4 high-fashion menswear trends to inspire your summer wedding guest attire

Dearly beloved, it's wedding season, and your best friends and family members are about to get married. You, on the other hand, get to spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to make them feel special. Isn't it wonderful? Whether you're the groom's co-worker, or the bride's second cousin who likes to sit alone at the bar, you need to take on every wedding with style and grace. But mostly style. Before you dust off that old suit at the back of your closet, try something new by incorporating some of 2018's four biggest trends into your outfit.

Before we begin, a quick checklist of tips to remember:

• Weddings, specifically in the summer, come in different forms. Make sure you're clear on the dress code and setting of the wedding, then dress accordingly.
• It's hot out there, so think about colours and fabric. You want to feel comfortable in the heat, so look for breathable suits made out of cotton and linen blends.
• Weddings mean drinking. And drinking means dancing. Find something you can move in.
• It's not about you. Sure your mom says you're special, but not today. It's about the couple getting married. So don't upstage them in an outfit appropriate for the Met Gala. You don't want to take attention off of them.
• Coordinate with your plus one. Talk about these trends and try to work the same ones into each of your outfits. It will make for great photos.
• Have fun! Weddings are a celebration, so step up your style and feel amazing about the way you look. If that means spending a little more cash on fashion, I say it's worth it. (Trust me, the pictures will never go away.)

Trend #1: Perfect pastels

All of us outfit our bodies based on the seasons, right? When it comes to our suits, there should be no exception. The rules of colour are simple: opt for lighter colours in the spring/summer, then switch to darker colours in the fall/winter. This year, that will be easier than ever to pull off, as pastel colours in menswear are all the rage. Moody models have been seen sporting a rainbow of soft pastels in fashion shows like Ermenegildo Zegna, Haider Ackermann and ACNE.

Specifically, head-to-toe pink was a huge men's fashion trend last year, and this summer, it's still going strong. You'll see a selection of pink-on-pink suits in a number of stores, but like I mentioned earlier, it's important to stop and think about fabric.

This suit, from J.Crew, is a breathable cotton-linen blend. Not only is the colour light, but so is the fabric. Style this linen suit with a pair of clubmaster sunglasses and you'll ready for Monte Carlo — after the wedding, of course. And if anyone gives you a hard time for "wearing pink", tell them J.Crew calls this colour, "Burnt Red" and that they can forever hold their peace.

Ludlow Unstructured Suit Jacket (plus matching pant) $220, jcrew.com

Trend #2: '80s throwback

If your mom and dad have been wearing the same formal attire for 30 years, this wedding season they might actually upstage you in the style department. So pay attention! Designers have been looking to the '80s for inspiration, and it came in the form of high waisted pants, boxy shoulders, and shades of grey. '80s style was alive and well on the spring/summer runway shows for Cerruti 1881, Versace and Paul Smith.

Faded Check Blazer (plus matching pant), $239, rw-co.com

The decade was about the loose, boxy fit, as opposed to the modern slim fit you see now. So find something that has a semi-fitted silhouette, like this suit from RW&Co.

The grey plaid is a great nod to the '80s, the shoulders are square and the pants aren't skin tight, which means you can dive head first into the dessert table without popping a button.

Trend #3: Stripes for likes

I understand that colour isn't for everyone, so if you're the type to dress for a wedding like it's a funeral (no judgment) and you must wear black, then I say incorporate a stripe to step up your game. Vertical stripes were a big runway trend at the Haider Ackermann and Versace Spring 2018 runway shows.

The clean lines will elongate and slim, and the pinstripe will tie in the '80s trend as well. You're so fashion. A suit like this, from Zara, offers a great fit and it won't break the bank.

Pinstriped Blazer (plus matching pant), $179, zara.com

Trend #4: Pop of trop

Take a stroll through any mall right now and I guarantee you'll see window displays full of florals and tropical prints. Yes, it's true: that embarrassing "Hawaiian shirt", that your Dad used to wear on vacation in Florida, is now considered high-fashion. It was recently seen all over the Paul Smith, Louis Vuitton and Ami runways.

If you're going to a casual summer wedding with laid back vibe (think beach, lake-house), you can definitely pull off a tropical shirt under a neutral suit, like this one from Zara — just tuck it in, please.

One thing to keep in mind is that most of these shirt will have a casual collar, so it might not require a tie. If you want to play it safe, but still like the trend, go for a smaller touch, like a tropical tie or pocket square. Tropical jewelry is also a huge trend in ladies accessories, so it's a great way to coordinate with your lady friend. Play your cards right, and who knows, maybe the next wedding will be yours! Happy suiting!

Floral Print Shirt, $49.90, zara.com