Emily from Chicago emailed me yesterday asking about other options for suits and tuxes for men other than Mens Warehouse and JCrew…..here’s some of my recommendations…feel free to include your suggestions in the comments!
If your guy is considering buying a tux, I can only vouch for the NYC area, but Linus is a great option. They have a great classic tux at a reasonable price, and tons of suits. For a more modern look, I recommend looking at places like yes, JCrew, but also Express Men, or similar stores. They will have great suits that won’t break the bank. Also try outlet stores…us tri-state area girls have Woodbury Commons and Century 21, but I’m sure there are equivalents all across the US. Barneys, Saks, even Neiman Marcus have outlets, and you can get an Armani tux for a fraction of the cost.
For rentals, you should know that Mens Warehouse is joining forces with Afterhours, so expect a bigger selection and more locations nationwide starting next year. Also, you really don’t need to be renting a tux more than 2 months before the wedding….Chad and I went a few weeks ago and got laughed at! Save yourself the embarrassment!
Chad wants to go completely James Bond classic: black peak lapel, white shirt (no ruffles!!), no cummerbund, black suspenders, black bowtie…you get the idea. I tried talking him into some green socks but he won’t have it. He’s pretty against boutonnieres too, but he’s not really getting a choice in that 🙂 I do think that classic is the way to go.
I think for some weddings putting your guy in a tie thats made out of your bridesmaids dress material, or just any colored tie for that matter, can end up looking dated in your photos down the road. Don’t get me wrong, many people have done it and it looks great, but if those ties are not done right, they can end up looking cheap. Try bringing some color in with a colored pocket square or socks….minimal pops of color when you need them. Some more tips can be found here….
[image from NY Mag Weddings, MSNBC]