Formal Wear
Many of you may already be familiar with this, but formal wear has specific rules depending on whether it is worn during the daytime or in the evening.
Full Dress (Most Formal)
Daytime:
Morning Coat
Evening:
Tailcoat / Tuxedo
Semi-Formal Dress
Daytime:
Director’s Suit / Black Suit
Evening:
Fancy Tuxedo / Fancy Suit
As briefly outlined above, the appropriate formal attire is traditionally determined by the time of day and the occasion.
For official and formal events, these rules should be properly observed.
In general, the most commonly worn styles today are the tuxedo, black suit, and director’s suit.
At Gents, we accept pattern orders for all three of these suits.
When to Wear a Tuxedo
Typical occasions where a tuxedo is worn include:
- Weddings (for the groom or guests)
- Parties (award ceremonies, cruise events, etc.)
Strictly speaking, a tuxedo is formal evening wear, but it is not uncommon to see it worn from morning through daytime as well.
Especially at weddings, opportunities for men to dress up as the main character of the occasion are quite rare in life.
Although weddings are often said to be “for women,” men also want to look sharp and perfectly styled, don’t they?
A Tuxedo That Makes a Strong Impression
Although tuxedos are not worn frequently, failing to look sharp at such an important occasion will make you stand out—in the wrong way.
At Gents, tuxedos can also be made through our pattern order system.
- Both single-breasted and double-breasted styles are available
- For single-breasted tuxedos, peak lapels or shawl lapels can be selected
- Double-breasted styles are available with peak lapels only
The lapels are finished with silk facing (100% silk).
When customers say,
“I’ve been invited to a wedding,” or
“I’m hosting my own wedding as the groom,”
we strongly encourage you to propose a formal wear pattern order.
Note: Black suits and director’s suits follow the same pattern order specifications as regular suits, so details are omitted here.
Essential Items for Wearing a Tuxedo Correctly
There is an important point to note here.
Simply wearing a tuxedo does not complete a formal look.
A tuxedo requires specific accompanying items:
◆ Black Tie
A black bow tie.
◆ Dress Shirt
- White shirt with wing collar or regular collar
- Pleated front
- Front closure fastened with stud buttons (except for fly-front styles)
- Single or double cuffs
- Cufflinks are required for double cuffs
◆ Pocket Square
Silk or linen.
◆ Suspenders
Black.
◆ Cummerbund
Black (pleats facing upward).
◆ Shoes
Patent leather closed-lace Balmoral shoes or opera pumps.
These are the basic essential items required to wear a tuxedo correctly.
If the dress code states “Black Tie,” the standard rule is a black bow tie with a black cummerbund.
However, for parties or overseas cruises without a strict dress code, incorporating colored items into the coordination is perfectly acceptable.
Matching the tuxedo accessories with the color of the escorted lady’s dress can create a very elegant look.
As an interesting anecdote: at a cruise party heading to Italy, there was reportedly a dress code requiring participants to include the three colors of the Italian flag in their party attire.
Quite fun, isn’t it?
If you have tailors who have created suits through pattern orders but are unsure where to source formal accessories, our company has a dedicated department specializing in formal wear accessories.
Please be sure to take a look.
We also carry slightly more casual items, allowing us to meet a wide range of needs.
See you next time.
For inquiries regarding custom tailoring services for men’s suits, women’s suits, dress shirts, jersey suits, coats, and more, please feel free to contact Yamamoto Sewing Department Co., Ltd.
