What to Wear: Finding a Suit or Tux for Prom

Since there will be a ton of pictures taken on the night of prom, you’ll want to ensure that your formal prom attire is on point. Wearing a black-tie prom tuxedo or a formal prom suit is one way to establish your fashion savviness while achieving a dapper look. Ensuring your prom suit or tux matches your date’s prom dress or coordinates with your group will instantly take your look, and the pictures, to a whole new level. While what to wear to prom can vary depending upon your plans to attend prom solo, with a group of friends, or with your high school sweetheart, looking and feeling your best is key to having a great time.

If you are going with a date or a group of friends, ask their opinion on the matter of formal prom attire. Wearing a prom suit or tux that coordinates with a date’s prom dress or that matches the attire of people you are attending prom with is the perfect way to tell the room, “I am with them.” If you’ve opted to attend prom solo, your options for what to wear to prom are endless and can really highlight your personal style. Most important, you want to be comfortable and confident at prom, so wear the prom suit or prom tux that is best suited for you. Whether you’re looking for a tux or want to ensure that your date’s prom tux will match your formal prom attire, this section of the Prom Guide provides advice on how to select a prom suit or tux for prom that will achieve a polished look and coordinate well with a prom dress.

What Are the Parts of a Tuxedo for Prom?

The typical tuxedo is a five-piece formal suit, comprised of a jacket, a dress shirt, cummerbund or vest, bow tie or long tie, and pants. For the jacket, standard black is a crisp clean look that is flattering with any other accent colors. A silver or gray tux is a sleek and modern option. The shirt should be tailored to create a custom fit and can have traditional pleats or not, per personal preference. Shirt cuffs are usually either French or barrel style. Barrel cuffs are the traditional look that most people are experienced with in normal button-up dress shirts. French cuffs are folded back, creating a fancy double-layered look. Shirt collars can vary as well, but are usually dictated by the type of tuxedo selected. Wing-tipped or lay-down collars are the most common, with wing-tipped typically being the fancier of the two options.

When choosing a tie for prom, you can opt for the traditional bow tie or select a long necktie, as either is appropriate for prom. For cummerbund or vest, basic black is always in style and creates a cohesive look when paired with almost any color. Bow ties, long neckties, cummerbunds, and vests are now offered in a wide variety of color options to match the prom dress. A pocket square is another unique way to add a pop of color to the look, while maintaining an ultra-stylish formal vibe.

Last, but not least, are the shoes. Although not considered part of the tuxedo, they are definitely a necessity and can really set off your prom style. Typically, shiny black dress shoes are the most popular option for prom. However, fashion trendsetters can let their fashion savvy shine with a contemporary look, color, or style that highlights their vibrant personalities.

What Color Tux and Accessories Should I Wear to Prom?

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