Miguel Wilson: Anything but Boring Groomswear
Miguel Wilson cuts a colorful swath for grooms on Miracle Mile
Menswear designer Miguel Wilson cut a striking figure when we met at his new store on Miracle Mile. With a shaved head and neatly trimmed salt and pepper stubble, he was dressed in a bright pink peaked-lapel blazer, plus a bold paisley printed shirt opened just enough to expose a large diamond necklace. It was a far cry from his stint as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Reserves (where he served in the military police corps), as well as his days earning an MBA from Campbell University.
Wilson began his fashion career in Raleigh, NC in 1993, and then moved to Atlanta, where he specialized in custom tailoring. After a series of failures led to divorce and bankruptcy, he rebuilt his business and now focuses on grooms and groomsmen with the Miguel Wilson Wedding Collection for men.
“I identified a market that wasn’t being addressed,” says Wilson. “I recognized that men getting married didn’t have a fashion option. [Their choices were] driven by the rental market. I felt that I could make my mark designing clothes that better met their needs.” Hence, his tag line: “Because it’s his day too.”
A Dominican-American, Wilson was influenced by both his father’s and grandfather’s sartorial style. “My grandfather probably has more of a ’50s and ’60s look, which I still like a lot today, whereas my father was more influenced by European designs,” Wilson explains. “My own style has elements of both.”
Wilson’s prominent clients include rapper 2 Chainz, whom he dressed for his 2018 wedding to Kesha Ward, and Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson. Miguel Wilson has also given the LGBTQ community a place to shop at for their weddings. “Many people travel to our stores in Atlanta, D.C., or Miami from other states because in their hometown, the local tuxedo shop would not do business with them or would give them less-than-stellar service,” he said.
All Wilson’s grooms get to enjoy special time in the store’s lounge prior to their wedding and again after the big day when they return to model in one of Wilson’s Wedding Collection runway shows. “We have a ‘Toast and a Roast,’” he says, “remembering all the things [about the wedding experience] that made us laugh and all the things that made us cry.”
An avid horseman and polo player, Wilson recently remarried and rode into the outdoor ceremony wearing a white tuxedo, mounted atop one of his ponies. He has also started a foundation called “Ride to the Olympics” to help underprivileged youth of color learn how to ride.
Although 80 percent of his business remains in the wedding market, Wilson also offers a selection of blazers and pants in a myriad of ornate brocades and vibrant hues. “The wedding industry was just my entry,” he says. “My bigger vision has always been to create a lifestyle brand.” His love of color is evident throughout the store. Most men, he says “are stuck with three colors — black, blue, and gray – with only slight variations in stripes or checks, which is just boring.”
Miami holds a special place in his heart, Wilson insists, because it’s been integral to his rebirth. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Miami, I have a lot of friends here, and I continue to receive a lot of support from the area,” he says. “This isn’t just business for me, it’s personal. And our own space here is long overdue.”