Different Tuxedo Styles & When to Wear Them

Do you have a special event coming up? You probably know you need to get a tuxedo. But if you’re like most men, you may not realize that not every type of tuxedo is appropriate for every special event. Some tuxedos are perfect for most special events. Other tuxedos are only worn for certain special events. And to show up wearing the wrong tuxedo can at times offend your host or simply make you look as if you don’t know how to behave in social situations.

Classic and Contemporary - the Most Popular Tuxedo Worn Just About Everywhere

The classic and contemporary tuxedos are the most popular and these are the ones you’ll most often see. There are some variations so they do look at bit different from each other. Most often you’ll see this tuxedo in black. The collar style can be a peak lapel (wider lapel that ends in a “peak”), notch (a lapel where the lower lapel has a notch) and a shawl lapel (slightly rounded lapel). All lapel styles are appropriate for most special events and choosing a lapel style is simply a personal preference. You’ll also find that tuxedos come in either single or double breasted. Some stylists believe that slender men look better in a double breasted tuxedo. The single breasted tuxedo is the most popular and that is the style you’ll see most often. Again, either of these styles is ideal for most special events like weddings, bar mitzvahs, proms, charity events or other special events.

Pay Attention to the Specialty Tuxedos Worn Only to Those Types of Events - and Nowhere Else!

There are some specialty tuxedos that you only wear at certain times or occasions. The colored tuxedo comes in a fun rainbow of colors (Remember the ‘Dumb and Dumber’ movie with the orange tuxedo?) and this type of tuxedo you could wear to your school prom. A white tuxedo is perfect to wear to your wedding (note: grooms only) or for your school prom. Dinner jackets are white tuxedo style jackets with black tuxedo pants and these are worn for cruise wear in warm weather months. Both black tie and white tie are very special types of tuxedo wear and you’ll see these noted on the invitations for special events. It will say “Black Tie Only” or “White Tie Please”.

A Different Tuxedo for Every Type of Event for a Reason

Some may feel a little miffed at the thought that a host can have such control over what someone wears to their event. But special events such as these are often once in a lifetime type of events like weddings and deserve to be treated with special care. If you are ever unsure about the type of tuxedo you should wear to a special event, take the time to ask your host. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness and best of all you’ll feel confident when you walk in the door knowing you a perfectly dressed. And that’s a much better feeling than showing up for a white tie event (the most elegant of them all) wearing an orange tuxedo!