Men’s Formal Wear

When it comes to men’s formal wear, your prevailing guide is the venue, more than

anything else, because it determines what’s appropriate. If you consistently attend two

formal events a year, you should consider investing in a tux. Just for fun, try on one in

deep blue as an alternative to traditional black.

For men, this red-carpet season saw the shirtless tuxedo, daring even for

Hollywood—wholly unrealistic for our daily lives. One might not think there are that

many choices for a formal event, but in fact there are many. Though the contents of

formal attire doesn’t change dramatically—pants and jacket—it’s the remaining pieces

that provide endless options.

First, the time of day tells us whether it’s okay to wear formal wear with some verve.

For example, a Saturday afternoon summer wedding begs for some flair with some

practicality thrown in: opt for a bright colored shirt paired with a black or dark blue tux.

Make sure to purchase a tux shirt with a turned down collar instead of the traditional

winged one made for a bow tie.

Next, add a complementing color tie which incorporates the shirt’s color. Think too of

adding a coordinating pocket square to take the tux up a notch—it will be a conversation

piece. Finally, don’t forget the matching-colored socks and then you’re all set to go.

The tie, shirt, cuffs, and socks are all you need to change up a tux that might otherwise

be run of the mill and they are the less expensive items in a formal outfit. Stud sets and

cufflinks are not as common anymore, as the long tie has taken its place in the post-

Covid world for formal dressing.

Tammy’s Truism: Today, a black suit and tie with a white shirt are an acceptable

alternative to a tux.