Allow us to help clear up some confusion with a deep-dive into the suit vs tux question. This includes the kinds of shirts that are appropriate and the best (and sometimes only) accessories that are right for the tux. Tuxedos are, of course, more formal than suits. Traditionally tuxedos have satin facing on the lapels, buttons, pocket trim, and a satin side stripe down the leg of the trousers. Yes, but the real difference between a tuxedo and a standard suit is that one is more dressed-up than the other. They make completely different statements and are fitting attire for different occasions. A tux can be the key element to elevating an outdoor ceremony and keeping the event feeling special. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Instead of having larger collar points fold down like a typical dress shirt, the collar points on a wing tip are abbreviated in size and dont wrap around the side or back of the neck. The material is immaterial (pardon our one pun in this rather lengthy post). Tuxedos are semi-formal garments, whereas suits are informal ones: Again, tuxedos are technically semi-formal garments, with the formal space being occupied by white tie. Picking out your wedding-day attire is a huge decisionits the most important suit or tux youll ever wear, and you want to look your absolute best on the big day. Tuxedos are typically worn at evening weddings, particularly those with formal, black tie, or white tie dress codes. When discussing dress codes, its common to talk about suits, tuxedos, dinner jackets, and more. Similarly, if you opted for a French-cuffed dress shirt (you should), youll need cufflinks to keep the cuffs cinched. Wedding They are the perfect spring-summer footwear. Nowadays, a semi-spread or spread collar that is found on a typical dress shirt is an acceptable pairing with a tuxedo, even when worn with a bow tie (like the image above). A lot of brands today call their shawl-lapel suits tuxedo suits.. Whats the difference? However, dressing for a wedding is certainly the time to make sure you know which is which. For women's tuxedos, its common to wear high heels or elegant flats that are more on the formal side. Tuxedos are a timeless investment piece. The peaked lapel has long been a go-to element of the power suit look for men. Do you want something different? Brown goes well with navy blue and could be a nicer option if your usual choice is a blue suit. So if youre confused about the differences between tuxedos vs suits, we dont blame you. Whether you keep it timeless in tuxes, simple in suits, or you do a mix thats uniquely you, at the end of the day, saying I do in style is truly a moment youll never forget. If you're the groom, it's your big day, so whether you wear a suit or a tux is all about being your most authentic self! These are either made of a metal buckle and fabric strip on each side that can be used to adjust the snugness of the fit or feature a button system that works with an elastic strip of fabric inside the waistband to achieve the same effect. Black dress shoes are usually worn with tuxedos, never loafers or oxfords. Color-wise, traditional tuxedos are either solid black or midnight blue. Still, in this situation, whether that jacket came from a suit or a tuxedo doesnt ultimately matter the white hue is formal enough and may be appropriate in a warm-weather context. These are the single pieces of material that sit in an unbroken curve from your collar to your waist, and theyre only seen on tuxedo jackets. Usually, guests are told to wear a tuxedo at such events. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. There's a slight bit of wiggle room with black tie dress codes but a tuxedo is the safer bet. Trousers may be pleated, cuffed, have a fishtail back, or whatever other detail you like. A tuxedo is the most formal attire a person can wear to an event and is seen at white tie, black tie, and formal events (you can wear them to semi-formal affairs as well but they aren't required) and always in the eveningeven the most formal of daytime weddings won't require one. Rachel Varina is a full-time freelancer with over 10 years of editorial experience and six years of experience in the wedding industry. That would be the main difference. Tuxedos call to mind high-end formalwear, the sort of dinner jacket and bowtie pairing James Bond might wear to a gala hosted by an evil billionaire. Its differentiated via a lower button stance featuring a deep U shaped opening. Color-wise, traditional tuxedos are either solid black or midnight blue. How to Dress Well In Your 40s and 50s (and Beyond), Where to Buy Clothes for Short Men (2022 Guide), 31 Great Watches For Small Wrists (Updated for 2023), Top 8 Best Business Casual Shoes for Men (2023 Guide), The Complete Guide to Business Casual Style for Men. Ultimately, what matters most is context. This satin strip runs the entirety of the length of the outer seam. Difference Between Suit And Tux #3: Tuxedo History. Consider the venue, the time of day, and how youre asking your guests to dress. Pictured here: Black Shawl Lapel Tuxedo, Royal Blue Tuxedo, Dark Gray Sharkskin Tuxedo by Black Lapel, Pictured here: Khaki Linen Suit, Olive Cotton Suit, Light Blue Fine Stripe Suit,Deep Burgundy Suitby Black Lapel. But if you want more laidback wedding attire, especially for an outdoor wedding, suits may be the best choice. As far as your suit pants, these will have traditional belt-loops, and (hopefully) youve figured out how to wear a belt by now. Just remember to keep it black and keep it clean. Both of these would fall under the tuxedo category to most Americans. The difference comes with shawl lapels. As the master tailors of bespoke suits and wedding tuxedos in the Philadelphia area, we at Henry A. Davidsen can help you achieve the right look for any occasion. No need to be a french cuff shirt, but you also can. Other options can be found but are almost always a darker solid color. Avoid broguing or any other decorative details, and if you can, go for a wholecut shoe instead of a cap-toe shoe. In terms of accessories, a tuxedo should be worn with a white pocket square, while a suit can be worn with a pocket square made from any complementary fabric. If there is anything you need more clarity about, feel free to leave a comment below! ).It's a bad look to overdressyou don't want to be better dressed than the groom. What really is the difference between a tuxedo and a suit? Most men will never need anything other than a traditional black tuxedo or midnight blue tuxedo. This is the one area that has the most amount of variation from tux vs suit shirts. The material is typically worsted wool, but can also be linen, cotton, or a silk blend. So even if you go for a tux in burgundy velvet or navy wool, itll probably have black satin detailing. But if you wear a suit, it will be the perfect fit not just for you but even at work. Its unlikely that you can wear, say, a pink cotton suit to the office, but if youre at an outdoor summer party, youll be fine. Moss Bros. is the UK's no.1 formal menswear specialist. There are plenty of opportunities every day to break the rules when youre getting dressed. The only thing a tux and suit actually share is the fact that both the jacket and trousers are made from the same, matching material. Suit pants don't. When paired with a nice shirt, tie, and the right accessories they're appropriate for a formal dress code but can also be worn to semi-formal (you can leave the tie out for this) or even more casual settings. Suit jackets sporting shawl lapels are more formal than ones that dont. Its because, broadly speaking, the fewer buttons there are on a jacket the more formal it is. Even if your wedding doesnt have a specific dress code, the groom or grooms can certainly wear tuxes if they want to don a more traditional and fancier look. For evening weddings: suit and tuxedo. Were not fond of this rule and believe your waist can be unadorned if your shirt is clean and freshly pressed. Not technically, but that combination is perfectly appropriate in many black tie optional events. The placket of the shirt is the narrow strip down the front where your buttons and buttonholes reside. Tuxedos are typically worn only at black tie events and traditionally only in the evening. Whether youre a bride or a groom, one of the biggest choices youre faced with (other than who to spend your life with, of course) is what to wear on your wedding day. A three-piece suit is reserved for special occasions (think black tie) and pairs a matching button-up waistcoat with a coat and trousers. Both are good options. Take a look at this blue velvet tuxedo and customize it to your likings. Tuxedos and suits are both commonly made from materials like wool, but the big difference between a tuxedo and a suit is the use of satin (or sometimes grosgrain) fabric in a few areas of the tuxedo. We've got the answers, so keep reading! But that's not always the case. One of the biggest differences between the two is that a tuxedo has satin details such as satin buttons, satin lapels and a stripe of satin down the pant leg, whereas suits do not. More casual suits (think lighter in color and/or made of a material less dressy than worsted wool) might not be appropriate for some offices, but theyre still meant to be daytime outfits. If you must do it in a pinch, go with a slim black neck-tie really try to source a bow-tie. Tuxedos: Sporting either a single or double-breasted style with peak lapels or a shawl collar, tuxedo jackets feature lapels faced with silk or grosgrain materialthat provides an elegant sheen in contrast to the rest of the jacket. A white collared shirt will always work with any suit. However, in modern times, especially in the United States, a dinner jacket is more commonly used to refer to a contrasting tuxedo jacket that is not black or midnight blue in color (typically still worn with black tuxedo pants). A few factors that are typical of suits include the following: While still dressy, suits are less formal than their tuxedo counterparts and often offer a wider variety of looks. A tuxedo is usually . These tuxedo shirts absolutely shouldnt be worn with a regular business suit. Tuxedos can be a bit confusing, but we hope your burning tuxedo vs suit questions have been extinguished. For tuxedos, women can opt for a classic bow tie, a lavallire tie, or even a more feminine option like a satin or silk blouse with ruffles. If youre about to get married and youve found yourself pondering the difference between a tuxedo vs. a suit, youre not alone. While tuxedo and suit pants arent as exciting, there are some notable differences between the two. Handkerchief + tie + belt. When can the groom wear a tuxedo instead of a suit? Tuxedos have satin lapels, which can even be from a different shade while suits lapels are made of the same fabric. June 26, 2022 If you're new to the world of formalwear, you might be wondering what's the difference between a tuxedo and suit? A peaked lapel, meanwhile, is one in which the bottom point sticks out more than the top point, and moves upward, creating a more dramatic, and often wider lapel. There will be satin facing on the tuxedo lapels (meaning the exterior fabric will be satin), buttons, pocket piping and a satin stripe down the side of the pant legs. Though they can seem similar, there are fundamental differences between a tuxedo and a suit. What would be your choice? For as long as these rules have existed, you could find men who were stumped and clueless about how to follow them. These studs essentially serve as buttons connecting both layers of your shirt placket together to close up the front of your shirt. The way I like to describe it is, suits are formal, but in a more professional way, while tuxedos are highly formal, in a ceremonial way. Since everyone has a different lifestyle though, another option is to consider how much a tuxedo might cost to invest in vs how much it is to rent, and the frequency that youll be renting. The touch of personality you get to bring to your formalwear ensemble. Ever wonder about the differences between suits and tuxedos? As tuxedos are a version of formalwear, it would behove us to think about the etymology of the word formal. Formal, as defined by Google, means done in accordance with rules of convention or etiquette..