Tuxedo Tips From Dante Zeller
Choosing the Right Tuxedo
When renting a tuxedo, you will have many styles and accessories to choose from. Always choose a tuxedo that compliments your style and your body. What's "in" may not be your taste or what looks best on you. The first rule is to choose a tux style you like, keeping in mind the formality of the event you are attending.
The Classic Look
If you prefer a classic formal look, try to stay with 1, 2, or 3 button tuxedos with traditional colored accessories. A black or silver vest/tie or cummerbund/tie set is appropriate.
Keeping In-Style
For a more "in-style" or "fashion forward" look, choose 4-button, 5-button or other fashion tuxedo. Color always adds to a fashion statement. There are also many tuxedo accessories that you may select to complete your look: top hats, ascots, and pocket squares to name a few.
Wedding Tuxedos
Traditionally wedding tuxedos used to always have tails. However, recently brides and grooms have chosen formal wear styles based on their personal preferences.
Daytime Tuxedos
For a traditional very formal daytime wedding, the groom can wear a "morning suit", which consists of a cutaway coat, striped trousers, a white wing shirt, gray vest, and an ascot of four-in-hand tie. Other jacket styles include Single Breasted, Double Breasted, Hawl Collars, Cutaways and Tails etc…
You Are Unique
Whatever tuxedo you choose will depend on your unique preferences and the occasion for which you will wear it. For a wedding or prom, you may want to coordinate with the bridesmaids or your date, for a black-tie event you are attending on your own, you are free to choose the style and look you want.
Custom Fit Your Tux
Whatever tuxedo you choose, be sure the formal wear shop custom fits the tux to your precise measurements. A well fitted tuxedo should be comfortable and make you look your best.
Tuxedo Terms
- Ascot – A kind of necktie or scarf with very broad ends hanging from the knot, one upon the other.
- Bow Tie – A small necktie tied in a bowknot.
- Cuffs – Something tuxedo pants should never have.
- Cufflinks – Jewelry that is worn to keep the shirt cuff closed.
- Cummerbund – A wide sash worn as a waistband for formal dress.
- Cutaway Jacket – A coat with the front of the skirt cut so as to curve back to the tails.
- Black Tie – It is requested you wear a tuxedo to the event.
- Black Tie Optional – You have the option of wearing a tuxedo or a dark suit.
- Black Tie Preferred – Your host prefers you to wear a tuxedo instead of a dark suit.
- Double Breasted Jacket – Having a double row of buttons in the front of the jacket.
- Four-in-Hand-Tie – A necktie tied in a slipknot with the ends left hanging.
- French Cuffs – A double cuff on the sleeve of a shirt that is turned back on itself and fastened with a cufflink.
- Inseam – The measurement of the inside pant seam to where the pant falls on the shoe.
- Lay Down Collar - A traditional men’s dress shirt collar.
- Morning Suit - Consists of a cutaway coat, striped trousers, a white wing shirt, gray vest, and an ascot or four-in-hand tie.
- Notch Lapel – A "V" cutout in the lapel where it meets the top collar.
- Peak Lapel - A lapel that points upward and extends beyond the top collar.
- Pique – A firmly woven cotton fabric with ribbed, corded or ridged wales.
- Pocket Square - A fancy handkerchief worn with points up in the breast pocket of tuxedo coat.
- Shawl Collar – A sloping rounded wide lapel with no notches.
- Single Breasted Jacket – A jacket with a single row of buttons.
- Stroller Jacket – Semi-Formal Suit Jacket.
- Tails – Very formal tuxedo coat with long tails in the back.
- Top Hat – A very formal traditional hat. Sometimes accessorized with a cane as well.
- White Tie Event – An ultra-formal evening event that you should wear tails to.
