Wearing tux is not a part of your everyday look but if you ever wear one, it is best to add accessories that go with it. The best thing about it is that you have plenty of accessories to choose from. Knowing what accessories best go with your tux is the secret to getting that dapper look.
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Why is it called Tuxedo?
Have you ever wondered how certain clothes came to be? Well, one of the clothes that has a history belongs to the tuxedo.
The name Tuxedo came to be when Pierre Lorillard, a resident of Tuxedo Park designed a formalwear for men. The tuxedo came to be when Lorillard designed a black jacket that he wore for a formal ball in October 1886. The said design became popular among men and became a favorite during formal events.
The first design for this jacket was a concept created by Henry Poole in the mid-1860s. He was the tailor for the Prince of Wales who became King Edward VII. The jacket wasn’t designed to be formalwear but the King used it for casual dinners.
In London of 1886, a resident of Tuxedo Park named James Brown Potter and his wife, Cora met the Prince of Wales. They attended a court ball where Potter asked the Prince for advice on formalwear. He then saw the King’s tailless jacket and was later on inspired by it.
This design was then brought back to New York by the Potters. It was also the same design that Lorillard modified and gave way to the tuxedo that we now know.
What is the difference between a Tuxedo and a suit?
I have known a lot of people who cannot distinguish the difference between a tux and a suit. It’s not surprising as many modern tuxedos look “similar” to a suit these days. But if you take a better look, you can see features in a suit that is not seen in a tux and vice versa.
A tuxedo and suit may look the same at first glance but there are plenty of differences that you should know. For example, tuxedos have satin finishing on the pocket trim, lapels, and buttons. The side stripe of the tuxedo pants is also finished with satin, this feature is not present in a suit.
A suit on the other end does not incorporate satin in their fabric. They usually have plastic buttons and buttons with the same fabric used in creating the suit. A tuxedo uses a bowtie while a suit is often seen with a necktie and this is one of the first differences you usually see.
Tuxedos are often worn with waistcoats, cummerbunds, or a low stance vest and bow tie. These accessories are not seen in all suits. The shirt you use inside a suit and tuxedo is also different.
The shirt worn inside a tux is usually a pleated bib and wing-tipped collars. By tradition, the pleated bibs and wing-tipped collars are the ideal shirts worn. Since we are already in 2021, a modified shirt is a good option to take.
The shirt you wear inside a suit is a lot safer compared to a tux. You can choose any color you like as long as it matches your shoes. Adding cuff links to your tux or suit is great as long as it matches the color of your shirt.
If you are going to a less formal event like a birthday party or wearing a suit is the safest and best option. Colored shirts are more flexible for a suit but if you are to go to a black-tie event, a tuxedo works best. Galas, charity dinners or balls, film festivals, and others means you must wear a tuxedo.
When it comes to shoes, a tuxedo goes with patent leather shoes. But since fashion is ever-changing, the shoes you wear with a tux can also change. If you are happy and confident in the shoes of your choice then go with it!
Why is tuxedo so expensive?
Buying a tuxedo is an investment and depending on the occasion, you can spend as low as $100 or as high as $50,000, no joke! This will depend of course, on various factors which could affect its price. Whether you rent a tux or buy one, it is important to know why they are charging the said amount for your tuxedo.
If you are going to an event but rarely use tuxedos, then the best option you can take is renting one. But, renting tuxedos don’t come cheap either as they can start at $100 and upwards. You must also take into consideration the things that make the tux expensive. This could be the following:
Materials used
Maker or brand
Quality of workmanship
If you are planning to rent a whole ensemble or only a tuxedo jacket.
The secret lies in the details of the tuxedo itself and oftentimes, this is not noticed. Not only that, but the high-quality materials used in creating the tux also plays a role in the price too. If you love branded or designer tux then expects to pay more than you have bargained for.
Are tuxedo studs necessary?
Generally, you must always wear your tux with studs but, it is not a must. Men can have a choice of using them or not. It will also depend on the occasion you are attending and if it’s needed.
You can wear tuxedo studs if you wish but you have to make sure that they match your tuxedo’s shirt packets. You can even wear one if you are wearing a bow tie but this is not needed at all times. But if you want to sport the traditional look and complete the accessories, adding studs are good as well.
What do you wear under a tuxedo jacket?
Before you put your tuxedo jacket you must wear something underneath first. Choosing the right shirt is important and it must always be white. While this shirt functions like a regular dress shirt, there are features that stand out.
The dress shirt is also called bib or bosom is a decorated rectangular panel that runs up to the front. This bib has pleats that have stiffened and woven with a dimpled pattern. The edges of the shirts have buttonholes that can close with decorative studs.
The studs can be for stiff-front shirts while soft-front shirts use mother-of-pearl buttons. Many men also use French cuffs as this is the standard for semi-formal ones. Cufflinks are then used to fasten the cuffs but they are not usually required.
The kind of tie you wear for a tuxedo should always be black. The material for this tie should be alike to the jacket’s lapel facings. There are several ways to tie a bow that are acceptable. Usually, these ties have a distinguished round or pointed ends.
The thickness of the bow is also important but the kind of tie should match the features of the wearer. The four ways you can wear your bow tie are the following:
- Butterfly
- Semi butterfly
- Straight-end
- Pointed
The butterfly bow tie is narrow at the center with wide ends. It is ideal to use if you have large or rounded facial features. The semi butterfly bow tie is the modern version of the butterfly and usually works for all types of faces.
The straight-end bow tie is often called batwing or the club-style; this works if you have a thin neck and face. The pointed bow tie is ideal if you have angular features. So if you have a killer jawline, this is the perfect type of bow to use!
If you prefer to wear a double-breasted jacket, make sure to include a cummerbund. In case you do wear one, make sure not to wear the one with braces. Always make sure that the pleats face up so you don’t look ridiculous in your tux.
You can have buttons on your tuxedo of course but the question is, how many buttons should you have? A typical tuxedo has four buttons and fastens on the bottom row or both rows. But the cut of your jacket will determine the number of buttons to be useful and to your preference of course.
Some men don’t like too many buttons as this limits their movement. If you are to add buttons, choose ones that fasten around the bottom part of your ribcage. This way you can move without having to unbutton your jacket.
Putting buttons at the bottom part of your rib cage allows the coat to “break” or pull away at your waist. This also provides you a comfortable fit without losing the shape of your tuxedo. If you ask me, the best option you can have is a one-button coat.
Two-button coats do work but if you ever have them, remember to unbutton the last two buttons. You must also avoid jackets that have more than two buttons in the front if you want to keep a classy look.
Do you wear a belt with a tuxedo?
Belts are great if you are wearing jeans or suits but, this is a big no if you are wearing a tuxedo. Never wear any belt with formal wear, not even a suspender even if it does look classy. Tuxedos should have a strong waistband so you don’t have to wear belts.
Wearing belts is not a good addition to your tux so you must find an experienced tailor for this. Taking proper measurements ensures that you don’t need belts or suspenders underneath. Unless of course, you don’t like wearing pants without belts!
Can you wear wingtips with a tuxedo?
What’s a tuxedo ensemble without shoes? You have plenty of options to choose from. The question is, which one goes best with a tuxedo?
A tuxedo get up is not complete without the right shoes, isn’t it? But what kind of shoes go best with a tuxedo? Can you wear anything you like or you have to follow the rules?
If you are aiming for a classic look then you can go with the customized leather shoes. But this is not always the case as you can also choose other options. One of the best shoes you can wear are the wingtips.
The wingtip shoe is a member of the brogue family. They are essential footwear for a lot of menswear and they work well with tuxedos too!
Brogues come in many forms, these can be oxfords, derbies, suedes. The most popular brogues are the custom-made leather shoes that match well with a tuxedo. The term “wingtip” is to describe the patterns of stitches around the shows that look like a bird’s wings.
The wingtip shoes is also known as austerity brogues which is often mistaken as full brogues. If you compare the patterns of these shoes you will see the difference. Wingtips are wing-like while brogues have perforations and pinking.
You can use wingtip shoes with your tuxedo given that the shoes match the color of it. To many, wingtips are non-seasonal as they can go with whatever formalwear and as long as the colors match. Of course, the decision to wear wingtips is up to you; if you love them then go for it!
Men who choose wingtips for their tuxedo are often those who want to incorporate a more modern look. Nothing is wrong with that either! One rule of wearing a tuxedo is that you don’t have to be afraid of matching colors and accessories with it.
Wearing tuxedos should be fun and you should be able to be creative with it. Take a look at celebrities and how they wear tuxedos, they are not afraid to embrace a newer approach, isn’t it? So be bold, don’t be afraid to experiment a look; be confident about it!
So there you go, now that you know what accessories you can use with a tuxedo, go ahead and take a pick! You don’t have to overdo it, go with the ones that you are most comfortable with and work it from there. Wearing a tuxedo should be fun, so enjoy the moment while it lasts!