If you think that you can easily skip this article, because you won’t ever need to look into renting a tuxedo, think again. From the standard black tie event to playing the role of best man in your brother’s wedding, donning a tux is inevitable in your lifetime.
And if buying a tuxedo is out of the question for you, renting one can easily put your wardrobe woes at ease. And with this rental guide to tuxedos by EveryGuyed, you’ll be pointing all the other groomsmen in the right direction.
Know Your Occasion
Wedding? Party? Is it during the day or at night? Black tie or white? The first step in determining what type of tuxedo to wear is what type of occasion you’ll be wearing it to.
Find out the dress code and ask around to see what others are wearing. You don’t want to be the odd man out. If you’re bringing a date, ask her what she plans on wearing – coordination while defining your own style is key. And if all else fails, ask the host about the dress code.
Find out the dress code and ask around to see what others are wearing.
What’s Expected
Your standard tux should follow these basic guidelines:
- No tails.
- Buttons should be shank, that is covered in cloth.
- Your lapel should either be satin or grosgrain.
Give Yourself Time
Allowing plenty of time for fittings and finding that perfect tux will guarantee that you aren’t left standing at the altar in your underwear. In most cases, reserving a tux a few weeks in advance should allow you plenty of time for alterations and fittings.
But if you’re planning on wearing one for a big occasion like your wedding, considering reserving one at least three months in advance. Traditional events require lots of planning, so measurements for all of your buddies in your groomsmen party may take a while, especially if some of them live out of town.
Know Your Budget and Stay Within It
Whether you’re buying vintage or breaking the bank going with a tailored and bespoke tux, you need to know what your budget is. Expect to spend anywhere between $60 for a conventional, run of the mill tuxedo to $300 for designer duds.
Though some places will let you keep your tux a day or two extra, make sure to return your tux as soon as possible and in good condition – you’ll avoid excessive charges to your formal wear bill.
If you know that you’ll be wearing your tux often, you might want to invest in actually purchasing a good quality tuxedo. Rental costs in the long run can add up to the same price as a perfectly tailored tuxedo just for you.
If you know that you’ll be wearing your tux often, you might want to invest in actually purchasing a good quality tuxedo
Choices, Choices.
There are plenty of places that promise you the best tux possible, but we suggest doing a little Sherlock Holmes-ing yourself. Browse the net and search galleries, making notes of the styles you like.
Checking out formal stores in your area and bringing along pictures will be extremely useful while trying to describe what it is you’re looking for. A skilled formal retailer may not have exactly what you want, but they’ll be able to point you to a similar tux.
As for what style of tux you should go for, peak lapels are always a safe bet and very traditional. There’s always a standard to be followed even though you’re given a choice. Notched lapels, on the other hand, are quite unusual, so be wary when picking your tux style.
Most importantly, shop around and compare prices. Take note of your measurements when you’re trying on a tux and get a price quote along with the return policy details in order to make a proper decision.
How Your Tux Should Fit
To put it simply, your tux should fit exactly like your suit. A single-button and single-breasted cut will generally sit closure to your frame and have a better fit. Your jacket should drape over your shoulder blades allowing for extra space so you can life your arms comfortably without pulling on the front of the jacket.
As for your trousers, make sure that the pleats are closed and that the crease intersects both the middle of your knee and shoe. Always remember – your pants should fit. You want to make sure you look and feel great during that special occasion and having a properly fitted tux is essential to that process.
Tips
- Breast pockets on your tux should always be filled, try a nice silk pocket square.
- Your tux should either be paired with a vest or a cummerbund. If you choose the cummerbund route, the flaps should always be facing upwards.
- Your dress shirt should also have a placket to cover up buttons.
Summary
- Know the occasion you’re dressing for and you’ll be able to narrow down what type of tuxedo to wear.
- Give yourself a few weeks in advance for renting a tuxedo, but if you’re renting for a wedding, give yourself at least one to three months in advance.
- Stay within the budget you’ve allotted for yourself, renting a tux can cost anywhere from $60 – $300.
- Search the internet and browse stores for pricing and return policy details so you can make the right decision for yourself and your budget.
- Your tux should have the same fit as your suit, it’s as simple as that.
Comments
Serious tux trouble? Can’t decide between a two-button or one-button top? Leave us a comment below.
Author
Latest posts by Shareen Sandhu (see all)
- 10 Stylish Pieces of Luggage - April 22, 2011
- The Best Teeth Whitening Products - January 4, 2011
- How To Organize Your Closet - December 22, 2010
EG is always a go-to for great advice, and this is no exception. Thanks Shareen.
One minor housekeeping observation – your tips section and the image at the top of the page don’t align (ref – breast pocket and placket).