MR FRAY | Move over ladies, this one's for the gentlemen
Over the past six months of Mrs Fray magic at our Campbell flagship store, we have delved deep into the ethos, fabrics, styling, and otherwise-all-things-bride with the women we’ve met and helped find their dream wedding gown. And while you couldn’t do a thing to persuade us to talk about silk for any longer than we already do, we realised along the way that there’s a certain element of the wedding day attire that often gets very overlooked: the groom (and his gentlemen).
How is it that we’ve spent the past 10 years radicalising wedding style for brides, one monumentally brave dress move at a time, and yet poor little groom-Sir over there is wearing virtually the same thing he did in 2005? Thank god we’re past ill-fitted, double-breasted, grey pinstripe blazers with accompanying vest that made groomsmen look like a frat boy forced into his uncle’s old suit for a bit of dress ups… but still, he hasn’t come too far from square one. We have thankfully watched some introduction of beautiful suit colours along the way, as well as some bold grooms who have not taken the task of choosing their own wedding day attire lightly.
But even though the stereotype is for the groom to play the whole, “she plans everything, I’m just here to sign the cheque” (if people even use cheques anymore?), we here at Mrs Fray Canberra would like to wager that there are actually a whole lot of grooms out there who not only care about what they wear on the wedding day, but, dare we say, they’re actually excited about it.
That’s why we’re thrilled - nay, giddy! - to be giving the dudes a little attention here at Mrs Fray for a special weekend dedicated to stylish attire for Canberra’s modern gentlemen.
From 14-16 February our bridal concept store in Campbell will be transformed into a Mr Fray pop up store hosted by the amazing @mawsonossa, a Sydney-based contemporary tailoring house.
Mawson Óssa will be showcasing a range of attire perfect for work, weddings and special occasions including mens suits, trousers, overcoats and accessories. Complementing Mawson Óssa’s collection will be a selection of jackets and t-shirts from Melbourne-based brand @informale_ and Merino wool polo shirts from Canberra-based @ramsie.co
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To celebrate this special event we’ve teamed up with Mawson Óssa to create a special offer for Canberra’s men of style. From Mawson Óssa’s CEO Grant Streater:
“We have partnered exclusively with leading Savile Row cloth merchant Holland & Sherry who, since 1836, have supplied the most luxurious and highest quality cloths worldwide. Explore our current collection at Mr Fray and receive 20% off all Holland & Sherry fabric related orders during the two day trunk show event."
For being in the wedding industry, Amy and I are (perhaps surprisingly) not Valentines Day people (in the traditional sense, anyhow). So our idea of a good time on Valentines Day wouldn’t be getting a balloon-wrapped bear holding a box of chocolates with our name on it, but, rather, having a nice cocktail in a good environment. Yes? You too? Good.
So may we suggest you disguise a bit of wedding planning productivity with a very convincing mask of luxury and a night out with your sweetheart, at the Mr Fray Launch Event, the evening of 14 February (that’s Valentines Day, for those of you playing at home). We’ll be drinking Capital Brewing brews from our generous gents next door at Intra Coffee, also they who will also be putting on some beautiful wines and small plates from 5 pm. So come and have a browse at the incredible fabric Mawson Óssa uses to do their magic, and ask us what ‘bespoke’ truly means (because I’m sure Founder Grant Streater would love to tell you).
In 2020, we’re looking at the horizon of new things for the new decade. Feminism won’t be such a buzz word in the coming 10 years, as gender equality will become more and more a way of life. Mindful living will move on from ‘trend’ status and become more a way of being. Trump will no longer be the US President and Grooms will be allowed (or dare I say, applauded) for indulging in what fun can be had when dressing themselves for their weddings. Boom! 2020, Yeah!
We’ve come a long, long way my friends, but this feels like just the beginning of a spectacular kind of style goodness for gentlemen’s wedding attire and style.
Mr Fray will be open to the public from 10am - 5pm on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th February with private appointments starting from 8am each day, head over here to secure your fitting at the Mr Fray Pop Up Event at Mrs Fray.
