The Basics of Wearing a Tuxedo Pt. 2
[caption id="attachment_1084" align="alignleft" width="202" caption="A gentleman always looks smart, sharp and snazzy in a fine tuxedo."][/caption]
For those who missed the first part of this article, here is a recap of what I talked about. A white tuxedo should only be worn during the summer months and before six at night; your dress socks and shoes should be darker than your trousers and; being invited to a black tie event merely signifies that the event is formal.
These facts are important to know, but there's a lot more that goes into wearing a sharp tux. That being said, let's delve into some other things you have to be aware of.
Let's say you and your wife are going on a dinner date to a fancy, 5-star restaurant for your 10th anniversary. Your wife plans to wear a splendid silk, dark blue evening gown; you, on the other hand, don't have a clue as to what the proper attire would be. A general rule is to follow what the waiters and waitresses are wearing – if the waiter is wearing a tuxedo, then you should have one on as well. In a case like this, it would be helpful if you do some research some days prior to the affair. Since this is a dinner date (after 6pm) – just to reiterate – avoid wearing white at all costs. Instead, a good idea would be to somewhat match the color your wife is wearing; put on a classy navy blue tuxedo with satin framed edge by Cardi Couture. Although navy blue isn't usually a color you would think of wearing, you’d be surprised at how elegant it looks once you have it on.
Speaking of formal dates and fancy dinners, not too many people seem to realize the difference between business attire and formal wear for men. Most assume they are synonymous since both involve dressing up. This is altogether incorrect. Just to distinguish between the two, business formal attire requires you to wear dark-tailored suits with ties and pocket squares. Formal attire mandates that you sport a tuxedo with either a tie or a bowtie, a cummerbund, cufflinks, and a pocket square. The differences may seem very minute but they have to be noted. The point here - wear tuxedos for formal events and wear suits when the situation calls for business formal clothing. Designer tuxedos are always a nice option - a handsome one-button jacket with striped satin fabric running along the legs of the trousers will always look good.
On a final note, imagine yourself spiffed out in a tuxedo that looks like it was worn by your father in the 70's. You're feeling really confident about your outfit, assuming that everyone will praise you for going the retro route. As you arrive to the ballroom dinner you notice a lot of tuxedo-wearing aficionados pointing and laughing at you. Of course you ask why, and they all boisterously exclaim your tuxedo is from 1995! Feeling embarrassed, you shamefully drive home. To prevent this from ever happening to you, make sure the tux you purchase looks timeless - tuxedos with two buttons or even a one-button style jacket will allow you to be stylish, you won't have to buy another one for a long time, and most importantly, you are guaranteed to never be laughed at.
I do hope that you have gained some learning from this two-part article. Keep in mind that these are just some basic tips for buying formal wear and that there are a lot more details to consider when wearing a tuxedo. That isn’t to say that being basic is a bad thing – in fact, it is usually the foundation of a classic and timeless look.