Cal DiJulius Wears Custom Tanner Fletcher Tuxedo Made from Late Mother's Wedding Dress

Cal DiJulius honored his late mother by transforming her 1980s wedding dress into a bespoke ivory tuxedo for his wedding to Kyle Baker in Sweden. His mother, who worked in the beauty industry and attended fashion week, passed away when he was 11. Growing up in Ohio, Cal often played dress up with her and she bought him a sewing machine. After getting engaged, he sought a tailor and, on a friend's recommendation, approached New York design duo Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell of Tanner Fletcher. Over five meetings and fittings across a year and a half, they created a tuxedo featuring appliqué beading from the dress on the chest, scalloped lace on the shoulders, and covered buttons using gown fabric down the back and outer seams of the pants. Lace also trimmed the jacket lining as a surprise. Cal wore a silk shirt with a bow at the neckline but kept the jacket on all night, citing a Swedish tradition where guests don't remove jackets until the groom does. The designers returned extra buttons and beading, which Cal sewed onto a pocket square for Kyle. He felt his mother's presence at the wedding and noted it was meaningful for her friends and family. While he might not pass down the suit, he believes his mother would have encouraged the idea.