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Opinion-
April 15, 2025
First, you have to decide on your style and the color of your tuxedo or suit to look suave and elegant. A tuxedo is never worn with a tie. Shoes must be black, either patent leather, velvet, or simple oxfords. Another accessory often worn with a tux is a cummerbund. You can also wear a waistcoat instead.
Now, how to wear a suit. The jacket should button comfortably without any strain. The sleeves should break just at your wrist when your arms are relaxed, allowing a bit of shirt and watch to peek out. For pants fit, opt for trousers that sit comfortably at your natural waistline with a slight break at the bottom. Clean your shoes thoroughly, apply shoe polish or wax, and buff them vigorously with a soft cloth or brush. If you are unsure, look at the picture; it is a perfect example, a fantastic photo.
Image from: MJSD Facebook Page
Brody Helgeson, senior at MHS, giving an example of how to wear a suit with a bow tie.
Regarding bow ties, you don't have to wear one that you tie around your neck. Clip-on ones work too. It's not surprising that clip-on ties look neat and clean. Unlike traditional ties, you can't mess up the knot. You don't have to worry about looking sloppy or unkempt. An added benefit is that since you aren't tying them repeatedly, clip-on ties don't get as wrinkly. However, if you're going to wear one that you tie, it will look more elegant.
Most suits cannot or should not be worn with shoes outside of dress styles. Look at this picture; it is a good example of dress styles. Dress-style shoes can be worn in more casual settings. Naturally, you would not go hiking in dress shoes, but you would not wear Nikes either. With your heel pushed against the back of the shoe, your toes should not touch the front, and there should be about a half-inch of extra space. The difference between a full shoe size is usually ⅓ inch, so if the fit is close, it's easy to go up or down a half size to get a better fit.
You can also wear leather padded slippers for tuxedos. Velvet slippers are formal attire and can be worn with a tux. There are only a few acceptable shoes to wear with a tuxedo. Patent leather or velvet slippers both work, along with very plain, regular black leather shoes. This is what slippers like Crockett and Jones are about. Traditionally, you would wear patent leather shoes, which most tuxedo stores would rent with the tuxedo. But you can also wear your regular shoes, ensuring they are highly shined.
For a suit, you'll be the talk of prom if you opt for a bold, untraditional color. Tie your outfit together with a tie and/or pocket square that complements the suit's coloring, or, if you want to make an entrance, dial it up with a bright printed shirt. Color doesn't always have to be loud.
Achromatic looks, using black, white, and grey, tend to be more modern and/or more formal, sometimes approaching the formality of black tie when there is high contrast in the outfit. The lack of true color gives these outfits a certain elegance.
Image from: https://www.gq.com/gallery/how-to-wear-a-tuxedo-like-james-bond
Character James Bond in a bow tie with his suit.
The suit you pick really depends on your budget and how often you're going to wear your suit. If you're looking for a workhorse suit that you can rely on 2-3 times a week, a $200 ready-to-wear number will not last. You'll end up buying a new one every six months. Many major tux rental retailers, like The Black Tux and Men's Wearhouse, have an average price of $150 for a tuxedo rental. Depending on the type of tux and the potential addition of accessories, to-be-weds can generally expect tux rental costs to fall between $150 and $300.
My last advice is this: Basically, anytime you wear a tuxedo, a dinner jacket, or a 'smoking' jacket, as the Europeans call it, wear a cummerbund, except if that dinner jacket is double-breasted. You also don't wear a cummerbund if you're already wearing a waistcoat, which is something that you traditionally can wear.
Have a fantastic prom.
by Brody Helgeson
April 15, 2025
The Jay's News Nest
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