Men of the world, listen hard and listen close. Prom is right around the corner, and you need to be prepared for one of the most memorable nights of your (so far) short life.
Unless you want to disappoint your date by falling short of true greatness, or worse, spend a fatal amount of money on a last minute tuxedo rental, it is imperative that you start thinking about what you are going to wear.
Now, I don’t mean to scare you away; choosing an outfit is much less stressful for men than it is for women, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to look your best.
The safe, standard tradition is simply renting a tux. You dish out $100-300 for a safe, black tuxedo that keeps you from looking like a fool. There’s nothing wrong with that. But what if you don’t want to look like every other schmuck?
Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box with your tux jacket. Since it is the most visible part of your attire, choosing to wear a colored jacket will make you instantly unique. Silver and navy blue are the most popular alternatives, but with enough confidence a jacket of any color will make you look great.
For the price of a one night tux rental, you can find various quality jackets to buy online, such as dark red velvet smoking jackets and deep purple velour jackets that will have you speaking in a British accent and asking for shaken martinis in no time.
One man even rocked a tie dye tuxedo last year- he bought a gray jacket for $25 at a thrift shop, and tie dye painted it himself. Despite spending less money than any man in his class, everybody wanted to take a picture with him!
To vest or not to vest? While a vest isn’t necessary when donning a daily suit, it is a must for prom night – it adds an extra level of class. At most tuxedo rental shops, they ask you to choose from a few solid colors, and then give you even fewer combinations of ties and matching vests to pick from.
Don’t be discouraged by the lack of options! They do it to make it simple for the common man, but the world of vests is much vaster, and not that expensive. Like always, the internet is your best friend for ideas. From polka dot to paisley to argyle, there are thousands of patterns in every color imaginable. Just relax, and buy what catches your eye.
The choice of tie or bowtie is entirely personal. The bowtie will add pizazz, and the tie will make you look strong and sharp. And as for matching your necktie to your vest: exhale that big breath of stress you’ve been holding in, because they don’t have to be the exact same shade. As long as they aren’t radically different clashing colors, you’ll be fine.
If you’re wearing a tie, go the extra mile and wear a silver or gold tie clip. Clip it in between the 3rd and 4thbuttons down from the top of your shirt, and you’ll be dashing.
I wrote an article about corsages and boutonnieres in the latest issue of the Harbinger, so go check that out for flower tips. As for the other accessories: as long as you match the color of your socks to your vest or tie, you can wear whatever crazy designs or images you can get your hands on.
Finally, advice for only the bravest: Duck Tape offers a $10,000 scholarship to couples who make and wear gorgeous outfits out of duct tape. So if you want a hefty sum of cash and to have the most memorable outfit at your prom, there is your avenue.
If you learn one thing from this article, it is this: follow your instincts and you’ll look incredible. And remember, everybody at prom will be too concerned with their own outfits to worry about yours. So just have fun!
