1. Budget in Advance

It doesn’t matter if your prom is years away or lurking around the corner, it always helps to step back, get a sense of your finances (or your parents’ finances) and figure out your spending priorities. What this will do is help you figure out what you’re looking for on an objective level so when it comes to the far more subjective act of actually shopping for your prom tuxedo, your tastes aren’t going to wander off in expensive directions.

 Or if they do, then at least you’ll know what you’d have to give up to get the garments you really want.

 2. Consider Buying Instead of Renting

No, seriously. A lot of sites will push you toward rental services when in actuality there are many tuxedos and tuxedo packages

Jean Yves (Illusion) Prom Tuxedo

 available that will cost you less than a rental, all with the added benefit of sparing you from having to rush to return your tux before you get slapped with a slew of late fees and other unfortunately unexpected costs.

3. Hunt Down Discounts

In the world of men’s formalwear retailers, prom is customer-hunting season. All the nation over, a plethora of businesses compete against each other for your dollar, as well of the dollars of your fellow prom-goers-to-be. What this means is that there will be discounts aplenty varying in scope from standard sales to special discounts for students and groups. All you have to do is find them.

 Note that some retailers like to be stealthy about their deals and discounts. If you’ve got your must-have tux in hand but it doesn’t seem to come with any offers attached, try asking the staff; you might be pleasantly surprised.

 4. Get Creative

There’s no law saying that everything you wear has to be brand new, and given that prom is more of a fun opportunity to dress up than an event bearing a strict dress code, you have a lot of options for accenting and accessorizing your tuxedo. In the end, what really matters is that you’re confident and comfortable, so go ahead and borrow one of your dad’s kooky ties, improvise on your vest or cummerbund, and forgo a polished pair of formal shoes for your favorite sneakers if that’s the style route you want to take.

 Most of these tips are fairly straightforward. As a last piece of advice, we’d like to add this: Figure out what you want from your prom and determine your spending from there.

This Year's Oscar

For decades now, culture and class have collided and clashed at the Oscars, much to the fashion-conscious world’s delight. But as much as the motion picture industries would like to believe that this event is carried by its representation of the finest in film accomplishments, you know as well as we do that the event’s most captive audience isn’t so much the moviegoers as it is those of us who watch with a keen eye for style of both fabulous and faux-pas varieties.

So what did this year have in store for us?

Well, first and foremost it brought Sacha Baron Cohen into our spotlight again, this time accompanied by a Gaddafi-parodying female guard and dressed as his latest character. The Dictator, as he so happened to be, came donning a full beard and wearing military garb complete with sashes, medals, ribbons, epaulets and a gold urn of Kim Jong Il, because goodness knows the man has no concept of excess. Please, for the love of all that is good and fashionable, don’t try that at home gentlemen.

Joining him in the less than distinguished dunce corner is none other than producer Brian Grazer, who accessorized his passable notch lapel tuxedo with a tangy orange spray tan and hair that looks like it was electrocuted into place — yikes.

Fortunately though, most of the other attendees chose to favor sophistication over showmanship. Colin Firth, Jean Dujardin, and George Clooney were perhaps the stand-outs of the evening, with each man managing to look delightfully dapper in his tuxedo and bow tie. Many other men opted to stick with the basics too, so besides a few white jackets and grey shirts there weren’t many deviations from the black and white simplicity that we all know and love.

Our other most notables for the evening are Jonah Hill — who chose to pair his shawl lapel tux with a black shirt and blacker bow tie for a look that, while very neat and put together, sort of massed together with no real shape or sharpness — and Zachary Quinto, whose blue-accented tux, large square glasses, and sleek hairstyle gave him an air of nerd-chic that fit him rather well.

Honorable mention goes to chef Wolfgang Puck who walked the red carpet in a stylized black and white chef’s uniform accompanied by a delicious looking platter of food that, more than anything, made us wish we were there ourselves.

If you’re anything like us, you’re not only flooded with questions on what gifts to buy, how to plan your vacation, and where the heck you’re going to find the time for the myriad deadlines that have sneaked up on you, you’re also starting to put some serious thought into how you’re going to dress for the formal holiday events on your docket.

This year, we’re liking the trend toward character over classic influences. With the coming months being so rich with familial and friendly togetherness, reflection, and the warming light of love, there’s really no better time to let your personality shine through your formal ensemble than this holiday season.

Don’t go rushing out to buy a Christmas tree green tuxedo jacket or — heaven forbid — one of those novelty ties that lights up to the tune of “Jingle Bells” though. While these are certainly personality-rich options, they’re not quite what we had in mind. There are, after all, some formal rules to adhere to, which makes the hunt for the perfect accessories that much more challenging — and by extension, that much more fun.

Take these four of our very own products for example: the “Cocktails Anyone?” Trafalgar formal brace, a snazzy pair of black silk formal socks, a vividly alive red silk tuxedo vest, and a graceful white silk tapestry formal scarf.

These pieces play beautifully off of the mood and colors of the season without being over the top or, dare we say it, garish. They’re also unique enough to stand out, and fun enough to bring some of their own warmth to the holiday season. 

Of course there are many other options available to you — we think that a gold vest would also look stunning — so what you should really be looking for are pieces that carry the spirit of the season for you while enveloping you in the glory of a good year passed and a greater year to come.  So dust off that tuxedo in your closet, and spice up your wardrobe.

Tip #6 If your cousin is a video buff we can assume he knows how to compose a shot but if not here’s a guide. First he needs to look for the shot. Good shot composition uses the ‘Rule of Thirds.’ Think of the screen divided into a tic-tac-toe pattern. When framing a person the eyes should be on the top line and the center of their head on the left or the right line not dead center. A properly balanced shot will look professional.

Tip #7 He needs to tell your story. Be sure he understands the schedule of events and plan with him what you would like to have shot. Have him shoot in chronological order. For instance have him shoot an establishment shot of the church before the ceremony, then the interior and perhaps closeups of the flowers before he sets up for the ceremony.

Tip #8 Lighting is key. A small camera light for the reception is a good idea. There are inexpensive battery-powered LED lights. Hopefully he owns one. If not the video rental house is your friend. Anytime your outdoors is a good time to get some great shots using the sun as a light kit. If possible shooting in the morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower is best. When the sun is directly overhead, it casts unflattering shadows on peoples faces and everyone will look harsh, but if it’s a cloudy day you may be in luck! Indoors he should remember not to shoot anyone with a window behind behind them. The persons face will be lost in the mud. If possible he should ask them to move away from it.

Tip #9 If he is going to interview people be sure he asks permission before he starts shooting. He should stand as close as possible and ask the person to look at the camera not him even if he is asking the question. He should try to make the interview conversational. Since lavaliere microphones are cumbersome to clip on and off, it might be a good idea to use a wired hand-held microphone. No one minds if they are in the shot and they usually pick up better, both the one person and anyone nearby who chimes in, which can add to the fun of an interview.

Tip #10 Be sure he shoots plenty of b-roll. These shots can cover a multitude of sins when the tape is being edited. Suggestions for wedding b-roll include the cake, the invitation, a close-up of the bride and grooms hands with their wedding rings. He should follow the photographer’s lead on this and shoot what the photographer is shooting. It’s a big job. Be grateful to your cousin.

Bonus Idea
One idea if you have the budget is to buy flip cameras for every table. A card should be placed on the tables with simple operating instructions. Also on the card explain that closeup shots are best with this type of camera. This really expands the opportunities for embarrassing moments but also increases the chance to have some unique footage from your guests point of view. After the evening have the best man if he’s still sober collect the flash drives, then gift the flip cams to your wedding party. See it wasn’t that expensive after all when you factor in the cameras as their gifts. Be sure to save two for you. You’ll want them on the honeymoon.

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So you decide to have your cousin video tape the wedding with his camcorder, the first thing to remember is that he’s family and you must vow to forgive him. However there are a few tips to help make his efforts a success.

Tip #1 Insist he use a tripod especially during the ceremony. Shaky shots make video unwatchable and weddings shot by a single camera are inherently a series of real-time lingering shots. Even if his camcorder has a built-in image stabilization it can only compensate for so much motion. A good tripod is almost more important than the camera. A fluid head will make his pans smooth instead of jerky. Be sure ask about it. Offer to rent one if he doesn’t own one. Curiously, one place to get one super cheap is a local cable community access channel. Our town will loan you a good tripod for any event if you’re willing to give them the finished product as a program. You get a free fluid head tripod and a way to let all your friends get a copy of your wedding.

Tip #2 Take him to visit the venue, be it the ceremony or the reception. He needs to know where he can store his gear. He needs to see where he will set up his shots. He needs to see the lighting. These are things the pro will know how to deal with but can end up being a surprise for the amateur. Take him to lunch after.

Tip #3 Audio is probably 80% of good video. Unfortunately, the microphones built into most camcorders are fairly basic, recording audio from any direction, plus the camera is almost always further away than the microphone should be. Most camcorders have a jack for plugging in an external microphone. Be sure he uses one. There is also a place to plug in headphones. He needs to use those to monitor the audio he’s getting. Wirelesslavaliere microphones are super cheap to rent. Lavs are designed to clip onto the clothing of the subject near their mouth. Lavs are small enough that you can even hide one somewhere in a scene say the flowers to pick up better sound than a camera mounted mic. While you’re at the rental house pick additional external mic for the camera. Remember his on-camera microphone cannot be placed any closer to the audio source than where the camera is. Even the best on-camera microphones will not do an adequate job of picking up soft sounds at a distance like “I do”. It’s the most important line in the show and most amateur videographers miss it.

Tip #4 Lens cleaning packets. Make sure he has them. No matter how careful you are the lens is going to get smudged while you’re cutting the cake. Lenses get dirty and that fingerprint is forever. Extra tape and batteries are a good idea too.

Tip #5 Make sure he knows how to pan or zoom. One of the most common video mistakes is making constant movements. He should only make changes for a reason. Go over when you want him to zoom like placing the ring on the finger or when its time to kiss the bride. When he can, he should forget about the zoom all together and zoom with his feet. If he is taking a shot of something he should leave it on the scene for 10-20 seconds, before shifting to take another shot. He should always shoot with slow, smooth, and deliberate motions.

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Using The Professional
The main quality you want to look for is a good documentarian. Having a videographer that is flexible and willing to be there while the bride is getting ready and having her pre-wedding photos taken at the house can be wonderful moments to capture on tape. Think of everything you’d like to see and make a list of events for the videographer.

You want to make sure that the videographer is experienced and low key especially during the ceremony. Be sure to ask if they are going to be shooting with high-definition low-light equipment and if they have wireless microphones so you don’t have ugly cables in view. Ask if they will also shoot after the ceremony. Lots of spontaneous feel good moments happen then. You want them to shoot even when the photographer is taking the formal photos. Often the most interesting moments are those not part of the ceremony. After my wedding, the limousine inadvertently zoomed away from the church with the wedding party, leaving my husband and I (bride and groom) stranded. My brother-in-law drove us cramped in the back see of his subcompact car with me sitting on my new husbands lap. It is a treasured moment on the video. Again low key documentary style is what you want.

If the videographer is going to shoot during the reception be sure to tell them you want the guest interviews done early before the guests have had a little too much to drink. Some of those off-the-cuff statements can be embarrassing. How would you like your aunt slurring advice that you slim down after the wedding because she felt your wedding dress fit a little snuggly. If you think it won’t happen, I’ve heard that exact sound byte in a friend’s wedding video. This might save money and be a motivator to your videographer, who doesn’t have to stay all evening. Do you really want a video of Grandma Mildred demonstrating the shimmy?

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Starting out in married life has enough challenges without having to drink bad coffee in the mornings. The days of stopping off at four-bucks before work may be over too especially if long term goals include saving for a house. Then don’t forget that one of life’s greatest pleasures is lingering over a cup of coffee at your own breakfast table with the love of your life. So perhaps the most important item when registering is finding the perfect coffeemaker.

Much of coffee’s flavor comes from brewing. Coffee improperly brewed cannot begin to produce the sweet subtle taste and aroma. Experts prefer lesser quality coffee properly brewed than a top grade coffee brewed improperly. The vast majority of coffee at home is brewed using automatic drip coffeemakers. These devices are automatic in that the basic parameters are programmed into them. Coffee is brewed by heating water to the desired temperature and placing it in contact with the coffee grounds for a predetermined time period.

Automatic drip brewers require high quality, efficient heating elements to accomplish this and you may have to pay a little more for them. They must have intelligently designed brewing chambers and shower-heads that get all the grounds wet and are able to keep water flowing around the grounds and through the exit below. If the water runs through too quickly, the coffee will be thin and weak. If it runs through too slowly, the coffee will become too strong and bitter.

Read the reviews about the various models before you go to the store. The following are the best tips to get the best from your coffee:

• Brewing Temperature – Coffee is best brewed at between 195°F and 205°F. Many automatic drip makers are designed using cheap heating blocks. These brewers cannot get water hot enough nor can they heat the large quantity of water expected to brew say 12 cups. These brewers often take between 10 and 14 minutes to make a full batch of coffee. The beginning of the brewing the water will be too cool to fully extract the coffee oils and at the end the water may actually be too hot as it becomes steam.
• Contact time – Drip coffee tastes best when brewing contact time between the hot water and grounds does not exceed 6 minutes. After six minutes, ground coffee begins to give off more tannic oils which are far more bitter in taste. Consumers often respond by using less ground coffee next time they brew, which only makes for weaker, but still bitter brew.
• Full coverage shower-head – All coffee grounds should be fully immersed in water to fully extract coffee oils during brewing. Many coffeemakers shower-heads are unable to produce a stream that covers a full bed of coffee grounds. Those grounds near the top and sides often stay dry through the brewing cycle, and are never extracted. It is critical that all of the grounds are submerged in hot water for the entire brewing cycle.
• Buy a brewer that brews the amount you’ll want most of the time. Most coffee brewers brew best at full volume. Most people err on buying as large a brewer as they can find, yet they only need a couple of cups each morning, when coffeemakers get most of their use. This is either wasteful as the consumer makes more coffee than they need, or the coffeemaker does not perform its best, as automatic brewers are optimized for a full batch. It is very difficult to design an automatic drip machine that will make a ½ batch that equals a full batch.
• Permanent filters save money, but some people prefer coffee minus any sediment. A purer cup is possible using paper filters. Permanent filters allow at least some fine grounds through the brewer and into your cup. Whether this is desirable or not is a matter of personal taste. It is a myth that paper filters prevent full flavored coffee. Indeed many professional coffee tasters prefer paper filtered coffee.
• Extra features such as timers, water filters, brew pauses that allow you to grab a cup mid-cycle may add convenience, but not really necessary to properly brew coffee.
• Water filters remove chlorine but do not otherwise soften water. If you use bottled water, onboard water filtration is an unnecessary expense. Water filters must be changed regularly.
• If you keep coffee warm past 20 minutes, consider a thermal carafe rather than a glass carafe as coffee will keep fresh tasting longer, up to an hour or so.

So there you have it. Chose a model that has great brewing specs not extra features. Do this and you’re on your way to a life together filled with great happiness and great flavor. Check out my video coffeemaker reviews at Coffee Companion.

©2011 Kevin Sinnott All rights reserved.

Greetings Gentlemen. Today I want to talk to you about crafting your perfect bar and cocktail menu for the reception. My fiancé and I enjoy a good cocktail, as I’m sure you do too. One of our spots is the Violet Hour. The bartenders are really knowledgeable and helpful with crafting a menu that appeals to a wide variety of guests. We met with Robby while we were planning, to get his opinion both on specific drinks we should have, and really just how to craft a drink menu. He explained that typically a good menu will consist of four drinks. One easy crowd pleaser not too strong drink, one champagne cocktail or a punch, one whiskey drink, and one more boozy, sipping drink.

For the crowd pleaser, we selected the Juliet and Romeo. A gin based cocktail with mint, cucumber, and rose water. Honestly to date I don’t know anyone who has disliked this beverage.

We varied a bit on the second category and went with the Pimms Cup variation. It was a fruitier option with Pimms, ginger, Tanqueray, mint, and muddled blackberry. Honestly really easy to drink too quickly.

For the whiskey drink we selected a Lions Tale. This is a classic cocktail, but not a familiar flavor to most whiskey drinkers. With any American whiskey (I select Weller 107), allspice dram, lemon juice and simple syrup. The allspice really brings out a fantastic warmer flavor for the fall and winter month celebrations.

And for the boozy, sipping drink, my absolute favorite. The Bitter Guiseppe. No longer on the menu, but you can still order if of course, is a Cynar based cocktail with lemon juice and Angostura Bitters. What’s cynar you ask? It’s an artichoke based liquor that is unlike anything you’ve probably tasted before. It makes a great aperitif or mixes well too.

You can be flexible in each category, but we found that with this list everyone had a couple things they liked. Some guests even created their own tour and tried all four!

Classic 2 Button Tuxedo with Notch Lapel

Good news, our tuxedo-loving brothers: the days of thinner ties — and thus a thinner tuxedo presence at formal events — are, well, thinning out, and tuxedo sales are slowly but surely climbing once again. Can we get a “hip, hip, hooray!”? Oh who are we kidding, of course we can.

To the point though, to what do we owe this exciting pleasure?

Well, in addition to the declining popularity of less tuxedo-friendly ties and accessories and more relaxed standards of dress, the rising prevalence of bow ties in both casual and formal men’s fashion has worked to restore some of the spotlight on our beloved tuxes.

 A recent article by The Wall Street Journal explores this new development in greater depth, offering encouraging statistics and trends in the men’s formalwear industry while also expanding on something that we’re really excited about ourselves.

What, you ask? Why we’ll tell you, good reader.

We’re witnessing the evolution of the tuxedo as our brightest designers are coming to master the fusion of tuxedo formality with the more adaptable fit of a suit. The overall effect is a more streamlined piece that caters to a more casually and creatively formal aesthetic without sacrificing the pure elegance of a fine tuxedo.

Combined with aforementioned efforts like The Situation’s tuxedo line and the limitless acclaim hoisted onto the sublime style of tuxedo-donning celebrities like Jon Hamm, the future of our favorite formalwear staple has never looked brighter.

Keep your eye out for new cuts, new styles, and freshly creative ways to take the traditional tuxedo and transform it into your own expression of style. Over here on our end, we can hardly wait to start showing off some new cuts, new styles, and new looks.

Chris Cumpton, a lovely woman and mother, came to us to outfit her seventeen-year-old son Colt, who’s an accomplished young man and recent high school graduate actively involved in showing horses. As the President-elect of the American Junior Paint Horse Association he has much influence and many eyes upon him, and his leadership drive has apparently evolved into something that we can all relate to, young or old, rustic or urban: the creativity and fashion sense to lead style.

One of the most rewarding aspects of being in the men’s formal wear business is seeing what brilliant minds can do with beautiful tuxedos, and Colt is an excellent example of why it excites us so much to learn how the younger generations are embracing formal fashion.

We’re told that Colt wore his tuxedo first for his high school senior portrait, then later took to wearing it — complete with equestrian-themed cufflinks & studs

Colt Cumpton in his Tuxedo (with friend)

— when showing his paint horses, apparently to the great acclaim of his colleagues and his crowd. He took a chance, struck a trend, and looked great, and we hope to see more from him and young lads like him in the future.

Thank you for your letter, ma’am. We couldn’t have been more happy to hear from you, and we wish you and Colt many more success stories.