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When to wear and how to wear it.

What you need for YOUR NEXT BLACK-TIE EVENT

A frequently asked questions that I get all the time at my formal wear shop is "What do I need for my black-tie affair" Simple, right? A black tie and a tux. Might not be that easy.

When looking for formal wear for your black-tie event, you must take into consideration the entire outfit. The coat, pants, shirts, tie, pocket square and accessories.

First off, the Coat: When heading to a black-tie event my personal preference is a Notch Lapel 6 button coat. Now days, Styles are changing very frequently with wider lapels, and thinner lapels, you go with what you prefer. Me, I go with a fitted notch Lapel Coat. (Peak Lapel shown in picture)

Trousers: Tuxedo pants we all know can sometimes feel like you’re wearing a parachute. Fix that, go with a modern/slim fit pant to give the look more of a defined look.

Shirt: Wing tip collar or laydown? It's a formal event rock the wing tip with a solid black bow tie. You're wearing long ties to work every day, change it up a bit.

Tie: BOW TIE, go with it. Made for a tuxedo and it looks cleaner and elegant. Vest or cummerbund? Get a vest for more formal look, if you don't like the vest look go with a classic suspender look. Cummerbunds are nice but more of an age appropriate look.

Pocket square: We're talking about a black-tie event, go with your plain old white pocket square and don't get fancy with colors or designs. Remember, attention to your outfit should be clean and to the point, look as best as you can next to our dates for evening and pictures.

Accessories: If you plan on wearing a watch, don't go crazy and wear a gold Rolex with a black tux. Get yourself a nice black watch that make a simple statement not to take away from your tuxedo, and that doesn't scream look at my watch.

Studs, very important! Wear the black studs that you get when you rent a tuxedo or buy one, it’s almost a must. Gives character to the tuxedo.

Last thing DO NOT wear your black work shoes, or shoes in the back of your closet that are "Kind of shinny" Please do not embarrass yourself, rent or buy yourself a nice pair of patent leather shoes to complete your look.

I hope this helps you with your Black-tie events.

Remember Five most important moments to wear a tuxedo 1. Prom 2. Graduation 3. Getting married 4.black-tie events 5. Anniversaries

5 SIMPLE TIPS TO DRESS TO IMPRESS

Everyone wants to dress nice, have the latest styles, walk past a bunch of people and get those looks, the confidence you walk with is the confidence that other people see. When you dress nice, you feel nice, and when you feel nice, well... you look nice.

Us younger people now a day don't have the dough to go out and drop 2-4k on a bunch of suits that were made for DiCaprio or hand made in Italy, we have bills and student loans on top of many more things. We all want to look good and save a buck here and there. So here are my 5 tips on how to Dress nice but cut the cost.

1.) Take your time buying a suit- Yes, you got a new job, or you got a bonus, everything is rushing through you, I got to buy this, and I got to buy that. RELAX. Take a day or two, go shopping at a couple locations (American Tuxedo being one). These suits aren't going anywhere. Try a couple on, get a feel. Buy 1 for now. get another one down the road.

2.) Mix and Match- Try buying a suit with no patterns, or a lighter color suit. That way, you can throw on your suit coat with a pair of khakis or blue pants. Make a couple outfits out of one suit.

3.) Dry Clean your suits/shirts- Dry Clean your suits every 4 times you wear them. Makes them last longer. Go to the cleaners on a Friday morning or after work and have them ready for pick up by Monday. Yes, it might cost a little bit, but now you'll have a suit that's in good shape 4 years down the road compared to one falling apart or one with stains on it and having to throw it away.

4.) Tailor EVERYTHING- Probably the most important tip I can express to you. Like I said before, confidence is everything. When you buy that suit, and it fits well, get it tailored if needed to fit your body. Look good= Feel good. Nothing better than a suit that fits you like a glove. We have an onstaff alterations person to set up by appointments.

5.Go-To suit and your Monday suit. Invest wisely- Confidence, there it is again. Get that one suit that makes you feel like no one can tell you anything, not even your boss. Spend around $299.95 to about $499.95 on this suit. Spend that extra funds $129.95 to $159.95 on a suit that you just need to have. When it comes to a black suit that we ALL need to have, don't get all crazy and start investing your money in Italian silk solid black suits. Keep it simple.

Get what you need . Invest your money to your go to suit you need to wear for a big interview, presentation or even that special day. Get it dry-cleaned and tailored, you know the deal. Dress nice, feel nice.

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