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Style guide: Everything you need to know about tuxedos | Oscar Jacobson

The tuxedo guide

The tuxedo guide

Moving seamlessly across the room between Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe och Warren Beatty. Except being one of the most beautiful garments in the world, the tuxedos cinematic aura distinguish it from other garments in the male wardrobe.

History

The tuxedo gets its name from the English Smoking Jacket - smoking jacket. The American variant of the tuxedo is said to have arisen after prominent people in New York were inspired by British royalty in the mid-1800s. Customer Edward II had the first tuxedo made by Savile Row tailor Henry Poole and after his American guests were so fascinated by the garment, they brought the style back to New York. More specifically, to the place where Manhattan's wealthiest lived - the club Tuxedo Park.

Tuxedo

REMEMBER

Wearing a tuxedo involves obligations. Since the garment often are associated with a certain dress code, it's a good idea to show your respect and follow it.


Depending on where in the world you are, the interpretations may differ from one another. Yet, the cornerstones consists of a tuxedo with silk lapels, trousers with silk stripes and no turn up, a double cuff shirt, black suspenders, bow tie, patent shoes and a white handkerchief.


In the US, a black tie is a fully legitimate choice while the UK helds a slightly more conservative attitude by only allowing a black bow tie.

Tuxedo
Tuxedo

DETAILS

Here is where personal interpretations are allowed. Choose between pleated or not pleated shirt, the colour and shape of your cufflinks and last but not least the shoes!


The most classic choice is the patent shoes, yet a well polished whole cut oxford or cap toes works perfectly well. The velvet slippers requires his man, but if you're the more eccentric kind of guy at the right cooktail party then who are we to stop you?


Wether to choose between double or single breasteded, shawl collar or peak lapel is all a matter of personal taste. Our only advice here is to keep the lapel, trousers stripes and bow tie in the same silk fabric.

Tuxedo

COLOURS

The three classic colours are black, midnight blue and white. The traditional guy chooses black, cooktail-parties on the southern hemisphere enables the white and in order to follow the Duke of Windsors style advice, go for the midnight blue since it tends to be more black than black itself.



Our final advice is to keep the tuxedo as classic as possible and the reason is simply to be able to step into any cooktail-party at any moment in history.

Tuxedo