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Tux etiquette

Posted on February 18, 2017 by admin

Tux etiquette. How to wear it and how to care for it after

Many people reading this have likely never put on a tux in their lives. And there’s a good reason for this. There aren’t really many occasions which call for someone putting one of these things on. If you’re a guy, then you’ll probably wear a tux for your wedding, and maybe your prom. If you’re part of a fraternal organization like the Knights of Columbus or the Freemasons, you’ll wear one more often. But the vast majority of men wear a tuxedo less than five times in their lives.

This might leave the average Joe pretty confused on exactly how to wear a tux. It’s not just a T shirt and pair of jeans, after all. Well fear not, because I have some tips handy to help you properly wear your outfit. And then some tips on caring for it afterward.

Wearing your tux

You’re going to want to start in nothing but your underwear. If you’re wearing an undershirt with your tux, put this on next. The first formal garment you’ll put on is your tux shirt. If you have cufflinks and/or button studs, put those on next.

Next, slip into the tux pants. Be careful putting your leg through the pant-leg, because the pant-leg may be hemmed on the inside. And putting your leg through too roughly could make you accidentally kick the hem out. Tuck your tux shirt into the pants properly, then do up the pant button and zipper.

Next comes the tie, regardless if it’s a bow tie or long tie. Pop the shirt collar, and then put the tie on. How to do this will vary depending on if it’s a pre-tied garment, or one that you tie yourself. Once you’re got that done, slip the vest on and button it up. If it needs adjusting, have a friend of family member help you.

Last bit is the tux coat. Put this on by sticking your arm out behind you, and slipping it on one arm at a time. Don’t put it on the same way you do a T-shirt, by putting your arm over your head. This not only strains your shoulder, but has a slight chance of damaging the coat from the tension. Button it up. You’re good to go!!

Caring for tux when you’re done with it

You could wear your tuxedo several times before it needs to be dry cleaned, as long as you take good care of it. However, if you pull it off and toss it into a corner when you’re done wearing it, it will wrinkle terribly. So taking good care of your tux can save you money in the long run with dry-cleaning bills.

Fold the tux pants neatly, making sure the crease from each leg lines up. Put them on a sturdy, thick hanger, preferably one with a cardboard cylinder-guard or pants clips. Put the coat on the hanger next, making sure it goes over the pants. The shirt should be washed after a single use, so put that aside. The vest and tie can be hung up on a thinner wire hanger. If you want to keep things together, pinch the head of the thin wire hanger around the neck of the thicker coat-and-pant hanger.

That’s it!

And that’s how you wear your tux, and take care of it after. Treat your tux right, and it will make you the best-looking person in any room you walk into!

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Tuxedo shoes – which ones are best

Posted on February 18, 2017 by admin

Tuxedo shoes. Which ones are best?

A tuxedo is much more than just the coat and pant. It’s made up by the entire outfit you choose to wear as part of it. Coat, pants, shirt, vest, tie, and yes, shoes.

Tuxedo shoes come in many different looks and styles. But there are a few categories they can be broken down into. Knowing these could help you choose your tuxedo shoes when it’s time to rent or buy. Because you don’t want to be that guy that thought white shoes with a black tux was a good idea. Not unless it’s part of a theme, in which case, knock yourself out.

Matte finish shoes

Matte shoes is one of the two biggest categories you can break tuxedo shoes down into first. These generally have a less glossy finish, looking more like an actual leather good. Matte shoes are a bit more flexible than their patent leather counterparts in terms of choice. You can wear a pair of black matte shoes with a suit or a tuxedo.

Patent leather shoes

These are the fancier, less flexible of the two major tuxedo shoe categories. These are a lot glossier, and the cheaper ones are sometimes made of plastic. These look great with the classic black tuxedo, and really round out your ‘elegant’ appearance, so to speak. However, wearing these with a less dressy outfit like a suit, is a bad idea. You’ll just look silly.

Square toe vs round toe tuxedo shoes

Now this is really a matter of personal preference and comfort more than looks. Sure, some people have a beef with the way one or the other looks. For example, I once watched a loud groomsman proclaim that the round toe shoe made him feel ‘girly’ and like ‘less of a man.’

Personally, in my opinion a real man would suck it up for a day and show his buddy the support he deserves on his wedding day. But digressions aside, that’s just an example of an opinion on one or the other.

The issue more people take to heart with tuxedo shoes is the fit. Round toe shoes look more tapered toward the toe. But this makes them smaller in that area, too. Not really good for people who have wider feet (which I find a fair amount do.)

Squared toe tuxedo shoes

Squared toe tuxedo shoes are a bit more comfortable, and thusly I find more people prefer them. They feature a flat, wide toe area, and generally wider around the ball of your foot too.

But square toe tuxedo shoes that have too flat of a toe area look a lot bulkier. They also tend to be a lot heavier in the heel area, which makes them more susceptible to heat damage and breaking apart.

In my experience, a hybrid toe is the best. This combines the comfort of a square toe with the elegance of a round toe; the best of both worlds. And judging from the rental tickets during my years of experience, I’m in the majority with that opinion.

Conclusion

There are many other small variables when it comes to tuxedo shoes. Things like color, design, etc. are all noticeable little details. But those two categories are what you’ll notice first. And to me, they’re the most important.

Just make sure that whatever tuxedo shoes you choose, you’re comfortable in them too. After all, you’ll be standing around for a long time in these things, and they’re not built like tennis shoes. Presentable, you look nice. But presentable AND comfortable? You win.

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White Tuxedos – case for and against

Posted on February 18, 2017 by admin

White tuxedo; cases for and against wearing one

When people walk into our tuxedo shop at Mr. Formal, they always inevitably look at our white tuxedo. And why not? It stands out among the many other black coats, and has a look of it’s own.

In fact, there are a few occasions where a white tuxedo would be heavily preferred to a black one. I’ve made note of a few of those, in the course of my employment at Mr. Formal.

Baptisms

The traditional catholic baptism calls for a white garment. And if the boy is over a certain age, then a white tuxedo is a favorable look. The white garment is a symbol of the purity of the newly baptized person. Therefore, picking a tuxedo that’s black, or any other color, would be inappropriate. And it’s one of those occasions where the boy involved needs to look his best.

Quinceaneras

No, I’m not talking about the girl wearing a white tuxedo. The girl usually wears a big, colorful dress.

But for the quinceanera, the girl will usually pick a male to be her ‘escort.’ And quite often, I would hear the girl ask about a white tuxedo for him. I’m not sure why this is done of what purpose it serves. All I know is that it seems to be a popular pick for this specific occasion.

white tuxedo

Cases against the white tuxedo

As much as it might stand out, it’s not always a great idea to pick a white tuxedo. Unless the event itself dictates that you pick it, it comes down to personal preference. And it’s not always a good idea.

For example, if you’re the kind of person that has a really pale skin tone, it probably wouldn’t look good. Guys like this would be better off picking a black, grey, or even navy blue outfit. If you have a somewhat darker skin tone, then you may be able to pull it off though. Try one on, and see if it’s something you look good in.

The biggest case against it though, is…

Unfortunately, a white tuxedo is often pricier than it’s black counterpart. This is mainly due to the fact that white tuxedos generally a much higher upkeep cost. They get dirty a lot faster, and are much much harder to clean and maintain. Especially when it comes to white tuxedo pants. You could save some money by getting black pants, and a white coat, if you must have a white tuxedo.

This isn’t just bad for the cost, either. Consider the fact that she smallest signs of dirt or other mess will show up VERY obviously on a white tuxedo. You would have to be a lot more careful when wearing one. And the risk for un-repairable staining would be much higher…a mistake that is very costly for rentals.

On the other hand, if you are going to be buying your white tuxedo, then go for it. There should be no reason they cost more to buy than black tuxedos, unless it’s just a better tux. However, keep in mind that buying one puts YOU in charge of keeping it cleaned and maintained. You’ll be dry-cleaning it a lot more frequently.

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Tuxedo Rentals

Posted on February 18, 2017 by admin

Tuxedo rentals; getting it right

In pretty much every man’s life, there is one or two times where he needs to put a tux. And most guys don’t just have a tuxedo sitting around their house. After all, you hardly ever wear one, so why would you?

This is when you need to get a tuxedo rental. Usually it’s for a prom, or because you’re getting married. Some guys need to wear a tuxedo regularly, multiple times per year. But let’s face it, must guys don’t have occasion to wear a tuxedo a whole lot. So as a result, the vast majority of tuxes you see at weddings and proms are tuxedo rentals.

Seeing is believing; and also essential

tuxedo rentals

There really is no wrong way or right way to do your tuxedo rental. However, I do strongly advocate for actually seeing your tuxedo rental before you get it.

Nowadays, there are many different websites where you can rent a tux without ever seeing it beforehand. This is touted as a more ‘convenient’ option. But that convenience comes with a price in itself.

You have no idea how you’ll look in an online tuxedo rental.

You can look at as many pictures of models wearing that tux as you want. But chances are, unless you yourself are a model, it’s not an accurate representation. So when you get your tuxedo rental in the mail, put it on, and don’t like the way it fits, you’re out of luck.

But what if I don’t really care how I look?

The only reason you even put a tux on to begin with is because you DO care about your look. I don’t meant to sound too blunt, or too harsh here. But there’s a reason that people don’t just walk around in their pajamas all day. There’s a reason the streets of every city aren’t full of guys who dress like Kevin Federline.

It’s because we care about the way we look. And you should definitely care about the way you look when you put your tuxedo rental on. Chances are you are wearing that tux for something important. And if you don’t care about how you look on your wedding day…well, again, hate to be harsh here, but maybe you should reevaluate why you’re getting married, if looking as presentable as possible to her isn’t important to you.

So what do I do to get it right?

Something as important as a tuxedo rental shouldn’t be skimped on when it comes to detail. Rightly so, since even a cheap tuxedo rental can set you back at least $70.

There is no shortage of tuxedo rental places that let you see and feel the product before renting. Mr. Formal in Arizona even lets you try the tuxedo on before you decide to rent it!

In conclusion

Even if you don’t care about your wedding, and how it looks…she does. And nothing shows your effort like making sure you look the best you can in your tuxedo rental.

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Picking the best wedding suit

Posted on February 18, 2017 by admin

Picking the best wedding suit for my event

If you’ve been glancing at wedding pictures on sites like pinterest or instrgram, no doubt you’ve noticed a trend. Suits are slowly becoming commonplace attire at weddings…for the groom and groomsmen, not just the guests.

No doubt this coincides with a sort of trend toward ‘dressing down,’ so to speak. But picking a suit can be a bit more challenging than picking a tuxedo.

This is mostly because there’s so many different choices when it comes to your wedding suits. Tuxedos come in a small variety of colors, including black, white, ivory, burgundy, grey, navy…mostly flat, darker tones. Suits, however, come in a much larger variety of colors; dark or light, neutral or dazzling, single or multiple colors. There’s so many more choices that it can make picking one a bit more difficult!

So, with this in mind, I’ve taken the liberty of laying out some tips for picking the best wedding suit. And maybe they’re not really tips, more like things to consider.

wedding suit

Stick with more neutral colors for the wedding suit itself.

Generally these colors work best with anything that’s put behind them, or next to them. You want to try and avoid colors that pop way too much, like orange or yellow or turquoise. This might be fine if you’re going to prom, but it’s too flashy for a wedding. After all, you’re trying to look like you’re getting married, not trying out to be a game show host.

Not only that, but a brightly-colored wedding suit is more restrictive than it’s darker counterparts. You’re limiting yourself when it comes to vests and ties to wear with it. For example, a purple suit looks terrible with a lime green or orange vest. A nice tan suit, on the other hand, looks good with a much bigger variety of vests.

Try to avoid ‘boardroom colors.’

You want to look like you’re getting married to the love of your life. Think to yourself: if someone saw you in your chosen wedding suit, WITHOUT the bride or the wedding décor around you. Would they think you were getting married? Or would they think you were going to a job interview, boardroom meeting, or day at the office?

Anything besides black of grey is fair game, in my opinion. Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t pick a black or grey wedding suit. All I’m saying is that if you do, give it a bit more scrutiny than you normally would. Pick one with a bit less of a stuffy look to it. And if possible, pair it with some different color vests and ties.

In conclusion

My word is not fashion law when it comes to your outfit, it’s merely advice. Your best judge for how you look, will be you. Just put your wedding suit on, and look at yourself in the mirror. Ask yourself, “Do I look good in this? Will I look good standing next to my spouse?” If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then full steam ahead, I say.

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Suits made easy

Posted on February 18, 2017June 11, 2017 by admin

Suits made easy; picking the best one for you!

It’s no secret that suits are more common than their more formal counterpart, tuxedos. But lately, suits are becoming more commonplace for proms, formal events, even for grooms!

Sure, suits aren’t the best thing you could put on, and you could stand to do better with a tux. But suits are still good; at least it’s not getting married in cargo shirts and a button-up.

But if you thought there were lots of options for tuxes, then you haven’t seen anything yet. The recent popularity explosion with men’s dress items (largely due to hipster culture) has affected the supply. Like a tsunami following an earthquake, men all over the world are now drowning in suit options!

Finding the right suits for me

With all the options out there, you might be wondering where you stand in all of this. It’s easy to point at a picture of a model wearing a suit in GQ and say “That’s the one for me!”

Hold on a second, there. Suits might look pretty much the same to you, but there are small differences. I’ll go over some of these differences and help you pick the best one for you.

Does fitted look good on me?

“Fitted” garments are all the rage right now, and for good reason. Fitted suits can bring out the best qualities in a person’s build, and compliment their form. A fitted outfit can make even the scrappiest guy look a bit more strapping!

But the problems with fitted suits arise when people who are too large try to wear them. It’s one thing if you’re a big guy, and you’re wearing a fitted outfit that’s tailor-made for you. But custom-made outfits can cost hundreds more than off-the-rack suits, and most people aren’t willing to spend that kind of scratch on an outfit…especially just a coat and pant.

But if you’re a big guy and you insist on a fitted set that’s off the rack, it most likely won’t look great. Fitted suits are meant to compliment a few different body types. And with all due respect, if you’re too overweight, that body type isn’t yours.

Instead, look for a suit that has a standard fit. This will allow you to be more comfortable while wearing it, and better compliments your body type. Heavier guys can have a certain appeal all their own when wearing properly fitted suits. The right one exudes power and commands a room with its presence. But if you look like you stuffed yourself into a navy-blue sausage casing, you won’t get that effect.

Go somewhere that lets you try on

If buying online is a bad idea for rentals, it’s a TERRIBLE idea for buying an outfit. Try it on, and make sure that you’re comfortable in it, and people think you look good in it. Most important, make sure YOU like the way you look in it. Suits should spike your confidence, not make you look at your body flaws.

It’s also helpful if you don’t go to buy outfits with a group of ‘yes men.’ Make sure whomever you take with you is someone who will be honest and tell you if something looks bad. I would want to know the suits I was buying looked bad. Especially if I was shelling out that kind of money.

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Prom Tuxedos; three ways to impress with your tux!

Posted on January 19, 2017January 19, 2017 by admin

Prom tuxedos

Maybe you’ve riding the elation wave that comes after your ideal lady says yes. Maybe you’re going stag with a group of your pals and have a great night planned. Either way, congratulations; you’re going to your high school prom!

Now comes the part that every guy has to do, whether they have a date or not. You need to look at some prom tuxedos! Don’t be worried, this step doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, go to the right place and it can actually be pretty fun!

1. Match her colors…a must for the man with a date!

The traditional thing to do is to wait until your lady picks out her dress. Then you simply pick out a prom tux with a vest and tie with a color to match it. If she’s wearing a black dress, that’s even easier and leaves you with more options.

Of course, sometimes girls procrastinate when picking out their prom dress. But Wait too long, and the color you need in your size could be all sold out! (And don’t even get me started on the lame trend of girls not letting their guys see their dress until prom day. It’s a prom, not a wedding!)

2. Prom tuxedos are even easier for single guys!

However, if you’re one of those guys whose going stag with his buddies, then congrats…this is WAY easier for you! No lady means nothing that you’re required to match, so you can pick just about anything you want. Some guys go with vest and tie colors to match their school banner, or their prom’s theme. Some dudes just wear whatever they want!

And going stag gives you an opportunity to dress as flashy as possible, if that’s your thing. I’ve had guys going solo pick out our bright red coat, our tail coat, even our sparkle coat and pant! (That last was discontinued some time ago…sorry guys!)

c963_a32 — The red coat, by Jean Yves…a Mr. Formal exclusive in Arizona!

3. Don’t lie about your body shape; you’ll only cheat yourself.

You’re also going to want to be honest with your tuxedo expert on how you want to look. If you’re an athletic guy or have a decently slim or average shape, fitted prom tuxedos are generally the way to go.

However, if you’re a bit on the bigger side, then don’t cheat yourself by trying to squeeze into a fitted tux. A standard fit will end up looking much better on you. I’ve had several guys say they wanted a ‘size smaller’ than what I measured them for, only to be uncomfortable the day of the event.

I understand that for most guys, this is their first time picking out prom tuxedos…or any tux, for that matter. But if you go alone, your experts at Mr. Formal will make sure you hit the prom looking your best!

Men’s Tuxedos; a beginner’s guide

Posted on January 19, 2017January 20, 2017 by admin

Men’s tuxedos. For over 120 years, they have been the pinnacle of high-class menswear. They traditionally came in mostly black, but are now available in a very wide range of colors.

For something that appears quite often in movies, TV and magazines, not much is really known about men’s tuxedos to the average person. If you ask your average dude about tuxedos, their answer will most likely be something like this: “it’s that uncomfortable outfit you wear to your prom or wedding.”

People may not know them well, but Men’s tuxedos have become essential!

Well, men’s tuxedos might not be something that you really bother to know a whole lot about. But what I do know is that every man worth his salt wears one during important rites of passage in his life. These include baptisms, proms, weddings, honorary formal dinners, and more.

ike-behar-navy

And rightfully so; nothing makes a man look better or more distinguished than an honest tuxedo. And nowadays, there’s many different varieties of men’s tuxedos. There’s peak lapels, which look amazing with a bow tie. There’s notch lapels, which are a bit more on the casual side. And the rounded shawl lapel is great for dressing up without too many ‘points.’

Fit is just as important as style!

The fit should definitely be one of the main things to consider when deciding on your men’s tuxedo. Right now, fitted tuxedos are all the rage; they taper in the waist, feature smaller shoulders, and lend a slimming appearance to the wearer. However, if you’re a larger fellow, perhaps consider a standard fit, which compliments a larger build without hiding it behind baggy clothes.

But for the last several years tuxedos have been seeing a steady decline in the number of people who wear them, even to weddings. This is partially due to the trend of ‘dressing down,’ making suits acceptable for taking your vows in. I’m on board with that, but there’s a disturbing trend of brides dressing their men up in jeans and button-up shirts, sometimes with suspenders.

Yeah…really?

Now, to each their own, but I would think the most important day of a man’s life deserves the best outfit. It’s a wedding, not casual Friday. Picture James Bond wooing the newest Bond girl in that lame outfit; cool superspy? Maybe, if his job was working in a cubicle.

But, I digress. Despite the dress-down trend, men’s tuxedos continue to be the top-notch way for a man to dress up. When my brother in law was getting married, I caught wind that he was going to wear shorts and a button-up shirt.

SHORTS!

I insisted on wearing a suit to the wedding, and he was afraid of me out-dressing him, so he wore a suit too. And you know what? His mother, his new wife, and later he himself thanked me for driving him to dress in something more presentable.

Later, when you’re looking at your wedding pictures, you’ll be glad you picked the best: one of the tried and true men’s tuxedos.

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Fitted tuxedos; the new normal in tuxedo coats!

Posted on January 19, 2017January 20, 2017 by admin

Fitted Tuxedos

I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures of some of the more old fashioned tuxedos. And to be perfectly honest, many people these days no longer find them very desirable. As such, more and more wearers prefer the cleaner-cut fitted tuxedos.

This is mostly due to the small, minor features that tuxedos popular in earlier eras have. Now, I say tuxedos, but every single one of these thing applies to suits as well. These include:

Shoulder pads
Relaxed fit in the coat
Pleated tuxedo pants

Shoulder pads; not so desirable in fitted tuxedos

Once such feature is the so-called ‘shoulder pads.’ These subtle inserts are designed to artificially broaden the wearer’s shoulders, and make them look more masculine. However, in lower quality tuxedo coats, the shoulder pads are more obvious than in higher quality outfits.

Fitted tuxedos eliminates this undesirable feature by either including much smaller shoulder pads, or eliminating them entirely.

Relaxed fit coat; also referred to sometimes as baggy.

This is another one of those coat features that people don’t really find desirable anymore. Many older coats have more of a straight-down cut. This gives them more of a, for lack of a better word, ‘boxy’ sort of look. This type of appearance doesn’t really mesh too well with the typical body type nowadays.

tux_ball — This fit actually isn’t optimal; there should be no ‘pull’ on the coat from the button. This gentleman needs a size bigger.

Lots of people prefer the fitted tuxedos also because it eliminates this feature. A fitted tuxedo sports more of a ‘tapered middle,’ which accentuated the build of the majority of people’s body build.

Look over there; is it Shakespeare? No, it’s just a guy in pleated pants.

Pleats are small folds in the thigh area of pants. These allow for more mobility and greater comfort when doing things like sitting, squatting, or even dancing.

And while this is great, is had the side effect of simply making a person’s thighs look wider than they are. It also adds more loose fabric to hang free; not a good thing.

Pants that come with fitted tuxedos not only eliminate the pleats. They also go one step further, and provide a tighter fit. This is also known as ‘skinny fit pants, and they do give the wearer’s legs a more slender appearance.

However, if you have bigger legs, consider getting pleated pants, or go halfway; look for non-pleated, non-skinny fit pants. Skinny pants and large thighs or posterior are a volatile combination; ripped pants can mean a big rental replacement bill.

So these are just a few of the features that fitted tuxedos don’t include. However, there are some cases where these features can be more helpful than out-of-date. Be honest with your tuxedo expert.

How do you prefer your tuxedos to fit? Let us know in the comments and rate the article below!

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Wedding Suits; the hottest ones this year!

Posted on January 19, 2017January 20, 2017 by admin

Wedding Suits; the Hottest Ones this Year!

Weddings. Everyone had their ideal wedding, but some things pop up more than others. A big cake, a white dress (more on this later,) hand-written invitations, and pretty flowers are just a few.

Another thing that comes up often (not as often as dresses though,) is tuxedos. But seeing increasing surges of popularity every year lately, is wedding suits.

No, you didn’t read that wrong; wedding suits.

Wedding suits are exactly what they sound like: suits that someone wears to a wedding. And no, I’m not talking about the clothes the guests wear. I’m talking about the actual groom’s wedding duds.

No one knows exactly why, but more and more brides are seeing fit to put their grooms in suits for their wedding. Designers and manufacturers are quickly taking notice. And so as a result, there are more options than ever for good wedding suits nowadays.

Looking for the most popular wedding suits? Look no further.

But as you flick through Pinterest for ideas for your own wedding, you’ll surely come across some suits quite often. These are the champions that stand out among the others as the most popular wedding suits. I’ll be going over them generally, by color and by fit. More descriptive lists can be found in future articles.

The fit

Generally, the most popular wedding suits all seem to follow one trend in particular: they’re all fitted suits. Fitted suits have swept the world and replaced standard cut outfits as the go-to for that modern look.

And for good reason: a fitted outfit is a great way to really bring out the good qualities in a person’s physique.

The colors

Now here, I’m not talking about vest, tie or shirt colors. I’m talking about the actual colors of the wedding suits themselves.

Suits can be seen in just about any color you can imagine. This is especially true since people sometimes use suit colors to stand out. These people will go for something that jumps, even if it doesn’t necessarily look good, like bright orange (Kraft Punk, anyone?) or also pink.

But by and large, for people serious about their wedding the most popular colors remain the same. Tones like dark grey, light grey, navy blue, cobalt, and even tan are quite common. Black suits aren’t as desirable as they used to be; these are more favorable for funerals or business meetings.

But as the Canadians say: ‘Fill your boots!’

These are some of the more popular wedding suits. But it’s your wedding; go with whatever feels best!

What kind of suits would you like to see at your own wedding? Let us know in the comments below!
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