Multiple changes in leadership and direction have failed to keep the company afloat, however. And why is this? Some point to corporate greed that drove manufacturing overseas decreasing flexibility, others to lack of fashion savvy on the part of the last few owners resulting in design doldrums on an epic scale, still others to the trend away from tux rentals and toward less formal attire for men at the altar. Perhaps it’s all three. Perhaps there’s another reason. I’m not a business major, and I’m not intimately acquainted with the situation at hand.

We’ll see who – if anyone – picks up this ball and runs with it. If they do, I wish them the very best of luck. This is not an easy time for tux rentals, what with the economy in the dumpster and a lot of couples either scaling down their wedding plans or putting them off for more fiscally optimistic days.

It is, however, kind of odd to me to think of a world without After Six.

These are just some ideas to get your mind racing – and who knew that boutonnieres could be so creative? Fritts Rosenow Bespoke Boutonnieres will create a set of custom boutonnieres based on just about anything… gambling, Star Wars, boating, you name it!

…I also think I see some wedding wear ideas for the groom who would describe himself as a “creative type.” (via)

For a daytime ceremony, one wore a morning suit:

After five pm, a tuxedo was the way to go:

And for ultra-formal, there was always white tie and tails:

Things have, however, been slowly changing in the wedding world. More and more couples are choosing to forego traditional menswear rental. Some men are wearing suits or even formalwear they already own. That’s what Mr. Twistie and his attendants did. They didn’t match, but they looked and felt good in clothes of their own.

Some men are choosing to buy new suits – usually ones they will continue to wear for business or formal purposes.

Some are even ditching the entire idea of a suit of any kind. They might wear a crisp shirt and dress pants, with or without a vest or jacket.

If you’re getting married on a beach, what could be more appropriate than linen trousers and a cool, white, slightly oversized shirt?

And of course there’s always the option to put on fancy dress for a theme wedding:

After all, a guy doesn’t have to wear a tuxedo to wear a suit.

Note that the tuxedo pictured above — from Band Of Outsiders, Inc. — is not representative of all colored tuxedos. And of course, as in this photo, a too-short jacket and too-short pants will make you look like an ass no matter what color your tuxedo is. Oh, and if you do go for a colored tux, choose your cut and hue very carefully lest you end up looking like a pimp or a waiter or a member of a barber shop quartet or one of those fellows who wear fezzes and drive around in tiny little cars.

I’m leaning toward hate on this one, except in the case of the quirkiest, most outrageous weddings. To put it another way, a colored tuxedo could be amazing at the right wedding. A wedding that goes all the way and then some, maybe. But at a traditional wedding? No, thanks!

What say you?

But if a beach wedding is popular, it’s also a bit tricky when it comes to clothes. After all, traditional wedding clothes are all about pomp and circumstance, while beaches are all about relaxing. Yes, you could get married in swimwear. There’s no law against it. You could get married in a strapless, satin, beaded gown with a cathedral train and a big hoop.

There is, however, a path down the middle that makes for a pretty, dignified, fun, festive day and an album full of fabulous pictures. Here are a few tips on choosing just the right look for your big day on the beach.

1: Keep it light. Heavy satin and beaded lace may be gorgeous in a church or elegant ballroom, but they look and feel out of place at the beach. Instead, look for lighter fabrics like chiffon, eyelet lace, crisp cottons and linens. Speaking of light, the beach is no place for a long train. Trust me, it will just wind up full of sand and salt and it will weigh you down. If you must have a train on the beach, keep it to a sweep length. And then be prepared for the fact that it will be full of sand at the end of the day.

My advice about length? Keep it no longer than brushing the tops of your feet.

2: Keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm your look with lots of elaborate jewelry, extreme make up, a stiff updo, or a huge multi-layer veil. Stick with something like a flower in your hair and a lei or a fabulous sun hat. You’ll be more comfortable, and look more in keeping with your site.

3: Barefoot on the Beach is Beautiful. Don’t attempt to wear high heels on the beach. That’s a sprained ankle waiting to happen. Either stick with flats, choose some pretty sandals, or – for a bold and appropriate look – just ditch the shoes altogether. Get yourself and your bridesmaids a fabulous pedicure a day or two before the wedding and show off those pretty nails.

4: Keep it Bright. The beach is not the place for black or dull colors. Go bright. this is the place for hot pink, sunshine yellow, sky blue, grass green, cherry red…or pure white. Bright colors are best in an out of door venue. Don’t be afraid of them.

5: Don’t Make the Guys Sweat It. Just as a heavy satin gown with a ten-foot train looks and feels out of place, men’s full black (let alone white!) tie formal wear tends to look stiff and uncomfortable on the beach. Give the guys a break and let them wear linen suits, white shirts and khaki pants, or navy blazers with white trousers. If you’re having a destination wedding, consider choosing a shirt in the style of the place you’re visiting. Let them go barefoot, too. After all, it’s about having a relaxed celebration.

6: Keep it Dignified. Choose clothes that still say ‘wedding’ and do your best to take it seriously (though not overly so). Relaxed is great. But if you want people to talk about your wedding as a wonderful event where everyone – including grandma – had a terrific time, try not to make it quite this relaxed:

Seriously, how cute is this snapshot by photog Katy Regnier? From what I can tell, the bride was the only one cool enough for Converse…and purple ones, at that!

Gals in Chucks weren’t the only unusual detail in this wedding — the groommen (and groomswomen!) wore tux t-shirts and the wedding party stopped to play a little basketball after the ceremony.

Photographer Henry of HenryShoots took this pic of the bride’s custom Converse. If I’m not mistaken, you can still get All Stars with your wedding date embroidered (printed?) in the back.

Even the guys can get in on the act! This snapshot was taken by a certain Chixor Girl. She takes gorgeous photos, so I can’t recommend her blog highly enough.

Who says the bride and groom have to match? Not this couple captured by the talented Shutterbug Mama!

In this sweet pic by {ashley.marie} photography, we see the bride, groom, and flower girl. I love her little ruffled socks…I wonder if they make them in my size.

I adore this look and wish I’d thought of it for my own wedding, especially because The Beard loves Chucks. What say you:

Ideally, the guys in your life should also take my advice to heart. While I am a big fan of Men’s Wearhouse because their service tends to be uniformly excellent, their tuxes tend to leave me cold. When it came time to help The Beard pick out duds for the dudes, I decided to start my search anywhere but on the mainstream menswear sites. The end result? We found these great striped suits for about a hundred bucks each. Just shy of zoot suits, they added a touch of…something to the wedding lineup.

The lovely Toni recently e-mailed to share some snapshots of a wedding she attended and dish about the menswear. The guys sourced their tuxes from Volcom, of all places. If you don’t already know, Volcom is a clothing company/entertainment site/surf, skate, and board collective whose tagline is “youth against establishment.”

It’s also definitely not the first place I’d look when choosing wedding-y menswear, but after seeing the photos Toni linked to I wouldn’t knock it. You also can’t beat the price — I found the tux pants for $60 and the tux jacket for $77 $110. The fit is modern (i.e., slim and kind of slouchy) so it won’t appeal to everyone, but if your guy is hoping to find NOTHISDADSTUXPLZ it may be just what he’s looking for.

The point is that the alternatives aren’t always what you’d expect or where you’d expect them to be, but they’re out there, nonetheless! Searching for them is particularly worth it when you’re on a budget, you know you definitely want something that’s a little out there, or you’re just not feeling the stuff you saw in the shops. Like I say in iDo: If you can imagine it, chances are good that someone, somewhere is selling it.