Just A Guy Thing

With New Years just a couple of weeks away, it’s time to start thinking about formal wear and for guys that means only one thing: a tuxedo. Nothing is more dressy or elegant than a finely tailored tuxedo. But for many men, buying or even renting a tux is a daunting task.

Fear not, JAGT is here to provide a few helpful tips to get you from slob to James Bond walking into Casino Royale.

The first hurdle is whether to rent or buy a tuxedo. If you do one or two formal events a year, buying a tux is the way to go. No rental tuxedo will ever fit you as well as one that you have bought and had tailored to your body. If you buy a tux with a classic style, you should be able to wear it for years to come.

But regardless of whether you decide to rent or buy, here are some points to keep in mind:

• Stick with black. There may be one or two occasions where a white tux would be appropriate, but few guys can really pull this look off and you’re pretty much guaranteed to stand out. Almost everyone looks great in a black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt and bow tie. You might also consider midnight blue, which in many occasions looks even blacker than black at night.
• Avoid satin. Satin tuxedos went out with the 70s and have never come back, rightfully so. Go for a grosgrain or ribbed silk tuxedo.



• Go for lightweight fabrics. In most cases you’ll be wearing your tux indoors and hopefully will be doing some dancing in it. Lightweight fabrics will help keep you cool
• Think twice before buying a double breasted jacket. These look good on portly guys, so if you have a gut go for it. But in most instances you’ll be buttoning and unbuttoning your jacket all night long as you sit down and get up, which can be a pain in the neck with double-breasted jackets. A single-breated jacket with a single button is the most classic look and will suit most guys perfectly.
• Stick with either a wing or turndown collar for your tuxedo shirt. Wing collars will have a stiff, clean front, while turndown collars will have a softer, pleated front.
• As far as accessories, there are many variations: vests, cumberbunds, bow ties — it’s usually best to choose the tuxedo first and then experiment.
• Remember the sequence for getting dressed in a tux. Underwear and socks followed by shirt and pants. Add the cummerbund then jacket, followed by your tie, then shoes And by the way, lots of guys go without a cummerbund – it’s just fine.

Now that you’ve been fully prepared, go out there and get yourself a great looking tuxedo for the holidays. You’ll feel like a million bucks.