Story by Liesel Schmidt | Photography by Laura Hatcher Photography
Though most of the focus on the wedding day naturally goes to the bride, the groom still draws his own attention—and rightly so. After all, he is the other half of the equation, the one with whom the beautiful bride is being joined. And during those moments before the arrival of the woman of the hour, there are countless pairs of eyes trained on the groom as he stands there, anxiously awaiting his beloved.
Knowing just how important looking good is for any groom and his groomsmen, Lapel has been fitting men with discriminating tastes since 2003. A family-owned business that was started by two brothers with a clear eye for style, Lapel has since become a trusted source of premium tuxedo rentals throughout the Alexandria area. “The rental industry has been plagued with ill-fitting, low quality garments for a long time, and Lapel arrived to change the status quo,” says co-owner Graham Sowash. “Early on, we decided to design everything we offer from scratch because we didn’t want to be held back in any way by the rental industry’s offerings. Instead, we sketch our own designs and find manufacturers to make everything to our liking. We produce our own suits, shirts, shoes, and accessories.”
At Lapel, the groom is every bit as important as the bride, so they see to every last detail to ensure perfection. “We know fit and suit construction intimately,” Sowash says. “At the initial wedding consultation, we take the time to outfit the groom in a tuxedo of their choosing. Instead of simply looking through a catalog, the groom will try on a full tuxedo kit, and we find this extremely helpful in deciding the details.”
Offering a wide range of their own styles, Lapel also works with the top suppliers. And while their skills in suiting are certainly crucial, they attribute much of their success to their ability to work well with their clients. “Customer service is paramount. We have an exceptional product, but our first priority is the customer experience. To put it simply, we just care more.”
Crilley Warehouse, 218 N Lee St. #100, Alexandria, VA 22314
(571) 290-5290 | www.lapel.com