You’ve Rented Your Last Tux: A Foolproof Guide to the Season’s Best Formalwear

Matthew Biehl February 16, 2016

No man should ever be forced into a rental shop when he has the opportunity to wear black tie (and we have so few opportunities). You may not actually be attending any award shows this season, but you can still take inspiration from the red carpet and go big: black tie or bust.

Classic with a Twist

A black tuxedo will never go out of style. But, of course, not all black tuxes were created equal. Nailing the look all lies in the details: this guy gets it right with a non-traditional vest that reads like a shawl, a subtle shirt, stud and cufflink combination, perfectly shined shoes, and, of course, a trim bow tie and cummerbund.

Wool tuxedo jacket ($3,600), wool vest ($770), cotton shirt ($700), wool tuxedo pants ($930), silk bow tie ($140), silk cummerbund ($510), sterling silver shirt studs ($800), sterling silver cufflinks ($800) and patent leather shoes ($800) by Dior Homme.

Green with Dandy

If you’re feeling confident, go outside the box and embrace colour — a tone-on-tone velvet jacket (double breasted, no less) with bright accents and an even brighter pocket square will prove your style prowess to all the other penguins.

Cotton velvet tuxedo jacket ($7,970), cotton shirt ($ 1,065), wool tuxedo pants ($2,480), satin bow tie ($375) and patent leather shoes ($3,920) by Kiton; silk pocket square ($140) by Turnbull & Asser; metal-and-glass cufflinks (price upon request) by Fabulous Fanny’s.

Finishing Touches

Let the tux do the talking. It’s a big enough statement as it is. Instead, choose small accessories that complement it, like a shiny lapel pin, a small and subtle tie bar or your go-to pair of cufflinks. You have a go-to pair of cufflinks, right?

Clockwise from top right: Rhodium plated feather lapel pin ($140) by Tateossian, at Holt Renfrew; stainless steel cufflinks ($255) by BOSS, at Harry Rosen; wool blend lapel pin ($245) by Lanvin, at Harry Rosen; sterling silver tie bar ($225) by Brooks Brothers; 18 karat gold cufflinks ($3,850) by Tiffany and Co.; brass plated tie pin ($95) by Paul Smith, at Harry Rosen; gunmetal plated cufflinks ($475) by Tateossian, at Harry Rosen; rose gold tie pin ($275) by Tateossian, at Harry Rosen; sterling silver cuff links ($225) by Thomas Sabo; sterling silver cufflinks ($415) by Tateossian, at Harry Rosen.