Introduction
Major Retailers
Supplemental Retailers
Custom Tailoring
White Tie Investments

►Formal Supplements

One-stop shopping at major formalwear retailers may be convenient but it is also limiting. For the widest variety of options be sure to also check out supplemental vendors who specialize in hard-to-find items.

Formalwear Conglomerates

President Tuxedo

Did you know that the majority of brand name formalwear lines are manufactured by just a handful of companies? After Six, FLOW (a merger of Lord West and Formal One) and FCGI (Fabian Couture Group International) are some of the few corporations that own the formalwear licensing rights for designers such Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Perry Ellis.

To view an extensive sampling of these companies' offerings, visit mytuxedocatalog.com by wholesaler Paul Morrell. The same wholesaler also lists numerous other American manufacturers if you're curious.

National and Online Formalwear Retailers

• Budget Retailers (Tuxedos under $400)

Surprisingly it is possible to find quality dinner suits for under $300 if one is willing to shop online as many virtual retailers offer brand name products for $200 to $300 off the regular price. Obviously online shopping precludes personal attention, the ability to try on garments before buying and a return process can be time-consuming and somewhat expensive.

If choosing to shop in this price range it would be wise to stick to recognized brands and examine product descriptions closely because tuxedos under $300 are frequently constructed of thin, ill-fitting polyester blends and often include jackets that are available only in contemporary styles with trousers that sport tacky adjustable waistbands. Some discount online retailers have even been known to deceive buyers with counterfeit designer brands.

The same guidelines apply to buying formal wear through eBay auctions where there are some tremendous bargains to be had on new and vintage attire and accessories.

Sample Budget Retailers (Suit Costs):

*USA*	Buy4LessTuxedo.com ($100-$700)
	eTuxedo ($70-$300)
	JC Penny ($100-$150)
	Marshall Fields / Macy's ($270-$350 online)
	Men's Wearhouse ($300 online)
	Tuxedos Online ($99-$325) ($400 min.)
	Uniformalwearhouse ($70-$250)
	Fine Tuxedos ($170-$800)
	Overstock.com ($200) USA and Canada shipping
	The Wizard of Ahs ($200-$400)
	MyOwnTuxedo.com ($35-$360, new and previously owned)

*Canada*	International Clothiers ($99-$129)
	Tuxedos4Less.ca ($180-$880)

UK	ClermontDirect.com (£99-£119)
	Brigdens Evening Suit (£99-£695/approx $190-$1,300 US)

Sample Budget ensemble:

(all items from Buy4LessTuxedo.com unless otherwise noted)

$300	Ralph Lauren 2 button peak lapel, super 100s wool
$89	Black Tie Formalwear 100% cotton wing collar shirt with piqué texture
$60	100% silk satin cummerbund
$25	100% silk satin self-tie bow tie (Jim's Formalwear)
$90	Bretano genuine patent leather balmoral oxford shoes
$13	80% silk over-the-calf dress socks (Jos. A. Bank)
$60	Onyx and gold colored cufflinks and studs
$40	silk button-on suspenders
$15	linen pocket square (local department store)
$690

Tip: Young men on a budget can give their existing dress shoes a good polish and defer the $90 footwear purchase until later. This reduces the cost of the entire ensemble to only $600 which is an excellent value for the money.

• Mid-Market Retailers ($400-$800 Tuxedos)

Generally speaking, stores in this price range offer a wide selection of quality brand names or private house brands ranging from polyester blends to super 140 wools. Retailers at the lower end of the price range tend to offer mostly modern styles but there are also some classic styles available for those who know what brands to look for. Staff will only be semi-knowledgeable regarding proper black tie but then again the same goes for most higher priced retailers.

Rental shops can be good sources for purchasing heavily discounted designer brands if you are willing to accept a used tuxedo. In Canada, the national rental chains often hold warehouse sales in autumn to clear out the current year's models and make way for the next. At these sales the prices drop from the mid-market category down into the budget range.

National department stores and mid-market men's stores are also good options in this price range. Note that such retailers often offer more selection in store than online.

Sample Mid-Market Retailers:

*USA*	Buy4LessTuxedo.com ($100-$700)
	David's Formalwear ($300-$900)
	Jos. A. Bank ($300-$700 online)
	Fine Tuxedos ($170-$800)
	Suit Yourself ($400-$1,200)
	ExecStyle ($350-$750)

*Canada*	The Bay ($650-$1200)
	Tuxedos4Less.ca ($180-$880)

UK	Brigdens Evening Suit (£99-£695/approx $190-$1,300)

Sample Mid-Market Ensemble:

$549	Lubiam 1-button shawl collar, super 120s wool (Buy4LessTuxedo.com)
$95	two-ply cotton turndown collar shirt (Jos. A. Bank)
$45	silk satin cummerbund (Jos. A. Bank)
$50	silk satin self-tie bow tie (Jos. A. Bank)
$100	Sandro Moscoloni patent leather pumps (shoes.com)
$13	80% silk over-the-calf dress socks (Jos. A. Bank)
$40	silk button-on suspenders (Buy4LessTuxedo.com)
$75	Onyx and gold colored links and studs (Jos. A. Bank)
$25	silk or linen pocket square
$990

• Quality Retailers ($800-$1,500 Tuxedos)

Upscale menswear retailers offer private brands made from high quality wools that are usually super 100s or higher. Catering to a more worldly and affluent clientele, they tend to stock a wider selection of classic styles. These stores also offer very personalized customer service from salespersons that are more knowledgeable about formalwear than their department store counterparts. The only drawback for those who rely on internet shopping is that premium retailers tend to offer much more a limited selection online than they do in-store.

Sample Quality Retailers:

*USA*	Ben Silver ($1,230 online) for mail orders
	Brooks Brothers ($700-$880 online)
	David's Formalwear ($300-$900)
	Hickey Freeman ($1,500 online) USA and Canada shipping
	Ralph Lauren ($1,300 online)

*Canada*	The Bay ($650-$1200)
	Harry Rosen ($900-$1,200)
	Holt Renfrew ($995-$3,400)

UK	Brigdens Evening Suit (£99-£695/approx $190-$1,300)

Sample Quality Ensemble:

$1,230	Ben Silver 1-button peak lapel with grosgrain lapels, super 120s wool
$210	Egyptian broadcloth evening shirt (Ben Silver)
$125	grosgrain cummerbund and self-tie bow tie set (Hickey Freeman)
$275	Hugo Boss patent leather oxfords (shoes.com)
$30	80% silk over-the-calf formal hose (Brooks Brothers)
$178	onyx and gilt link and stud set (Harvie and Hudson)
$140	silk formal suspenders (Neiman Marcus)
$25	silk or linen pocket square
$2,215

• Premium Retailers ($1,500 - $5,000+ Tuxedos)

The very wealthy who enjoy owning the latest couture and wearing the most luxurious fabrics know exactly where to find obliging retailers so there is no need to list them here. For everyone else, here's a glimpse of what an unlimited budget could add to a man's formal wardrobe.

Sample Premium Ensemble:

$4,695	Ralph Lauren Purple Label three-piece tuxedo
$425	Ralph Lauren Purple Label wing formal dress shirt
$115	silk bow tie (Neiman Marcus)
$390	Salvatore Ferragamo slip-on evening shoe (Neiman Marcus)
$600	14 karat gold and onyx links and studs
$300	silk braces (Ralph Lauren)
$25	silk or linen pocket square
$6,550

LEGEND & NOTES

Information compiled from 2006 through to 2008.

Prices are listed in the retailer's national currency

and exclude shipping and applicable taxes or duties.

·
The globe symbol indicates that international shipping is available.

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