Suit yourself

RUMOUR has it that Kanye West was the egomaniacal mastermind behind what has become the wedding of the year - his nuptials with Kim Kardashian in Paris. From micro-managing the outfits of the bridal party to confiscating the phones of guests, the probably borderline-OCD rapper gives new meaning to the term "groomzilla". And while most grooms-to-be here will probably get hot under the wing-collar for simply deciding between fondant or royal icing for the wedding cake, an increasing number of men are taking charge of their sartorial statements or, at least, veering away from the lone suit that sees them through all formal occasions, from job interviews to funerals - and, of course, weddings.

"I think that brides should get more attention and pampering than grooms," says private equity investor Thomas Tan, who had a midnight-blue tuxedo and cream mandarin-collared jacket custom-made by tailor Kevin Seah for his wedding next month. "That being said, it's not that the groom should be neglected. It's also his special day and he should spend on things for the wedding that he likes."

To meet the demand of a growing clientele of grooms, Leslie Chia, founder and creative director of bespoke menswear label PIMABS introduced wedding packages as part of his range of services in 2006, with prices starting from $1,450 for a five-piece ensemble.