Advice Needed: Buying a Tuxedo

Ladies and Gents,

within the next few months, I'm planning to acquire a tuxedo.

To be honest, I need everything:

Tuxedo jacket, trousers, and perhaps a vest;
Cummerbund, suspenders, bow tie,
Evening shirt with cufflinks and shirt studs,
Silk socks and patent leather shoes.

All-embracing, I'm willing to spend € 500, but no penny more.

Now my question:
Can you recommend any firm, or store?
What should I obey regarding:
- the jacket: which kind of lapel/collar? Shiny or matte?
- Cummerbund or vest?
- Which kind of collar for the shirt?

Let me assume I accept roughly the following prices:
120 euros for shoes;
70 euros for the shirt;
25 euros for these shirt studs;
20 euros for cufflinks;
50 euros for cummerbund and tie
- this would leave me about 200-250 euros to spend for the tuxedo itself.

Is this a reasonable amount of money which I can expect good quality from?

Any advice or ideas are highly appreciated, as well as collections of questions from other gentlemen seeking help with a tuxedo!

Have a dapper week,
Zachary

Zachary said:

Ladies and Gents,

within the next few months, I'm planning to acquire a tuxedo.

To be honest, I need everything:

Tuxedo jacket, trousers, and perhaps a vest;
Cummerbund, suspenders, bow tie,
Evening shirt with cufflinks and shirt studs,
Silk socks and patent leather shoes.

All-embracing, I'm willing to spend € 500, but no penny more.

Now my question:
Can you recommend any firm, or store?
What should I obey regarding:
- the jacket: which kind of lapel/collar? Shiny or matte?
- Cummerbund or vest?
- Which kind of collar for the shirt?

Let me assume I accept roughly the following prices:
120 euros for shoes;
70 euros for the shirt;
25 euros for these shirt studs;
20 euros for cufflinks;
50 euros for cummerbund and tie
- this would leave me about 200-250 euros to spend for the tuxedo itself.

Is this a reasonable amount of money which I can expect good quality from?

Any advice or ideas are highly appreciated, as well as collections of questions from other gentlemen seeking help with a tuxedo!

Have a dapper week,
Zachary

Click to expand...

I think a shiny lapel face is standard; if the lapel face is the same fabric as the rest of the jacket, most people may not recognize the garment as a dinner jacket/tuxedo.

My suggestion is to go for midnight blue instead of black. Under artificial lights, midnight blue looks very close to black, whereas true black takes on an odd greenish hue.

Gentlemen,

Just came back from a window shopping afternoon, and I was surprised by how cheaply formal attire can be purchased.

This is the collection I'll be keeping an eye on:

Dinner jacket with trousers* - € 100**/***
Shirt including studs - € 70
Cummerbund - € 70
Patent leather shoes - € 70

* only in black; midnight blue not available.
** I realise this price is immorably cheap, and I don't expect too much from it; but at this price, there are few things you can do wrong.
*** There's also an option for € 70, but in this case the jacket's pockets have flaps, which is inacceptable for me.

Now: 320 euros for a complete outfit? Wow, I also inquired at stores where the tuxedo itself was € 600!

Considering renting a tuxedo is about € 150 where I live, and you need to acquire the shirt and shoes on your own as well, you can imagine which deal makes more sense …

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/111894834316

I thought this cummerbund set seemed cool, not that I'm sure it would interest you particularly .
I haven't needed a tuxedo yet, but I fear my process will be pricier than yours, because I would be hellbent on a vintage tux that, not only may be more expensive than your option, but would likely be due for some tailoring, due to my damned body type. Good luck on your endeavor, though.

I have a vintage cummerbund that I acquired at a thrift store some years ago. I'm not sure of its exact provenance.

Cool, what style is the jacket?

Zachary said:

Gentlemen,

Just came back from a window shopping afternoon, and I was surprised by how cheaply formal attire can be purchased.

This is the collection I'll be keeping an eye on:

Dinner jacket with trousers* - € 100**/***
Shirt including studs - € 70
Cummerbund - € 70
Patent leather shoes - € 70

* only in black; midnight blue not available.
** I realise this price is immorably cheap, and I don't expect too much from it; but at this price, there are few things you can do wrong.
*** There's also an option for € 70, but in this case the jacket's pockets have flaps, which is inacceptable for me.

Now: 320 euros for a complete outfit? Wow, I also inquired at stores where the tuxedo itself was € 600!

Considering renting a tuxedo is about € 150 where I live, and you need to acquire the shirt and shoes on your own as well, you can imagine which deal makes more sense …

Click to expand...

Zachary said:

Gentlemen,

Just came back from a window shopping afternoon, and I was surprised by how cheaply formal attire can be purchased.

This is the collection I'll be keeping an eye on:

Dinner jacket with trousers* - € 100**/***
Shirt including studs - € 70
Cummerbund - € 70
Patent leather shoes - € 70

* only in black; midnight blue not available.
** I realise this price is immorably cheap, and I don't expect too much from it; but at this price, there are few things you can do wrong.
*** There's also an option for € 70, but in this case the jacket's pockets have flaps, which is inacceptable for me.

Now: 320 euros for a complete outfit? Wow, I also inquired at stores where the tuxedo itself was € 600!

Considering renting a tuxedo is about € 150 where I live, and you need to acquire the shirt and shoes on your own as well, you can imagine which deal makes more sense …

Click to expand...

Many years ago my wife made me some matching bow tie/cummerbund combos in colors/patterns that some here will no doubt find gauche. But as I always say, J 'em if they can't take an F. haha

Choice of tux is down to personal taste. I have a slim, satin lapel in black with a satin sash down the trouser leg, I hardly ever wear it even though it was expensive. Instead I wear the 1930's wide lapel, without the satin look, matched to a high waisted pair of trousers, eighteen in bottoms with a two inch turned up cuff. But that's just me being different, I hate looking like one of the waiters.
If you are after patent leather shoes, you could give Colin a call. For £110, that's about 145 euros, you could have a brand new pair.

When you ask about lapels being shiny or matt - are you asking whether the lapels should be silk or wool, or are you asking if they should be satin or grosgrain (or perhaps a different weave)? I would always recommend the more matt weaves (it's what I'll be going for when I get my new dinner suit made), however, at the prices you've managed to find, I suspect only satin would be available (unless you can find something second-hand).

With regards to the shirt collar, try to get a regular turn-down collar - the attached wing collars usually look too small and limp (save the wing collars for white tie).

With regards to lapel type, go with what makes you feel comfortable, whether peaked or shawl. Some people suggest that waistcoats are better suited to peaked, and cummerbunds to shawl collars, but honestly you can go with either (the only caveat being, if the jacket has peaked lapels, the waistcoat should have angled lapels, if the jacket has shawl lapels, the waistcoat should also have shawl lapels).

With regards to quality: well, unless you've gotten lucky and you've found the more expensive components second-hand or 90% off, you get what you pay for.

I have several, but I wear them to Lodge, to concerts where I'm performing, fancy parties and occasionally out to dinner.

I mostly buy used separates. I have paid full retail for a pair of pants, but most of my jackets come off Ebay.

For vintage, I acquired a shawl lapel.

I fear I've given Mondo a bum steer, as I recommended he get a tuxedo, and he seems to like vintage. The rules I remember from being younger was, "A boy under 18 should not wear white tie and a boy under 15 should not wear black tie".

Regardless, there are some great options, especially if you're willing to buy used off Ebay, some of the best are ex-rental stock, they tend to be in good shape.

C.

Canadian said:

I have several, but I wear them to Lodge, to concerts where I'm performing, fancy parties and occasionally out to dinner.

I mostly buy used separates. I have paid full retail for a pair of pants, but most of my jackets come off Ebay.

For vintage, I acquired a shawl lapel.

I fear I've given Mondo a bum steer, as I recommended he get a tuxedo, and he seems to like vintage. The rules I remember from being younger was, "A boy under 18 should not wear white tie and a boy under 15 should not wear black tie".

Regardless, there are some great options, especially if you're willing to buy used off Ebay, some of the best are ex-rental stock, they tend to be in good shape.

C.

Click to expand...

Tuxedos are cool, but I have no need for one whatsoever now. Also if i bought it secondhand, god, the alterations i would have to do...