What makes Black Tie Affair so different form other tuxedo stores?
Contrary to the usual tuxedo store routine we feel it is imperative to always do a complete fitting. It is also necessary to have the customer put the whole style on to insure both a great fit and the best appearance for the customer.
What is a complete fitting?
It means that when selecting and fitting a tuxedo, you put the whole outfit on which includes shirt, pants, vest, tie, cufflinks, studs, shoes and coat. We feel that this is the only way to be certain you have selected the right style as well as the only way to really get a proper fitting. Short cutting this is the start of many possible problems.
Don’t all stores do complete fittings?
No. While the traditional tuxedo store fitting is more economical for the store being so much easier and quicker it doesnât allow the customer to fairly choose the best look for him. It can also lead to the reservation of the wrong sizes, a problem that many times cannot be remedied on pick-up day.
How can I tell that a style is best for me?
Only by doing a complete fitting, can you be sure.
Doesnât one always take the same size?
No, even if your physique hasnât changed, brands and styles may require you to take another size. This is especially true for the most discriminating.
Iâve always worn a long shouldnât I order a long?
It really depends on the style and what your coat size was the last time you had a good fitting. The larger the coat size the longer the jacket will be.
Arenât some of the requested measurements redundant?
Yes, we intentionally try to get as much information as possible to head off any potential fitting surprises. Although we can correct fitting errors when the customer comes into our store for a complete fitting, we receive so many errors.
How long should my coat sleeves be?
On both suit and tuxedo coats, sleeves should be short enough to expose Âźâ to ½â. Shirt sleeves can vary depending on the wearers preference but should always cover the entire wrist. Many times a coat sleeve left too long will give the impression of a coat that is too large.
Is it really possible to buy at a cost that is less than renting, is that possible?
Not really, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is. The typical rental tuxedo is made of 100% wool. To make a fair comparison you would need to add all elements to purchase the same or similar pieces.  Coat, pants, shirt, cummerbund or vest, tie, formal jewelry and shoes are all usually parts of a rental. Donât forget the service to help choose and do the alterations. Purchasing online doesnât give you the ability to try anything on and also has the cost of shipping.
Should our groomsmenâs accessories match the bridesmaids dresses?
It could but definitely doesnât need to. The more important consideration is to be sure that they compliment. Colors would need to be compared side by side to be sure of a certain match. We have observed from abundant experience that although matching is fun, men in formals tend to look best without color. They are also more comfortable with the way they look. We have noticed that the better the groomsmen look the better the whole wedding party will look.