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While the idea of renting a tuxedo may at first have you a bit nervous, the tuxedo rental process has become so streamlined that almost the only thing required of you is to show up at a formalwear shop, try on some different styles of tuxedos until you find the one most flattering to you, and get measured for one. You’ll also have to return to the tuxedo rental shop for a final fitting and necessary alterations, but after that, you and your tuxedo rental will be ready to shine.

The first step in your tuxedo rental process is to ask around about local formalwear shops and get opinions about them from those who have used their tuxedo rental services.  When you have an idea of the best shop, make an appointment to talk with one of their formalwear consultants. The consultant will be able to determine which formal wear is appropriate for your occasion, and will also be knowledgeable about the latest trends in tuxedo fashions.

Together you can look at the different styles of tuxedo rentals and accessories, and put together the perfect look for you. The tuxedo rental consultant will also know if adding colored accents, like a vest, tie, and pocket square would be out of place.

What you are hoping to achieve with your tuxedo rental is a look to match the theme of the event. If it’s your wedding, and you and your fiancée have decided to be very traditional, you’ll need one sort of tuxedo, with a black vest or cummerbund, and tie; for a less formal but still stylish look, a vest or cummerbund and tie of the same color as the bridesmaids’ dresses is perfectly acceptable.

There are times of the year when getting a tuxedo rental can be nearly impossible; prom is one, and the summer months, when weddings are most common, is another. If you’re smart you’ll line up any wedding tuxedo rental as soon as the bride has made up her mind how she wants the groomsmen dressed. That should be anywhere from three to five months before the big day, and the earlier the better.

If you will need a prom tuxedo rental, arrange it as soon as your date has told you what color her dress will be. To really impress her, ask if she has a fabric swatch that you can take to the tuxedo rental shop so that your vest and tie will be match the dress as closely as possible.

Be prepared for the cost of a tuxedo rental; budget for it in advance if necessary. Take the time to check with the formalwear shops in your area for any special rental packages; some shops will offer a free rental to the groom and a discount to the groomsmen.

Once you’ve picked up and donned your tuxedo rental, take a moment to admire how well you handled the process, give yourself and admiring glance, and go sweep ladies off their feet!

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The introduction of the tuxedo T-shirt into the world of men’s fashion was the equivalent of the scene from “Young Frankenstein” in which Gene Wilder, as Dr. Frankenstein, and Peter Boyle, as the monster, performed their soft shoe to the strains of “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” A comedy bit for the ages, no doubt, but will its classic status carry over to tuxedo T-shirts?

A tuxedo T-shirt is exactly as it sounds: a short or long sleeved T-shirt on which details of a tuxedo jacket front, over a tuxedo vest, shirt, and tie, are screen printed. While other color combinations are available, the most common colors for a tuxedo T-shirt are black or white. On black tuxedo T-shirts, the details will be in white, and on white tuxedo T-shirts, they will be printed in black.

The Tuxedo T-shirt, however, is not so very different in its origins from the tuxedo itself. The original tuxedo appeared in the US in 1886, when Griswold Lorillard decided to hake up things at the White Tie only Tuxedo Park Club Autumn Ball. Griswold made a grand entrance in a tailless ruby red jacket modeled after one favored by the Prince of Wales. Apparently the jackets’ admirers, of whom there were many, did not look good in red, so they headed off to their tailors to have it replicated in black. A legend was born.

Nowhere in its pedigrees does the tuxedo T-shirt have anything resembling formalwear sanctioned by the Prince of Wales and the Tuxedo Park Club. The basic T-shirt is believed to have reached American shores during World War I when the US military were still given standard issue woolen uniforms totally unsuited to the European battle theater, where the soldiers wore lightweight cotton undershirts.

The collarless shirts, because of their shape, were quickly dubbed T-shirts, and when the US Navy adopted them as regulation undershirts,their neck openings became known as crew necks. Over the course of the 20th century, T-shirts evolved from undergarments to the casual wear top of choice.

Its cheap production cost, combined with its unparalleled global popularity, eventually made the T-shirt the perfect advertising medium. T-shirts are now regularly manufactured with logos and screen pristine messages to promote every sort of enterprise, travel destination, sporting event, and musical tour.

The tuxedo T-shirt is simply one natural extension of the T-shirt culture, providing those with a rebellious streak to poke fun at those they consider a bit too stuffy. But unless those in charge of an event like a prom or wedding specifically state that they are acceptable, tuxedo T-shirts should never be worn as substitutes for the real thing.

The tuxedo T-shirt, while it may be a classic T-shirt, remains a T-shirt nonetheless.

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A streetcar crossing in the Birmingham, Alabama Tuxedo Park neighborhood near 1728 20th Street and the now empty Nixon Building inspired the Glenn Miller Orchestra’s 1939 best selling tune “Tuxedo Junction.” Named for a jazz club in the Nixon Building, the song has periodically been revived and was the signature song for the group Manhattan Transfer in 1975. The moniker “Tuxedo Junction” keeps resurfacing in the music world, and is currently attached to a very popular New England area wedding band.

But the “Tuxedo Junction” name has also been adopted very successfully by a retailer of, you guessed it, men’s formalwear. Established in 1977, Tuxedo Junction is a national chain of independently-owned stores with hundreds of locations across the US, each of which is dedicated to giving you superior formalwear quality and customer service at the bet possible price.

Tuxedo Junction stores are designed to carry everything you need in the way of formalwear for your prom, or groomsman’s duties, or even your own nuptials. They offer you the convenience of one stop shopping and not only have tuxedos for sale or for rent; Tuxedo Junction retailers have all the necessary accessories including vests, ties, cummerbunds, shirts, and even shoes.

Concerned about your size? Relax. From the pre-schooler ring bearer, to the extra-extra big and talls, Tuxedo Junction can outfit any tuxedo customer with designer formalwear from the likes of Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, Oleg Cassini, Fubu, and After Six.

A big advantage of having entrusting Tuxedo Junction with your wedding plans is that if any of your groomsmen live in another part of the country, all they need do is go to the Tuxedo Junction at their local mall for a free measuring.

When they have their measurements, they can simply e-mail them to the address of the store which will be providing the wedding party tuxedos, and their tuxes will be waiting when they come into town! Even better, Tuxedo Junction stores are often known for supplying the groom with a tuxedo at no charge, while offering a discount on the rental fees for the rest of the groomsmen.

If you’re planning a cruise with several formal dinners on the agenda, Tuxedo Junction can accommodate with rental cruisewear. Their cruise package includes the tuxedo jacket and trousers, two vests, two ties, and two shirts. For an additional fee, you can even have Tuxedo Junction supply shoes!

Tuxedo Junctions stores are most often located in malls; their simple layouts make it easy for you to find what you want, and there will be associates on hand to both measure and fit you, and perform the necessary alterations.

You can find much more information on Tuxedo Junction, including the location of the stores nearest you, at tuxedojunction.com

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If your next big formal event has a theme, you may be able to find novelty tuxedo vests to reflect it. If there isn’t a theme, but you want to stand out among the flock of your fellow penguin suit wearers, there are novelty tuxedo vests which can make it happen. If you just want to add a personal stamp to your evening wear, there are novelty tuxedo vests which can accommodate you as well.

Novelty tuxedo vests are a fun addition to the men’s formalwear scene, and have probably gone a long way to making the tuxedo attractive to a new generation of wearers.  While tuxedo vests in every color of the Crayola Box have been available for wedding parties and proms for many years, novelty tuxedo vests take the next step in creative evening apparel.

There are, after all, certain celebrations which deserve novelty tuxedo vests. Mardi Gras, with its signature purple, gold, and green color scheme, is an ideal subject for novelty tuxedo vests patterned in purple, gold, and green streamers, or confetti, or beads, or feathers. How about the Mardi Gras masks, or jazz trumpets on a field of golden notes?

What’s an upscale Christmas party without holly, or Santa, or poinsettia festooned novelty tuxedo vests in the traditional red, greens, golds, and silvers of the season? Made from fabrics shot though with metallic threads, they can be stunning. And for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at a special restaurant, you can press your point with a red silk novelty tuxedo vest patterned with hearts.

Going on a cruise, with one or two nights of black tie dining and dancing on the schedule? You can remain elegant while acknowledging the relaxed vacation in novelty tuxedo vests with brightly colored tropical fish swimming against ocean blue backgrounds, or hibiscus blossoms against a web of palm fronds.

For symphony patrons there are novelty tuxedo vests with white musical bars dancing across a black field; for jazz concerts, novelty tuxedo vests graced with red, yellow, blue, and green notes.

If your tastes run more to sporting and outdoor pursuits, there are novelty tuxedo vests with basketball and football motifs, and for fans in each of the thirty-four major league baseball cities, novelty tuxedo vests patterned with the repeated logos of the hometown team.

Camouflage novelty tuxedo vests are one of the most popular options, with intricately detailed leaf, grass, and tree branch designs and remarkably lifelike shading. They are also available in traditional military khaki camouflage.

Two of the best places to look for options are available in novelty tuxedo vests are the websites at www.tuxedo-formalwear.com, and www.tuxedosdirect.com . Both sites have novelty tuxedo vests in many themes besides those mentioned above, and will give you a great introduction to the fun side of formalwear!

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For those men whose lives seldom call for anything more formal that a sports coat and slacks, getting tabbed to function as groomsmen or to represent their businesses at formal occasions, renting a tuxedo will probably suffice. For those men whose social life is more upscale, and involves escorting ladies in full-length gowns, however, only owning a perfectly tailored tuxedo will do.

Regardless of the category into which your social life falls, the more than 500 After Hours Formalwear stores, with their lines of After Hours Tuxedo, is America’s largest non-franchise formalwear chain. After Hours Formalwear has been in operation for over sixty years and in April of 2007 was purchased by The Men’s Wearhouse.

The After Hours Tuxedo rental program, with tuxedo rentals beginning at $49.99, has formal and dinnerwear, and discounted matching accessories, to let men look great no matter their budget. They even guarantee the lowest rental prices, with the price each of rental tuxedo in their stores visibly marked.

The After Hours Tuxedo rental lines include exclusive styles from Tommy Hilfiger; they also have six tuxedos from Claiborne and two from Oleg Cassini. The After Hours Tuxedos available for purchase are from, in addition to Claiborne and Tommy Hilfiger, such designers as Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, Joseph Abboud, and Hugo Boss.

The After Hours Tuxedo accessories collection has been created to complement formalwear from their partner, David’s Bridal. The accessories include differently styled vests which can be made from a variety of fabrics and in seventy-five colors to match any dress in the David’s Bridal collection.

You can begin the process of renting an After Hours Tuxedo at their website, www.afterhours.com, where you can register, and then try the “Create-A-Tux” tool to experiment by combining different jackets and vests to find the look you want. But you’ll have a much better idea of how the apparel will work together by registering in person at any of the After Hours stores.

If you intend to rent an After Hours Tuxedo for you wedding, it is essential that your register at an After Hours store and be fitted at least three months in advance; five months is better. Make sure that your groomsmen also get fitted as early as possible after you have been taken care of.

If any of your groomsmen do not live close to you, the associate at your local After Hours Formalwear store can supply you with cards on which out-of-town groomsmen can record their measurements and mail to your local store. There are measurement guidelines available for downloading at the After Hours website.

Fittings of your rental After Hours Tuxedo for other formal occasions should be at least two weeks in advance of the events. The final fitting for every rental After Hours Tuxedo is performed in the store, to assure that the customer arrives at his event in perfectly tailored garb.

With a vast network of formalwear stores and expertly trained staff waiting to assist you in creating the perfect tuxedo for your occasion, After Hours Formalwear is the place to look for the look you want!

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When your life has reached the point at which having you own tuxedo makes more sense than having be fitted for a rental on a regular basis, and you’re ready to invest you time and money into the eveningwear which will have you looking your best, you should first stop and learn what goes into making a perfectly fitting tuxedo fit perfectly.

Given the relatively narrow styling parameters which make a tuxedo jacket a tuxedo jacket, tuxedo designers have com up with a surprisingly large number of variations to make their collections distinct. Each of those variations will have an effect on the way a tuxedo jacket looks on its wearer.

The most expensive tuxedo jacket is not necessarily the best tuxedo jacket choice for you. Your tuxedo jacket, if it does anything at all, should fit you in a way that accentuates the strengths of your physique and minimizes its weaknesses. Tuxedo jacket designers know all the tricks when it comes to shaping collars, lapels, and shoulders, and you should try as many different combinations as you can. You can then be confident that the tuxedo jacket tailored for you will be the perfect one.

You can narrow down you hunt for the perfect tuxedo jacket by doing an honest pre-fitting assessment of your shape. If you are of a short and wiry build, look at single-breasted, long-lined jackets with wide lapels. Peak lapels, V-shaped and angling upwards and outwards just below your collar line, are best. Even the positioning of the buttons can make a difference; choose a lower button line to make your body appear longer.

If you’re short, with a more muscular physique, have your tuxedo jacket tailored with a narrow shawl, or rounded, collar. Have the top button of the jacket positioned to accent the narrowest part of your waist, and stay away from a shoulder line which will add any breadth to your natural one.

The shawl color is also most appropriate if you are tall and muscular; in trying on the tuxedo jacket make sure that when your arms and hands are relaxed at your sides, your fingertips brush against the hemline of the jacket, and a half inch or more of your cuff is visible beyond the edge of the jacket sleeve. The cut of the tuxedo jacket, in your case, can be a bit fuller to allow you freer motion.

If you are both tall and thin, count your fashion blessings; you and the tuxedo jacket are a match made in style heaven. You can take full advantage of your physique with a broad and high shouldered, narrow waisted, double breasted tuxedo jacket. Button the jacket high up on your waistline, and don’t be ashamed to pause every now and again to enjoy the admiring and envious glances sure to come your way!

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During the Victorian era, the young men asked to serve as the ring bearers in wedding parties were expected to appear in suits with short pants and knee socks, befitting their ages. And for brides sympathetic to the plight of boys who might get fidgety in confining formal trousers at a very grownup affair, the dressy short suit is still a popular option.

But many brides like the idea of a ring bearer decked out in togs identical to the tuxedos of the groomsmen. For very formal weddings, the ring bearer tuxedo is practically a given. The ring bearer, who is usually between five and nine years of age, bears precious symbols on the pillow he carries, in faux rings representing the conjoined lives of the bride and groom.

Because most boys do not need tuxedos except for their occasional appearance in wedding parties, ring bearer tuxedos are widely available as rentals. They can be designed to be identical to the tuxedos of the best man and ushers, or they can have some small differences to set them apart. It’s completely at the discretion of the bride.

But don’t expect that the small size of the ring bearer tuxedo means it will cost less to rent; even kid sized tuxedos require fitting and tailoring, and will probably come with a rental fee equal to that of the adult groomsmen’s tuxedos. If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative to a ring bearer tuxedo, simply ask the child’s parents to put him in a suitably dressy shirt and get a bow tie which coordinates with the groomsmen’s. Or resort to the suit with short pants and knee socks, because he’ll be able to use the shorts again.

Because the focus of any wedding should properly be the bride, and then the groom, many of the smaller details which can make a wedding truly memorable get overlooked. But the flower girl and ring bearer are usually considered the “cutest” members of the wedding party, and are sure to get their share of attention. So their appearances should be carefully considered.

The wide choice of ring bearer tuxedos can make a decision difficult, but no matter what your final selection is, be sure that its colors are those used elsewhere among the wedding party. If he is decked out in a unique color scheme, no matter how darling he looks, he will add an element of bad taste to an otherwise meticulously planned affair.

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The birth of a new baby is a miraculous event, and in some Christian families, the baptism of an infant is a way of welcoming the baby into his or her family’s faith community. It may be the first time your little girl or boy is introduced to all the relatives, and it deserves to be treated as a very special occasion.

Christian sects which practice infant Baptism are following an ancient tradition; although Jesus was baptized as an adult, the early Christians began baptizing their children as soon as possible. Any person who openly accepts Christianity, or any child born to baptized parents, may be baptized.

There are three forms of Baptism; they include having water sprinkled on the candidates head; having water pour on the candidate’s head; and completely immersing the candidate into a baptismal font or pool. The use of water in the Baptismal rite is a sign that the baptized person has been cleansed of his or her sins.

Because the ritual of Baptism marks the beginning of a person’s religious life, it is treated by many families as a passage, and marked with special celebrations. In the case of infant or child Baptisms, the parents often choose to dress their boys and girls in traditional Baptismal apparel.

Many families have Baptismal gowns which are handed down from generation to generation.  These gowns can be worn by both boys and girls, and are accompanied by bibs and caps detailed to match the gowns. Some of these baptismal gowns are hand made with the most exquisite lace and embroidery work.

But for families who would prefer something less traditional for the Baptism of their infant boys, there are Baptism tuxedos. The most elaborate of these is a five-piece ensemble, complete with tailcoat, pants, shirt, cummerbund and bowtie. Less formal but still quite elegant are the Baptism tuxedos with brocade-striped linen pants and coordinating brocade bowtie, and a three button vest.

From the “Just Darling” baptismal apparel collection comes the Jacquard accented Baptismal tuxedo with matching designs on the vest, bow tie, lapels, and trouser piping.  Both the sash and tailcoat have delicate embroidery. Finally, there are satin Baptism tuxedos, with embroidery on the cap and vest.

You can get a better idea of how Baptism tuxedos might look on your little guy by visiting www.a-special-day.com and searching under christening outfits. Start your baby’s social life off in grand style with a Baptism tuxedo, and let him be the best-dressed man of the hour!

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Clothes make the man, and accessories make the tuxedo. There is far more to a truly elegant tuxedo than a well cut jacket; a true tuxedo is an ensemble with a proper shirt and cufflinks, vest or cummerbund, bow or necktie, and shoes.

When you are buying a tuxedo, take the time to select the accessories which will complete it perfectly; and make sure that tuxedo accessories you choose flatter you as much as they flatter the tuxedo. You’ll have a wide variety of accessories, in a wide range of styles, from which to choose, so be patient and don’t settle for less than the best.

You’ll be able to find tuxedo accessories wherever you shop for your tuxedo, be it at a formalwear boutique or online from a huge formalwear retail chain. There are some essential tuxedo accessories, and when you understand what each of them is, you’ll be better able to decide which ones to include in your tuxedo ensemble.

A tuxedo cummerbund is worn around the waist just above the tuxedo trousers, and can call attention to waistlines better left ignored. So factor that into your decision.  Cummerbunds are tuxedo accessories traditionally seen at weddings, and they are often made from colored fabric suitable to the occasion. A well turned out tuxedo will include either a cummerbund or a vest, but never both.

Vests, or waistcoats, are tuxedo accessories worn directly beneath the tuxedo jacket, and can range from simple, solid black fabric, to a color matching the dress of the tuxedo wearer’s partner, to gaudy holiday fabrics and even camouflage.

The tuxedo shirt is one of the tuxedo accessories which have evolved through the years; it is now available in styles from the pleated front, to ruffled, to the band collared. If you choose a band collared tuxedo shirt, however, and wear it without a tie, you will create a very priestly look. Always keep in mind how all your tuxedo accessories will function as a unit.

Speaking of ties, ties are tuxedo accessories which you can either rent or find at almost any clothing retailer, or even have made to match your vest or cummerbund. Whether you choose a bow or neck tie, always get a self-tie one and learn how to tie it properly.

While you may not even think of them at first, one of the most important of your tuxedo accessories is your socks; you want them black, silk if possible, and of course, you’ll have to buy them. Your tuxedos shoes should also be black, and made of unadorned, well polished leather. Tuxedos are all about drawing attention to your upper physique, so your shoes should not be a distraction.

Being able to accessorize your tuxedo to create your own unique look is one of the most enjoyable aspects of owning one, so don’t hesitate to try on as many different combinations as you want, until you get the look that is completely yours!

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The end of your high school years is rapidly approaching, and while your thoughts should be turned to getting through finals and graduating, they are really being distracted by prom night preparations. You know your date has gone to extremes in shopping for the perfect dress, shoes, and hairstyle, and will be nothing less than devastated if you don’t show up in something equally special. How’s that for pressure?

While you school may have a fairly broad dress code for prom, prom tuxedos are always a safe choice. They are available for purchase or rent no matter where you live, and come in so many different styles and colors that you needn’t worry about two identical prom tuxedos showing up at the same prom. And prom tuxedos don’t cost much to rent.

You should, however, decide before ordering your prom tuxedo whether or not you see a big need for a tuxedo in your near future. If you’re heading off to an Ivy League equivalent college, and planning to pledge a frat, then you’ll probably need one. So you should spend the money to have a top quality prom tuxedo tailored just for you, and take it with you when you head for college. As an extra bonus, your prom date’s parents, not to mention your date, will be very impressed!

If you don’t think you’ll need a tuxedo again any time soon, you can still rent one to add to the magic of your prom night. Prom tuxedos are widely available, either for purchase or rent, from formalwear retailers, and the retail staff will be happy to help you find the perfect accessories for your tuxedo.

Don’t hesitate to try on prom tuxedos in a variety of styles; not all tuxedos are cut the same way and you deserve to have one that give you the most flattering fit. You’ll be shown both traditional and trendier designs; you might even want feed back from your date so that you are both in the approximate style vicinity.

Do your formal wear tastes run more to George Clooney suave, or Colin Farrell bad boy? You can probably find prom tuxedos to reflect either, and finish the look with your choice of shirt, vest or cummerbund, and tie.

You and your date can double the impact you make by coordinating the color and fabric of your prom tuxedo vest or cummerbund and tie with that of her gown, and maybe even find jeweled cufflinks and shirt studs to match her jewelry. Wear a boutonnière to match one of the flowers in her corsage, and the look will be complete!

Finally, great prom tuxedos do not get thrown together at a moment’s notice. Prom season will cause a run on the inventory at the local formalwear shops, so you should try to firm up your prom date as soon as possible, at least two months before prom if you can. Ask your date to let you know as soon as she has picked her dress, and tell her that you’d like to coordinate your look with hers. The odds are excellent that she will be delighted to help.

As soon as you know what to look for, head for the formalwear shop and get your prom tuxedo reserved. Then forget about prom, study for your finals, and enjoy what’s left of high school!

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