How does a tuxedo differ from a regular suit?

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I'm off to a wedding in a couple of weeks (Hooray!). I was originally invited to the reception/party in the evening so I went out and bought a cool new suit cos I kind of needed one and it seemed like the right thing to do.

Because some people can't make it, I've now been invited to the full ceremony as well. This is obviously great. However, It's black tie / kilt. I won't wear a kilt cos they suck and I always look like a spaz in a tux cos I have to go and hire one and can never find one that fits right cos I'm really tall and skinny.

Can I get away with wearing my new suit (which is black) plus the winged collar shirt I own which totally fits and looks great and a cumberbund?

― hmmm, Tuesday, 10 February 2004 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Best to check with the other guys. Woe betide you if y'all have to rent morning suits.

― suzy (suzy), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I have been told specifically that it's either tux or kilt. I'm assuming morning suits are those stereotypical wedding outfits with the grey top hats??

― hmmm, Tuesday, 10 February 2004 12:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Clearly the answer is to go naked.

(I have only ever worn regular suit/tie combinations to weddings, admittedly.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 16:10 (twenty-two years ago)

flesh tuxedo? daring Ned, is this what you wear when your neighbour comes round to check on her "project"?

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

What? You are promoted off the reserve list of invitations, and you now are being forced to rent expensive clothes? What sort of people ARE these?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

flesh tuxedo? daring Ned, is this what you wear when your neighbour comes round to check on her "project"?

TSK.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

(i.e. suit with bow tie and whatever should be OK. It's not like they will have bouncers who will turn you away for slightly flaunting the dress code is it?)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 16:13 (twenty-two years ago)

At every black-tie event you ever go to these days at least half the men will be wearing a black business suit with the accessories of a tuxedo rather than a traditional tuxedo. It's a perfectly acceptable alternative these days, and is a good idea for all kinds of reasons-- not least of which is nothing looks worse than a cheap tuxedo, and most people are a lot more likely to be willing to spend money on a good black suit they're likely to get some wear out of. HOWEVER, if you're going to wear your suit DO NOT wear a cummerbund. The main difference between an ordinary suit and a tuxedo is that a tuxedo incorporates satin here and there--usually on the lapels and sometimes in a stripe down the outer seam of the trousers--and without the satin on the suit a cummerbund will look totally ridiculous. (I think they look ridiculous anyway.) Get a good flat-front white shirt and a black satin necktie and bob's your uncle.

― antexit (antexit), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Antexit OTM. DON'T PANIC.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

A black tie wedding sounds like a spectacularly naff dress code, as far as I'm concerned.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 10 February 2004 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

I should really remember to check threads I started a while ago....

I have decided to wear my fab new black suit, black tie (is polyester ok? It looks cooooool, really sharp) and a regular white shirt. I don't care if I'm dressed innapropriately. I'll still look better than I do in a tux (A kilt was the other option but there's no way I'm even going there).

I don't know what the reasoning is behind the black tie dress code. I think it will look silly. The groom's family seem to be fairly well to do (Grandad was a judge in N. Ireland) haven't met the bride so I don't know what the deal is there.

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 14:57 (twenty-two years ago)

It's really, really, REALLY hard to make someone in a well-fitting tux look bad IMO.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

It's finding the well fitting tux that's the problem. I am really tall and really skinny so it's a massive pain in the ass.

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

it might be worth the effort to find a tux shirt and bowtie, though, if you don't mind spending a bit more. it'll be less obvious that you're not up to scratch.

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I have a tux shirt at home but I have been warned off wearing it with my regular suit as that's not the done thing. If it's ok protocol wise the I might just be able to do that, all I'll need is the tie. I will check it out tongight when I get home and see how we go.

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you're fine as you are, especially as you're a last minute addition. If you do feel self concious you only have to drop into the conversation that because of your awkward size you couldn't find a tux to fit at such short notice ;0)

― Vicky (Vicky), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I was actually invited about two weeks ago. I just figured that I would be ok in my suit but it seems like a bit of a big deal so I'm a wee bit worried. I may also be subliminally channeling my worries about this into something else....

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

[First attempt at posting a link too. *Pats self of back*]

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

ah, that's a whole different story.

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

*Stops patting thus enabling self to pay attention to what it is doing*

x-post

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:54 (twenty-two years ago)

just because you're going to do the whole playing it cool while subtly ignoring Her, which means you need to look fiiiiiiine.

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

that's the thing. I know I look damn good in my new garb. I am sure I will not look as good if I hire a tux. One fits the protocol, one does not. I'll need to check this wing collar shirt/ suit arrangement. Could be ideal. Could also suck.

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

best to check direct with the groom, or better yet, the bride. they'll know the best way to go...

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 19 February 2004 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I meant check how it looks. If it looks bad I will wear my regular shirt & tie. them's the choices. The tux is a big no no matter how unprotocolly.

I also imagine the bride and groom have more important things to worry about than the shape of my collar.

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 16:12 (twenty-two years ago)

especially if you do something to distract them, such as touch the bride during the ceremony.

good luck!

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 19 February 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I really wouldn't worry about it. The happy couple will be in too much of a whirlwind to notice, and if anyone else has a problem with it, well..not much they can do about it, especially if you're looking smart anyway.

― Vicky (Vicky), Thursday, 19 February 2004 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Cool.

I always thought that it, if I was female, then it would be totally outrageous (I mean waaaay off the outrage scale) to turn up to someone's else's wedding in a wedding dress that looked better than the bride's.

― hmmm, Thursday, 19 February 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Wing collar shirt looks OK with my suit! Hooray! I look damn good actually. Now, how to tie a bow tie....

― hmmm, Friday, 20 February 2004 09:42 (twenty-two years ago)

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