Social Butterfly

By mitch leff

September 11, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this

I own my own tux, although I don’t wear it very often!

By Edward

September 12, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

I own my tux, though I now rarely have an opportunity to wear it. In fact, it has been so long since I’ve worn it I would need to buy a new shirt to go with it if I did need to don it for an occasion. But, it is nice to know that I have it available and it is a much higher quality than anything you could rent.

By TixTux

September 12, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

I own my own tux - but I rent the shoes.

By Hellbent

September 12, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

I own my tuxedo as well. Don’t get to wear it that often though. Here’s an observation; I can’t stand to see a pre-tied bow-tie. Nothing says cheap like a pre-tied tie.

By Stan

September 12, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

No tux for me, I do own a suit though. I come from a long line of Rednecks that only wear suits for funerals and weddings. And they wear cowboy boots with the suits.

I pretty well never go anywhere that a tux is required except for the 2-3 times in my life I have been in a wedding, but even then it had to match what the theme was, so I would have had to rented one anyway.

Yeah…I’m pretty low brow

By Jennifer Brett

September 12, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

There is nothing wrong with boots and suits! If you have you ever attended a gathering of legislators during the session, you know that many of Georgia’s public servants agree. I believe even the Governor has sported this look before.

By David

September 12, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

I’m buying my own tux for my wedding in May, but other than that I’ve only worn them for prom. As a 21 year old, I think I’m doing pretty well. Any suggestions on where to buy my tux though? I’d like a nice one, but not one that’s ridiculously expensive.

By Grant Parker

September 12, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

Do the math. If you wear black tie twice or even once a year, the cost of renting the suit soon will outstrip what you spend for a reasonable ensemble. Of couse, you have to make sure it continues fitting properly — an incentive, perhaps, to stay in shape. As you may infer, I have one.

By jimmy

September 12, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

It is crazy for an adult male to not own a tux. For what it costs to rent, you can buy an inexpensive one that will pay for itself after 3 wears - and you WILL use it 3 times in your life. Plus, they don’t go out of style (if you buy a classic looking one) so you’ll never look like you’re wearing one that’s outdated. I think mine is about 10 years old and it still looks as good as any other tux in the room when I’m at an event.

By Fly Guy

September 12, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

Fly Guy demands equal time: S.B. neglects to mention that Fly Guy already owns four (count ‘em, 4) tie-cumberbund sets. Besides, Fly Guy is not a martini man. If the set sported bottles of Maker’s Mark, perhaps … And fellas, please buy yourself a tux. Don’t wear other people’s clothes.

By Political Mongrel

September 12, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

I wear a tux 20-30 times a year as a performing musician in classical performances and wedding receptions. I’d be a fool to rent because I can get a good wool tux for under $100. Even with shirt and accessories, it costs more for a couple of rentals than for a purchase. I don’t have to worry about returning it or finding hidden problems left over from another wearer.

I despise cummerbunds, but I hate vests worse. I stick with the classic black-and-white look; a little color can perk up a tux for weddings or a prom, but colors stand out unfavorably in many other situations.

By Southside Steve

September 12, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

What’s a tux?

By jo

September 12, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Tux—hell yes! Make it a point to wear it at least once a year. Also, spring for a pair of shiny tux shoes…….complete the outfit!

By AJ

September 12, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

David

I would look at the Men’s Wearhouse for a tux. I bought mine there. Looks good and was inexpensive.

By Chief Wiggum

September 12, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

I do NOT own my own tux. I haven’t needed to rent one since my wedding 17 years ago, either.

Sorry, I am not someone who gived a flying crap about the “fall social season”. I’m a simple, middle-class divorced guy, and have no interest in trying to be something I’m not. Just sayin’

By Sassy

September 12, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

My guy owns his own tux. Ooooooh, and he looks SO good in it too! Not too many occassions to wear it though … New Year’s Eve at the ‘club’. But every now and again I’ll ask him to put it on. I’ll done a LBD and pearls and we’ll enjoy a romantic dinner at home with candles, wine, and (ahem) dessert!

By jabster

September 12, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

P.J. O’Rourke said that the two most rented-looking things in the world are a rented woman and a rented tux.

Buy a classic design and you can wear it until it wears out or you, ahem, outgrow it.

You don’t have to wear black patents (can be too rental looking) with a tux, but don’t wear wingtips either.

By abc

September 12, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

I own several tuxedos, plus a couple of vintage ones. I wear them fairly often, perhaps once a month or so. Setups other than black or occasionally white are always a mistake. Even red over the holidays is strictly for joking around.

Having a tux isn’t that big a deal, is it? Waiters have to wear them, I mean, c’mon.

By Mike D

September 12, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this

I rent my tuxedos because usually the only times I wear them are drinking occasions. The last time I wore one, I got so drunk I shyt all over myself. I was glad I could just throw the thing back in the bag and turn it in for someone else to deal with.

By Big juicy

September 12, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this

I own two of them. Several years back, I used to wear a tux once or twice a year and discovered with that level of frequency, it was more cost effective to purchase at least one.

By bubba

September 13, 2008 7:02 AM | Link to this

I own one but I’ve grown. My teenage son wore it to his prom last year and it fit him just fine.

By PhD2Be

September 13, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this

I own two tuxedos. I have at least 3-4 black tie events every year. I like the fact that I can choose a different tuxedo depending on where I am going. I prefer the vest over the cumberbund and will wear either a silk necktie or bowtie to complete the outfit. I’m a 30 year old, married professional and I owned my first tuxedo at 15. I’ve owned one ever since. My wife likes that fact that I have a wardrobe that will fit any occasion. I think its because she knows that she can take me anywhere (smile).

By M. R. Biggins

September 13, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this

Tux Sux

By Big Daddy

September 13, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this

I have a purple tux complete with my pimp’n hat and cane. I like to wear it when I takes my favorite b*** out.

By CBL

September 14, 2008 4:02 AM | Link to this

If you consider yourself a gentleman, you’d own a tux rather than rent. You don’t need to spend more than $200 for a good fitted tux, shirt, bowtie, cummerbund, and studs. Patent (plastic) shoes look fake and rented- I just wear simple dress shoes or wingtips but have them polished to a good shine. Nothing detracts from a well fitting tux more than crummy shoes that are dirty and scuffed.

Tuxedos do not need to be super high quality unless you wear them frequently as a performer, etc. Once or twice a year will not wear down even an inexpensive ensemble.

By Rastus

September 14, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

Q’s from a great untuxed… Where to buy? What to buy(material, required accompaniments, doo-dads-geegaws-stuff? What about da slippas? What material will still look good after a hour on the motorbike getting to an event? How to get a white wine stain off a black tux? Will mauve stay in style?

By Brenda

September 14, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

not “cumberbund”— ever hear of spell check?

5 dictionary results for: “cummerbund” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This cum�mer�bund /ˈkʌmərˌbʌnd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhm-er-buhnd] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation �noun a wide sash worn at the waist, esp. a horizontally pleated one worn with a tuxedo.

Also, kummerbund.

[Origin: 1610�20; < Hindi kamarband loin-band < Pers]

By CBL

September 14, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

I’ve seen them at JC Penny for less than $200 mostly made of flammable polyester or rayon or something. You can get a wool one at Jos A. Bank but for probably $500. Get the jacket and pants fitted to your size. Should come with everything you need. I don’t do genuine bow-ties (hell I don’t wear ties in general) so it comes with a pre-tied one.

White wine is no problem, it’s the red. Use white wine and or salt to stop red wine from staining a white shirt.

By Jennifer Brett

September 14, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this

Rastus

Hie thee to Brooks Brothers, my friend. They’ll set you up with everything you need.

I recommend:

I do not recommend purchasing the shoes billed as part of the ensemble. You’ll look like a waiter. Just wear your black wing-tips, so long as you keep them in cedar shoe trees and polish regularly.

Also - this is important - learn to tie a bow tie. As earlier posters have noted, nothing looks worse than a pre-tied bow.

You should expect to spend at least $800 for the whole kit & caboodle. You can save a few bucks at lower priced men’s shops but you’re going to buy one tux, right? Invest in quality.

Good luck! SB