Tuxedo Coordination

[Mr_Misanthropy]

Hello everyone. I've got a big party in August i'm attending which is considered "formal". I have a gray herringbone patter tuxedo, as seen here

I'm going to get a basic white tuxedo shirt (not sure if I want laydown or wing collar) to go with it for sure. I've always heard it's apppropriate to have a bowtie that is the same and fabric as your lapels. On this tux, the lapels are dark gray satin. So do I need a gray bowtie/cummerbind, or would black be forgiveable? Maybe if I had black shoes it'd be OK. And what sort of hat do I wear with a tuxedo? Any?

This is my first time wearing this tux since I had it tailored, so, I have no idea what to wear it with. Any suggestions are welcome! This event isn't until August, so, no rush!! I just want to have time to order things if I need to. Thanks!!

 

[Tomasso]

Sharp rig Mr.M. I would vote for a turn-down collared shirt and black satin bow tie/cummerbund(self-tie bow tie). Black shoes with grey(?) socks. Add a white linen pocket square. As for headwear, I do recall reading that proper Summer headwear for formal (semi-formal in this case, white tie being formal) dress would include a boater and a Panama but I would defer to others at the lounge on this matter.

 

[MK]

.

A homburg would be a much more suitable hat for a tuxedo.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Better yet Mr_M...a homburg Panama!! MK is correct, the Homburg is acceptable for this. It will be pretty tough to get the matching accessories with grey so by all means follow Tomasso's advise as he is correct. Most of all, have fun!!

 

["Doc" Devereux]

I would say black socks for formal wear, and nothing else. Otherwise I'm with Tomasso on the black accessories.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Patent leather loafers or pumps.

bk

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

For that kind of a tuxedo I think a down collar would be better and a black tie if you have the shoes to go with it. NEVER WEAR A CUMBERBUND, they look stupid! Thats just my opinion. =p

 

[Zach R.]

Some people can pull off a cummerbund, some can't. Myself, I like them.

I'm wearing one Saturday for prom, in which I am in the running for Prom King. Honestly, everyone thinks I've got it in the bag, which surprises the heck out of me, I didn't know people actually liked me these days.

 

[Mr_Misanthropy]

James Bond usually wore a shawl lapel tuxedo with bow tie and cummerbund, and, that's the look/style I'm going for. So, cummerbund IT IS!

lol

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Better yet Mr_M...a homburg Panama!!

As usual, Art is right: a homburg panama would be a great summer compromise. Unfortunately, they're quite difficult to find.

What, you might ask, does a homburg panama look like? Below is one that Art himself sold to me, back when he had his vintage clothing business. It's from the 1920s:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Oh, and a white turn-down collar shirt with a black bowtie. White pocket handkerchief. Thin (semi-sheer) black socks and black shoes. Wear a black cummerbund.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

If you want a new homburg Panama, you could do worse than this one: the "El Dorado Hat".
It's at the top left of the webpage http://www.millerhats.com/dobbs2.htm

 

[Zach R.]

BTW, is there a set way to fold your pocket square in a formal-setting or is it totally up to the wearer? I was going to use a diagonal-shell fold for mine.

 

[shindeco]

BTW, is there a set way to fold your pocket square in a formal-setting or is it totally up to the wearer? I was going to use a diagonal-shell fold for mine.

Go with whatever you like!

Mr. M: Definitely black accessories. If it were me, I'd actually put black suede pumps on my wish list. You've got slightly more informal evening clothes and the suede pumps would be just the right level of informality while still being perfectly correct (and just a little bit different). Now finding them is another story...

 

[3PieceSuitGuy]

Wear the cummerbund

Technically with formal wear you should never see the waistband of your trousers. With a DB tux the jacket should stay on and buttoned so you will not see your trouser waistband. With the nature of a SB tux jacket the trouser waistband can be seen sometimes even if the jacket is buttoned so a waistcoat or cummerbund is essential

If you are going to wear a db and take your jacket off then you should have a cummerbund on.

 

[Bugsy]

You can't go wrong with black accessories. I personally prefer wing collars. That seem to add a touch of elan.

 

[Will]

Only buy a wing collar shirt if it's detachable (good luck finding one unless you're handy to Jermyn Street in London). The attached collar shirts have too-small wings.

If you do go for a hat, I also recommend a dark straw homburg.