Groom Style 2026: Why the Best-Dressed Men Are Ditching Black Suits

Here's a question that somehow still gets asked at suit fittings across Australia: "So, black or navy?" As if those are the only two options. As if the entire spectrum of colour, texture, and personality doesn't exist once you walk into the groom section of a bridal store.

In 2026, the best-dressed grooms are throwing that question in the bin. They're wearing olive green. They're wearing burgundy. They're wearing silver metallic blazers with wide-leg trousers. They're pairing $3,000 tailored suits with sneakers and making it look incredible.

The groom fashion revolution isn't coming — it's already here. And it's about time.

The Death of the Default Black Suit

For decades, groom style followed a painfully simple formula: black suit, white shirt, matching tie, done. The groom's outfit was treated as a non-event — a backdrop for the bride, not a fashion moment in its own right.

That's over.

The shift started slowly around 2020-2021, when a handful of high-profile grooms started experimenting — Harry Styles wearing Gucci to his own events, celebrities swapping tuxedos for relaxed tailoring. But it's accelerated dramatically since 2024, and in 2026, the data backs it up: according to Australian bridal retailers, requests for non-black groom suits have increased by over 40% in the past two years.

Why now? A few factors:

Social media changed the game. Grooms see other grooms on Instagram and TikTok looking incredible in colours and styles they never would have considered ten years ago. The reference library has exploded.

Brides want their partners to look as good as they do. When a bride spends months finding the perfect dress, a $400 off-the-rack black suit standing next to her in photos feels like a mismatch. Couples are now planning their looks together.

The fashion industry finally cares about grooms. Designers like MJ Bale, Calibre, Oscar Hunt, and even international houses like Hugo Boss are creating dedicated wedding collections for men. The options are genuinely good now.

The Colours Dominating Groom Fashion in 2026

So what are grooms actually wearing? Here's the colour breakdown for 2026:

Sage Green & Olive: The runaway hit of the year. Green suits — from soft sage to deep olive — work with almost every skin tone and pair beautifully with earth-toned weddings. MJ Bale ($800 - $1,500) offers a killer sage suit that's been all over Australian wedding Instagram. Oscar Hunt in Melbourne can do a custom olive suit in Italian fabric for around $1,800 - $2,500.

Burgundy & Wine: Rich, warm, and surprisingly versatile. Burgundy suits read as 'dressed up' without the formality of black. Great for autumn/winter weddings. Politix ($350 - $600) has affordable options; Hugo Boss ($1,200 - $2,500) for the investment piece.

Light Blue & Powder Blue: The go-to for summer and coastal weddings. A pale blue suit with a white shirt and tan accessories is basically the Australian beach wedding uniform in 2026. Calibre ($600 - $1,200) does this well at mid-range, and Venroy ($400 - $800) offers relaxed linen options perfect for beachside ceremonies.

Cream & Off-White: The biggest groom trend of 2026 might be this one: men wearing cream and off-white suits. Once considered 'the bride's territory,' light-toned suiting for grooms has exploded in popularity. It works particularly well when the bride is wearing a coloured gown or when you want a cohesive, tonal look in photos.

Silver Metallic: This is the wildcard, and it's happening. Silver and gunmetal blazers — sometimes paired with black trousers, sometimes full silver suits — are showing up at stylish weddings and on best-dressed lists. It started on red carpets (Timothée Chalamet, anyone?) and it's filtering into weddings. Not for the faint-hearted, but absolutely for the fashion-forward.

The Separates Movement: Why Matching Is Optional

One of the biggest shifts in groom style isn't about colour — it's about ditching the matching suit entirely and wearing separates instead.

Think: a textured blazer with plain trousers in a different shade. A knit polo under a suit jacket instead of a shirt and tie. A waistcoat worn without a jacket. The mix-and-match approach feels more personal, more relaxed, and — honestly — more interesting than a head-to-toe matching suit.

How to do separates well:

• Keep the tones complementary: Navy blazer with grey trousers. Cream jacket with tan pants. Brown blazer with charcoal trousers. You want contrast, not clash.
• Vary the textures: A linen blazer with cotton chinos. A wool blazer with a silk knit tie. Texture adds depth and stops the outfit from looking 'thrown together.'
• Invest in the blazer: If you're wearing separates, the blazer is the hero piece. This is where you spend. A well-cut blazer from Oscar Hunt ($900 - $1,500 just for the jacket) will last for years and can be re-worn to every smart event you attend.
• Consider a waistcoat: For grooms who want a formal element without the full suit, a waistcoat (vest) over a good shirt creates a polished look that's easier to move in and more temperature-friendly for Australian summers.

The Sneaker Trend: Yes, Really

Let's address the most polarising groom trend of 2026: sneakers with suiting.

It's real. It's happening. And when done right, it looks great.

We're not talking about rocking up to your wedding in beaten-up Nikes. We're talking about clean, minimalist sneakers — usually white leather — paired with a well-tailored suit. Think Common Projects ($600 - $800), Koio ($350 - $500), or even clean Adidas Stan Smiths ($150) styled intentionally.

The sneaker-and-suit look works best when:

• The suit is slim or modern-fit (baggy suits with sneakers just look like you forgot your dress shoes)
• The sneakers are pristine — brand new or professionally cleaned
• The trousers are cropped or tapered to show the sneakers intentionally, not accidentally
• The overall vibe of your wedding is relaxed: garden party, vineyard, beachside, or urban cool

Where it doesn't work: black-tie weddings, traditional church ceremonies, or any venue where your grandmother will spend the entire reception asking why you're wearing tennis shoes. Know your audience.

Where Australian Grooms Are Shopping in 2026

The good news: the Australian menswear market has never been better for wedding shopping. Here's where to look:

Custom/Made-to-Measure:

• Oscar Hunt (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane) — The gold standard for Australian made-to-measure. Beautiful fabrics, expert tailoring. $1,800 - $3,500 for a full suit.
• InStitchu (online + showrooms nationwide) — More affordable made-to-measure using an online design tool. $600 - $1,200 for a full suit.
• Joe Button (online, based in Melbourne) — Custom shirts and suits at competitive prices. $500 - $1,000 for a suit.

Ready-to-Wear Premium:

• MJ Bale — Australian-designed, incredible quality at the price point. $800 - $1,500.
• Calibre — Fashion-forward cuts, great colour range. $600 - $1,200.
• Hugo Boss — Classic meets modern, excellent wedding collection. $1,200 - $2,500.

Budget-Friendly:

• Politix — Punches well above its price point. $350 - $600.
• ASOS — Huge range of colours and styles, great for separates. $150 - $400.
• Suit hire — Ferrari Formalwear or Roger David offer hire from $200 - $400 if you don't want to buy.

Browse groomswear on Verse to find suit shops, tailors, and hire options across Australia.

How to Match Your Look to Your Partner

The final piece of the puzzle: coordination. In 2026, couples are thinking about their combined visual impact, not just individual outfits.

Some tips:

• Share your colour palettes early. If your partner is wearing a blush-toned dress, a black suit might create too much contrast. Consider navy, grey, or even a complementary blush tone.
• Match formality levels. A casual linen suit paired with a dramatic ballgown will look disjointed. Make sure both outfits sit at roughly the same formality level.
• Coordinate, don't match. You want your outfits to look like they belong at the same wedding, not like a costume set. Complementary tones > identical colours.
• Plan accessories together. If you're wearing a coloured suit, having your partner hold a bouquet with the same colour tones ties everything together in photos.

For bridal fashion trends to coordinate with, check out our 2026 wedding dress trends guide.

The Groom's Shopping Timeline

Unlike bridal shopping, which has a well-established timeline, groom shopping often gets left to the last minute. Don't be that couple. Here's when to do what:

6-8 months out: Start looking at styles. Save photos of looks you like. Visit one or two shops to try on different cuts and colours. If you're going made-to-measure, this is when you need to book your first appointment — custom suits take 6-10 weeks to produce.

4-5 months out: Commit to your suit choice and place the order. If you're buying off-the-rack, now is the time to buy so you have plenty of runway for alterations. Order shoes too — new shoes need breaking in, and you don't want to discover they give you blisters on the dance floor.

2-3 months out: First fitting for made-to-measure. For off-the-rack, take your suit to a tailor for alterations. Key areas to address: jacket sleeve length (should show 1-2cm of shirt cuff), trouser length (depends on your shoe choice — different for sneakers vs dress shoes), and the jacket waist (should follow your body without pulling).

2-4 weeks out: Final fitting. Try the complete outfit on — suit, shirt, shoes, accessories. Stand in it. Sit in it. Dance in it. If anything feels off, there's still time to adjust. Also: make sure your groomsmen's outfits are sorted and that everyone has tried theirs on.

Day of: Lay everything out the night before. Suit, shirt (steamed or pressed), shoes, socks, belt, cufflinks, pocket square, tie/bowtie if wearing one. Having it all ready means a calm, stress-free getting-ready experience instead of a last-minute scramble.

Groom fashion in 2026 is finally what it should always have been: an opportunity for self-expression, not a box to tick. Ditch the default. Try the sage green. Consider the sneakers. And for the love of everything, get your suit tailored — a $500 suit that fits perfectly will look better than a $2,000 suit straight off the rack every single time.