Friday – 01 January 2015
For the first Friday Favorite of the year, I couldn’t help but think that the perfect item for it was: My tuxedo.
New Year’s Eve is one of the big occasions for many people to get “dressed up”. It’s common to see revelers putting on their Sunday best – or better – to ring in the new year.
That said, I am one who believes that every man should own a tuxedo.
Yes, you can rent one for a reasonable fee, but why not own it. You buy everything else that you wear, so why rent a generic tuxedo when you can have a custom-fitted one for the price of a good suit?
I can hear your argument: “I wouldn’t have any place/reason to wear one.” I’d offer the following counterpoints:
- You don’t need a “reason” to wear one, other than wanting to go a little beyond the norm for a special occasion.
- Any occasion can be special – An art opening, the symphony or opera, the ballet, an evening on the town.
And, think of how much easier it is to pull something off the rack in your closet than have to plan a trip to your local menswear store to get fitted and then go back to make sure that everything is correct… and then have to make sure that you return it on time.
The tuxedo in these pictures is my second one. I bought my first one over 20 years ago and it served me well; I’ve owned my current one for about four years. It has most frequently been worn when I have attended opening nights at the opera or ballet. (Yes, I enjoy both.) I often put my own flair on it with a pair of cufflinks and or braces – simple flourishes, but they add a bit of fun.
The next time you’re considering a new addition to your wardrobe, especially your semi-formal wear, why not give some thought to adding a tuxedo to your arsenal? You won’t regret it.
