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If you anticipate having the opportunity to wear a tuxedo three to four times a year, or if you love the idea
of keeping your tuxedo as a memento of your big day, then nothing beats owning your own custom
made and perfectly tailored tux. If however, neither of those considerations are true for you, then renting
a tuxedo is probably your best option. Be sure to leave plenty of time for fittings so that everything fits
you to a T.
White tie:
Think European royalty, think heads of state at a diplomatic dinner, think gentlemen at the opera, think
ultra formal and traditional. The White Tie tuxedo is the utmost in men’s formal wear and though rarely
worn anymore, its guidelines are very specific:
- White tie is worn only after 6pm or when the sun goes down
- Includes a black cut-away tailcoat with peak lapels and long tails in the back
- Black trousers with white suspenders
- A white wing-collar shirt
- A white cotton pique waistcoat and bowtie
- White mother of pearl shirt studs and cufflinks
- Black patent leather dress shoes
- A white boutonniere
The daytime version of White Tie is called Morning Dress and it’s still widely worn to weddings,
horse races and traditional events in England and throughout Europe. It consists of:
- A gray or black tailcoat with a long, curved cutaway front
- Striped gray trousers
- A gray or cream waistcoat
- A crisp white turn down collar shirt
- A necktie or cravat
- Polished black lace-up shoes
Black tie:
Black tie tuxedos are the most common and versatile version of men’s formal wear today and can
range in style from super classic and chic to modern with creative touches.
Traditional black tie includes:
- A dramatic and angular peak lapel, an elegant and refined notch lapel or a romantic rounded
shawl collar
- Black pants with a satin stripe down the side
- A bow tie or formal necktie in the same fabric as your lapels
- A cummberbund or waistcoat in the same fabric as your lapels and tie
- A crisp white shirt with a wing-collar or turn down collar and French cuffs
- Patent leather or highly polished dress shoes
For black tie in the daytime, etiquette states that a Stroller be worn, which is very similar to Morning
Dress except that a necktie is usually worn instead of a bowtie, and the coat has no tails in the back.
In the summer months or in tropical climates, a white or cream dinner jacket can be worn instead
of black.
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