What to Know About Wearing a Tuxedo

Not every day calls for formalwear, at least not for most people, but that only serves to highlight the importance (and benefit) of having a tuxedo in your wardrobe. Whenever the time comes for formalwear, you won’t have to stress about renting a tuxedo in time, or to worry about how you’ll look. You might even save money in the long run. If you’ve never owned a tux, or if this will be your first time wearing formalwear, it would be wise to brush up on how to wear this essential menswear staple. For nearly 50 years, Mohan’s Custom Tailors has handcrafted 100% bespoke tuxedos, shirts, and accessories. This has given us extensive  experience in advising our clients about what looks best when they select, purchase and put on formalwear.

Bow Tie

First, it should be mentioned that no self-respecting gentleman would allow himself to wear a pre-tied bow tie. Learning to tie a bow tie can be a challenge, but the satisfaction and confidence that comes with wearing a real bow tie is unbeatable. With that out of the way, the fabric of the bow tie almost always matches the lapels and pant stripe, though a velvet bow tie can look great against stain or grosgrain lapels and pant stripes.

Single Breasted Jacket

If you are having a single-breasted tuxedo made, make sure you have a cummerbund, waistcoat, or vest made alongside it. That’s because you’ll want to hide the bit of white shirt fabric between your bottom jacket button and waistband. This is the classic tuxedo look, although a bespoke tailor can help you add a bit more flair and flash with a custom waistcoat or vest.

Shoes

Opera shoes, also known as court shoes, are reserved for formal “white-tie” affairs, while patent leather shoes are acceptable for semi-formal “black-tie” attire. For semi-formal events, make sure the shoes lace up and are not in loafer form.