Why Every Man Needs His OWN Tuxedo...

Why Every Man Needs a Tuxedo in his closet. Based on a true story and actual events. My tuxedo experience is reminiscent to my trip to Switzerland. It was the first of many trips out of the country. At the last minute someone informs me that I need a passport. I had to run to the post office and pay 4 x the normal price to get the passport expedited to me in 4 days. But it was necessary. Two years ago I was invited to a Black Tie event around the Thanksgiving holiday. I had to fly to Charleston, SC to attend this event with some of the more prominent, well-established people in the Charleston area. If you’ve ever heard the saying don’t starve in a grocery store, I think it was meant for me. I make custom tailored clothes for a number of different clients and they have dubbed me, “the tailor to the stars.” However, I often find myself serving my clients so much that I tend to forget about myself.

Like my passport, I find myself at the last minute scrambling to get a tuxedo. No time to make one for myself. I run frantically all over the city to get fitted for a tuxedo. Finally, I find a location that can help me. Get measured, pick out the tux and off on the plane to Charleston. Everything is good…so I think…

On the night of the event, I’m getting dressed for the event and the pants are too short, too tight and it is the wrong jacket. Who is wearing 4-button suits these days anyway? Why do they even have them as options? On top of that, wearing a garment that someone else has had or where it has been gives me the creeps still to this day.

Although I was in panic mode, my wife was amused by the whole ordeal. In fact she told me it was good to see me in unfamiliar territory by not having it all together. I was humiliated and embarrassed. I was glad the event was in the evening. This was my way to make sure little could be seen. I sat at the table of this event, kept my feet under the table and refused to move the entire night until it was time to go home.

The moral of the story is tuxedos are like passports. You will only use it once in a while but it is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. Trust me on this one.

Invest in your own tuxedo
You will probably save money in the long run when you think how often you rent one versus the one you invest in. Take the worry out of what and where the garment has been before it gets into your hands.

Buck the Trends
You know the saying, “KISS, Keep it simple stud!”…If you are going to spend your hard earned dollars you want to make sure it will be worth your while. Stick with a one or two button jacket. Only, if you have more than one, you can then be courageous by adding different touches like a Mohair fabric or Velvet jackets, etc.

Conservative or A little Pop?
For a little pop we recommend the peak lapel. All tuxedos get their flair from the satin finishes so the peak lapel showcases the most visibility followed by the shawl and notch lapels. Again, stay away from being trendy so in my opinion the shawl lapel is out. If you have to go with the shawl lapel you need to make sure you get a narrower lapel.

Enjoy the holiday events and make sure you DRESS WELL, the rest is up to you.

Stitched Custom Clothing