Black Tuxedo

Men's Black Tuxedos

A black tuxedo is the standard dress for black tie: the garment the dress code was written around, and the one choice that is never wrong when an invitation says black tie. Every other tuxedo colour is measured against it.

This collection is the black end of our tuxedo range, cut slim in a black wool blend from a 36 to a 50 chest. Half of it is double-breasted, most of the rest is single-breasted three-piece, and there is one black velvet jacket for anyone who wants texture without giving up the colour.

Why is black the default tuxedo colour?

Black is the default because the tuxedo was made for rooms lit after dark, where black cloth against a white shirt and a satin facing reads sharper than any other colour. Midnight blue is the only traditional alternative, on the old tailoring argument that it looks blacker than black under artificial light. Everything else is a departure.

If you own one tuxedo, make it black. It goes to every black tie event you'll be invited to and it needs no explaining at the door. Colour belongs in the second tuxedo, not the first.

Peak lapel or shawl collar on a black tuxedo?

Both are correct for black tie. A black jacket gives you no colour contrast, so the lapel is read by its line alone: a peak lapel points up towards the shoulder and sharpens the chest, a shawl collar runs in one unbroken curve and softens it. Most of our black tuxedos carry peak lapels; shawl collars are the smaller group.

Finish matters as much as shape. Most of our three-piece styles, and the velvet jacket, have satin-faced lapels, the classic black tie surface. Elsewhere the finish sits in the buttons: satin-covered, velvet-covered or decorative gold. Gold is a deliberate step outside the rule: right for a gala or an awards night, less right for a strict black tie dinner.

Double-breasted or three-piece in black?

A double-breasted black tuxedo is worn buttoned and covers the waist by itself, so it is a two-piece with no waistcoat to think about. A single-breasted three-piece does the same job with a matching waistcoat, which makes it the more traditional of the two and the one grooms tend to choose. Neither is more correct.

Our double-breasted styles use a six-button front, or four buttons on two of the shawl collar models; the three-piece styles pair a one-button jacket with a matching waistcoat. The same constructions run through our double breasted suits and three piece suits for daytime wear.

When can you wear something other than black?

When the invitation gives you room. Black tie optional, a summer or destination wedding, a themed party and a Christmas dinner among friends all allow a velvet jacket, a deep colour or a white dinner jacket. A plain black tie invitation does not, and on a formal evening black is the answer that needs no defending.

The full dress code, and how to wear the tuxedo once you have it, is covered in our complete tuxedo guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is a black tuxedo the same as a black suit?

No. From across a room they can look alike, but a black tuxedo carries satin on the lapels or buttons and is worn with a bow tie, while a black suit is plain cloth throughout and worn with a tie. If the invitation says black tie, a suit won't pass. Our black suits cover the daytime side.

Can a tuxedo be all black?

Yes, and it is the standard rather than the exception. Black jacket, black trousers, black bow tie and black shoes, broken only by a white dress shirt, is the classic black tie look. Where all black goes wrong is a black shirt, or a long tie in place of the bow tie. Keep the shirt white.

Is a black tuxedo right for a wedding?

For an evening wedding or a black tie reception, yes, and it is the usual choice for a groom who wants a tuxedo. A three-piece photographs well because the waistcoat holds the line once the jacket comes off. For a daytime ceremony a lounge suit is the better call; our groom suits cover that end.

How much does a black tuxedo cost?

It depends on the cut and the finish rather than the colour. In our collection the double-breasted two-piece styles sit at one price and the three-piece and velvet styles slightly above it, with the current figure on each product page. Buy for the shoulders and chest; an alteration costs little next to a jacket that never fits.