Your Tux-Perfect Style

Take a tip or two from the formal wear experts - don't know what kind of tuxedo is best for your occasion? We've got some helpful hints that can aid in your decision.

When choosing your tuxedo, for your next formal occasion consider these options:

1. The time of day.

Daytime:If you're dressing for an event that takes place before 4 pm, for an ultra-formal look you can choose the traditional "morning suit", which consists of a cutaway coat
(short in the front, but tapers to long in the back) and striped trousers
with a vest and ascot or 4-in-hand tie. For a look that's more modern and
still formal, choose an updated cutaway coat and striped trousers, but
 with a spread collar shirt, vest, and 4-in-hand instead.

Evening: After 4 pm, the ultra formal look includes a black tailcoat (or "tails") white vest and tie,and can even include accessories like gloves, hats, and canes. For a more modern formal look for evening, choose a jacket style that suits you - tails, tuxedo coat, or dinner jacket with black or colored vests, cummerbunds, and accessories to match the wedding colors, or to suit your personal style.

2. The lapel of the coat.

• Notch Lapel is the most popular look today. The collar makes an indented "notch" where the collar meets the lapel.
• Shawl Collar is a classic look. The slightly curved collar sweeps along both sides of the jacket and tapers all the way down to the button.
• Peak Lapels are more European, the collar actually pointing upward toward the shoulders in two strong "peaks".

3. The formality of the guests.

If you've asked your guests to attend in black tie, then you, too, must wear at least the traditional formal black tie combination, at the most an ultra formal white tie and tails.

4. Your own taste.

The guidelines above are based on tradition and nothing more - and sometimes nothing is more fun than creating your very own look, which may include a themed vest and tie set or a vest or cummerbund splashed with color, or matching the colors of your date. Don't forget to account for your personal taste - it's your day, after all, so you might as well make yourself happy while being formal all at the same time!

Glossary of Terms:

• Wing Collar Shirt - half collar with pointed tips, can be worn with cravat, bow tie, or four-in-hand
• Crosswick Collar Shirt - the two sides of the collar are folded over one another and held together
   by a decorative stud, no tie is worn
• Spread Collar Shirt - traditional dress shirt collar, can be worn with bow tie, cravat, or four-in-hand
• Four-in-Hand Tie - the traditional tie that most men wear for everyday dress wear
• Cravat - a wide, old fashioned tie that is worn with the two pieces folder over one another, usually held with a stud or tie pin
• Notch Lapel - traditional American tuxedo collar, with an indented notch in the collar where the shirt collar meets the lapel
• Shawl Collar - a rounded collar that tapers toward the front button of the tuxedo jacket

• French Cuffs - button-less cuffs, meant to be folded over and secured together
   with cufflinks
  
  
  
  
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