When a Tuxedo Becomes a Sensible Investment

A made-to-measure tuxedo is a sensible investment when you have reason to wear it many times, and when your build is stable enough for it to keep fitting for several years. If either condition is missing, hiring is a perfectly good choice. This article helps you see where you stand.

Moments to consider commissioning one

Some stages of life raise the need for formal wear noticeably.

Getting married. Your own wedding is the occasion where a tuxedo carries the most meaning, and afterwards there are usually more weddings of friends and relatives ahead. Many grooms find the wedding suit keeps being useful, though not all do. Our article on the groom's wedding tuxedo covers colour and lapel in detail.

A promotion or new role. When you move into management, run a company or become an owner, invitations to galas, award evenings and partner dinners tend to multiply. That is when a well-fitting suit already in the wardrobe becomes truly practical.

A busy social calendar. If you belong to an association, club or circle where formal evenings come around regularly, the cumulative cost of hiring will pass the cost of owning after a while. The working is in cost per wear.

A personal milestone. Some men have their first tuxedo made at graduation, on opening a business, or when a son is born. There is no formula, only the moment you feel it has arrived.

A stable build

A made-to-measure tuxedo is cut to your measurements. If your weight and waist fluctuate a lot, the suit will need alteration. Seam allowances are left in, so a suit can be adjusted within limits, not without limit.

Signs of a stable build: your weight has not moved much in the last two or three years, and you have no plan for a big loss or gain. If you are in a period of real change, such as training to lose weight, wait until you settle and hire in the meantime. A specialist measuring you can also help judge whether you should wait.

A calendar with black-tie events

The most practical question is: over the next three to five years, how many occasions need black tie? List them specifically. Weddings with fixed dates, an annual company gala, an award evening you have already been invited to, an important anniversary. The guide to events in the year that call for a tuxedo points to some commonly missed occasions.

If the list holds several clear occasions, making a suit has a basis. If it is empty or holds a single event, hire is more sensible.

Signs you should keep hiring

Hiring is not the lesser option. In some situations it really is the right one:

• You need a tuxedo once or twice over many years.
• Your build is changing, or you are not sure which cut and colour suits you.
• You want to try several styles, black this time and ivory next, before commissioning your own.
• Your budget is committed elsewhere right now, and the occasion is a single one.

Mon Amie offers tuxedo hire: fitting at a showroom, alterations to fit, cleaning included; prices depend on the model, so ask a specialist. Hiring is also a good way to learn which cut and lapel you like before making your first. The article on hiring versus having a tuxedo made compares the two in more depth.

A quick self-check

Answer three questions honestly:

1. Over the next three years, how many times am I certain to wear black tie?
2. Is my weight stable?
3. Would I feel uneasy wearing hired clothing that is not my own?

If the answers lean towards many occasions, a stable build and a wish to own, bespoke makes sense. If not, hire.

Book a fitting at Mon Amie

If you are still undecided, the simple route is to visit a showroom so a specialist can measure you and talk through your calendar. You are under no obligation to order; many people only want a straight opinion from someone in the trade. You can read about our made-to-measure tuxedo service or book a fitting at a showroom.