear them and what to wear with them. However, 2013 will be remembered as the year that midnight blue usurped traditional black on the red carpet as well as at the end of the aisle. Coupled with the Oscars in February there should be no surprise in the initial line up of topics:

I certainly saw an increase in attention to sartorial detail amongst my grooms this year, culminating in this fine ensemble by Alex in my penultimate wedding for 2013.

Alex donned a navy, tailored, three piece suit by MJ Bale with matching dress shirt and bow tie. The ensemble was completed with striped socks, high gloss loafers and an exceptionally attractive IWC watch.

Attention then turned to high fashion with:

The first four points will always be useful to know while the latter four should definitely be committed to memory.

As wedding season wound down I enjoyed discovering whisky, a tipple that will always be in vogue and will distinguish a gentleman from a bogan by the way it is consumed:

As spring approached I felt the need to throw out a few fashion forward ideas for inspiration:

I’ve yet to see shorts or curaçao blue in practice, but as I understand it great innovators often don’t see adoption of their ideas until years later. Ahem!

Moving swiftly on and assuming groomsman’s duties meant a chance to practice what I preach. I played chief style advisor to the groom which gave me a new perspective on wedding planning and some potentially controversial new subject matter:

I didn’t get round to writing down my top tips for ruling the dancefloor but this shot from the wedding pretty much says everything:

As the new wedding season got underway my posts became less about the clothes and more about the grooms.

After all, what’s the point of all the style and grooming if you don’t get to relax and enjoy a pie and a beer on the biggest day of your life?:

If you were a 2013 groom I hope these posts proved useful, and if your wedding awaits in 2014 then I hope I’ve provided some inspiration for you. But to all you fine gentlemen I raise a glass of single malt and wish you a very merry Christmas and an exceptionally sartorial new year.

Images by Milton Gan Photography

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About Milton Gan Photography: Milton Gan combines his artistic flair, eye for detail, and passions for love, style and elegance to create a finely crafted photographic experience for each and every one of his clients.

Milton writes regularly for Polka Dot Groom as well as being a ridiculously talented wedding photographer. You can read his previous posts here. Find Milton on Google+