Have you ever been invited to a formal event and you don’t know how to dress? We brings you this How To Wear A Tuxedo – A Modern Men’s Guide. So you can go to any solemn meeting. Continue reading so you learn to put together your gala wardrobe and know what to do and what not when you wear it.
Men’s guide: tuxedos and rules for using them
The clothing label male despite what is generally thought if they have variants that are clearly differentiated from each other. It is believed that the men’s wardrobe is very basic, only with simple pieces, but in reality it does not have to be. They have to choose between different styles and accessories for a gala look.
So how to dress for a formal act? Here you will find the answer.
I chaque, for a formal morning
This formal suit is best used in morning acts; although it can be taken until the beginning of the afternoon. Its origin comes from the nineteenth century when the knights of the British Court used it to ride horses. It is also known as “morning suit” or morning coat.
Usually, you dress a lot at weddings, the groom, the godparents and the witnesses can wear this outfit.
While it is a suit that remains the closest when it began, there have been small variations of this. As for example, the use of the vest, which gives it eye-catching, as well as the use of different fabrics.
The jacket is appropriate to wear at weddings , horse races and other official daytime ceremonies.
What clothes to wear with the Chaqué?
- Shirt: White, shirt collar, no buttons and double cuff.
- Tie : silk silk with Windsor knot, which can be trodden with a special pin. You can also wear plastron, which is a type of wide tie that covers the chest.
- Vest: in this case there is more freedom to choose because you can use it with prints. But, the traditional gray cut with straight buttons is preferred.
- Trousers : choose a classic style of straight cut in cheviot, which is black or unicolor gray or with thin vertical stripes.
- Socks : black silk.
- Footwear : leather, with laces, black without details or polished.
As accessories for the Chaqué, cup, silk or black or gray hair envelopes have been traditionally used. Gloves, whites for academic ceremonies and blacks for funerals are also used on more formal occasions.
Other accessories are the handkerchief, which must be made of thread, white and with the initials of the wearer; a flower, which can be Gardenia, Jasmine or Camellia.
Tuxedo, to wear it at night
The tuxedo, like the Chaqué dates from the 19th century Britain. In English it is known as tuxedo and is widely used in awards ceremonies. In Spain it is widely used for special days such as weddings or New Year’s Eve celebrations. He is currently the best known men’s suit for gala events; however, it also shares with the Chaqué in which it has a special schedule to be used, the night one.
This formal outfit is the one that has suffered the most interventions, so the tuxedos we see today differ from how it looked about 200 years ago. Great designers have been inspired by this garment to change their lapel, pockets and sleeves to add colors and textures.
Pieces to wear with Tuxedo
- Jacket: the most used is in black color. But, depending on the season of the year it can be white, blue or maroon. If you choose a cross design, do not wear a sash, just fasten the button above.
- Shirt: bow tie collar, with double cuff in white or light ivory.
- Bow tie: depending on the jacket you use, you can choose between a black, burgundy or dark blue silk bow tie. But you can also use it in its printed versions.
- Sash: the size of the sash is between 20 and 25 cm wide, is made of silk or satin and is used in combination with the bow tie. If you wear a vest or a jacket is crossed, do not use it.
- Pants : this men’s pants must be classic cut and have a silk ribbon on the side. Usually, it must be the same color as the jacket; but if it is an act in summer these are the jackets / pants combinations: white-black, reddish and white or dark blue-white.
- Socks : same as for the Chaqué, black silk.
- Footwear : classic style with laces, in polished black.
- Vest : it is used if you do not wear a sash. It can be made of silk or the same tuxedo fabric.
If you wear gloves (their use is rare) that are leather or suede in bone, gray or white. It is important to note that this suit is dressed without a belt, braces are used instead. And, if you wear a handkerchief, make it white cotton.
Frac, a unique suit for special occasions
The Frac is the “maximum label” suit, which is reserved only for nighttime events in closed places. Its use comes from the wealthy men of the eighteenth century, and at first this dress was very similar to the equestrian costumes.
- Shirt: it must be white, made of thread, rigid, with a high collar, cuffs with two eyelets. The buttons on the handle should be pearled or polished.
- Jacket: the textile can be granite or vigoña, in black blue almost black. It should reach flush with the waist, and in the back two skirts fall. While the flaps are covered with matte silk.
- Vest: must be made with moire or pique, it can be straight or crossed. It is used in black for religious and academic ceremonies; while for other formal events it is white.
- Pants: does not vary much compared to other suits. Only the side ribbon of this must be 2 cm wide satin.
- Bow tie: it must be made in white pique.
Tips for dressing the Frac
If you use the Frac in winter, you can wear a classic design coat, straight in dark tone. You can use a layer with the same characteristics instead. If you wear a scarf for men , it must be made of wool, cashmere or fine silk only in white.
Socks and shoes go black, just like the tuxedo. If you decide to wear a hat, make it black silk without glitter in black. The gloves must be chamois, in white or bone. And if you wear a handkerchief, make it white linen.
There are other costumes such as the Spencer, which is a kind of Frac but with much shorter skirts. It is of little use and popularity. There is also the military dress suit for both the air and ground army. These suits, like the costumes described above, have their particularities of use.
Rules for wearing formal men’s suits
Among the rules of style that every man should know are those of the details that should be taken care of when wearing etiquette.
About the use of the suit
- Unbutton the buttons of your bag every time you feel.
- If it is light in color, the handkerchief will always be a dark shade. This will attract attention.
- The sleeves should never be hidden, but neither show them in excess. Ideally, you should display a centimeter and a half.
- In case you don’t wear a tie, you should take care that the neck stays inside the lapel.
- How to know that the suit you chose is ideal for you? Simple. Extend your arms horizontally to the sides, flex them by bringing your hands to the buttons. So that it fits between your chest and the brooches.
- If it’s cold, the coat should be dark if your suit is clear or the opposite.
- The last bottom button of a crossed jacket is never fastened . As in a vest, the last button is never buttoned.
- Always the color of the tie should be darker than that of the shirt. And, if this is black, the tie must be of another color, less navy blue. Never wear a black tie with a shirt that tone.
- If you sweat a lot we recommend wearing a white t-shirt underneath.
From the details of the suit
- The tie clip or click should reach half the width of the tie. It should never be the same width or greater than this.
- Do not recharge your suit with so many accessories. Carrying a handkerchief, lapel pin and tie clip are too many items if they are worn together.
- Lapel and tie must match in width.
- If you wear a belt, it must be the same color as the shoes.
- Never combine a sports watch with a tag suit.
- The handkerchief should not be the same as the tie.
- The Windsor Knot is better complete.
