Prom Suits Tuxedos

Three ways to dress for prom

Read the invitation first, because schools vary more than people expect. If it says black tie or formal, a tuxedo in black or midnight blue is the straight answer and will never look wrong in the photographs. If it says smart or semi-formal, a two piece suit in navy, charcoal or burgundy does the job without overdressing. And if you want to be the one people remember, a velvet tuxedo jacket in green, burgundy or teal, worn over plain black formal trousers, is the most photographed thing in this category every year.

Jacket only, or the full set

You do not have to buy a matching set. Pairing a contrasting jacket with black formal trousers is a dinner jacket outfit, which reads slightly less formal than a full tuxedo and costs less to put together. It also leaves you a jacket that works at every party after prom, which a full matching tuxedo does not.

Sizing, timing and group orders

The single most common problem is ordering late. Allow enough time before the date to exchange a size if the first one is wrong — a week is not enough, and prom season is the busiest window of the year. Buy for the shoulders and have the waist and trouser adjusted locally; shoulders are the one thing that cannot be fixed cheaply. If you are ordering for a group, put everyone in the same base color and vary the tie or the pocket square rather than the suit, so the photographs hold together. Our tuxedo fit guide covers measurement, and essential tuxedo accessories covers the rest of the outfit.