Tuxedo Guide
So you missed your senior prom, managed to miss out on groomsmen
gifts by side stepping your way out of attending weddings and have not
been selected as a nominee to receive the Pulitzer Prize award yet. Now
you're engaged and it's time to wear your first tuxedo. Can you keep
this string of luck alive and side step your way out of this one too?
Nope.
Get prepared. The tux might be the
most important element of the wedding process for grooms (followed by
choosing the right groomsmen gifts. Hey, you only have so many
responsibilities). You want to look good, giving off an air of calm and
coolness as the beads of sweat trickle down your temples. Do your
research. Be patient and have a game plan that is flexible before you
meet with a tuxedo sales person. Have patience trying on various
styles. No tuxedos fit the same, just as no body type looks the same.
Just because it looked good on Fabio in your fiancÉe's Modern Bride
magazine, doesn't mean it will look good on your five foot eight dumpy
frame. Hey, this is your best chance to make you and your boys look
like studs.
To help you get started, we've prepared a brief overview of tuxedos.
Tuxedos History 101:
Tuxedos first came to America around 1886 when James Potter brought the
look from England. He began wearing his new jacket to the Tuxedo Club
in upstate New York. Other men quickly followed, going to the their
local tailors and asking to copy the jacket made popular by James at
the Tuxedo Club...and so the tux was born. The 1920's saw the
introduction of the pleated dress shirt, and accessories such as
cufflinks and the double-breasted tuxedo. Hollywood began promoting the
tuxedo look during the depression era of the 1930's because black and
white photographed well. The white dinner jacket also became popular
with the growing popularity of warm weather resorts. Color television
began in the 1950's, popularizing a variety of colorful accessories
with formal wear designs such as red suspenders and printed
handkerchiefs. The 1960's and 1970's saw a break from tradition as pant
bottoms flared out, bow ties widened and putting one's personal
signature on a tux became normal protocol. The 1990's have seen a turn
back to the traditional tuxedo styles as cigars, classic cars, single
malt scotch and jazz music are back in vogue. However, you can still
put your personal stamp on the tuxedo with accessories and even the
unorthodox sneaker look.
Where To Go:
Tuxedos can be purchased from three different kinds of retailers:
formal wear stores, men's wear stores, and bridal salons. Avoid going
to a shop that does not specialize in formal wear. You'll also want to
be comfortable, so don't settle for something that's going to make you
look like a mannequin. You'll want to give yourself at least two months
before your wedding to make your selection and schedule fittings. Plan
on making three visits to the store. The first should be with your
fiancée so she can help coordinate colors with the bridesmaids and give
opinions on potential styles. The next visit should be with your
groomsmen and ushers to pick out a specific style and to take
everyone's measurements. The final visit is one or two days prior to
the wedding when you will try on your tuxedos and take them with you.
It's common to pick out a style for yourself that is different from the
groomsmen, but make sure you all are coordinated, and if you're going
high-end, consider buying the tuxes for your boys as groomsmen gifts.
Keep an open mind about choosing tuxedos when you walk into a store.
You might have a particular style in mind, but once you try it on, it
might not suit you. Choose the best cut for your body type and the
right color for your skin tone. This is key! After all, you don't want
that god-awful greenish yellow tone to your face on your wedding day,
making people wonder if you were trying to suffocate yourself prior to
the ceremony...right? For out of town attendants, have them go to a
local formal wear store to get their measurements. Formal wear
retailers will provide this service at no charge as an industry
standard and courtesy to other stores. The whole procedure should only
take ten minutes. And, make sure everyone gets a final fitting a day or
so before the Big Day!
Tuxedos Styles:
There are several tuxedo jacket styles to choose from. There's the
single-breasted traditional look, three-buttoned fashion-forward style,
and the six-buttoned contemporary look. Tails create a more formal look
and should be knee length. Three standard lapel styles include the
Shawl collar, Notch collar and peaked lapel. Neckwear options include
the bow tie, a double-knot tie that folds over the chest called an
Ascot, the four-in-hand formal tie that looks similar to a business tie
or the button cover, similar to a large stud, worn over the top button.
Vests or cummerbunds (a material used to cover your waistband) should
complement your bow tie and jacket. Formal shirts are pleated, with
either the classic turndown collar or the more dramatic wing look.
Accessories such as studs and cuff links in black onyx or pearl are
safe choices. The person handling the flower arrangements should pick
out the boutonniere, usually one flower.
The Cost:
It
is risky to shop for price alone if renting. What separates one place
from another is the way the tux is cared for, the number of times it
has been rented and how shop worn it is. In most stores, you'll find
tuxedos from popular designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Perry Ellis,
Bill Blass and Ralph Lauren. Prices will vary, usually ranging from
$100 - $150 for each rental. You will be bombarded with various wedding
specials, but they all basically net out to be the same - a free tux
for you when you purchase at least five tuxedos for the wedding party.
Keep in mind that your groomsmen are responsible for paying for their
own tuxedo rentals unless you want to spring for the cost as groomsmen
gifts. Buying a tuxedo is another option. A man will potentially wear a
formal suit an average of 6-8 times over a lifetime. The prices
generally range from $300 - $1,000, so in the end, it may be a wise
investment (and hey, according to national statistics, there is a 50/50
chance you will need a tux for your second wedding anyway).
Your Best Man:
The best man has some key responsibilities when it comes to the tuxedo.
He should help you get dressed on the day of the wedding, return your
tuxedo the day after the wedding, as well as make sure the groomsmen
return their tuxedos. Make sure your best man is "up-to-speed" on his
duties. If he's busy hitting on the bridesmaids at the reception, feel
free to remind him that his job description includes all of the above.
In Conclusion:
Start figuring out what you like. Do a little research through one of
the search engines on the internet and check out the formal wear ads in
the bridal magazines (Make your fiancée buy them - you don't buy her
feminine hygiene products, do you?). If that doesn't work rent a couple
of James Bond movies for true inspiration! Keep in mind that May and
June are typically the busiest months for retailers of tuxedos with the
prom and wedding season kicking into high gear, so try to avoid these
months if possible. Gentlemen, I wish you good luck and keep breathing!
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