Diana

Thank you all so much for your replies!

I think I have decided on the following, and please let me know if any of this sounds wrong. (I'm embarassed that this kind of stuff is even important to me, but it just is )

Black tux
Black (real, not clip) bowtie
Black cummerbund
Black (of course) dress socks
Black cap-toe highly polished dress shoes
White tux shirt with french cuffs and studs (not wing collar - thanks rightted - I am still a little fuzzy on this one. Bow tie with a regular- collared tux shirt OK?)
Nice cufflinks (already has several)

I'm just concerned that I will have a hard time finding a nice bowtie and cummerbund set that is good quality. I had better start looking! Thanks again!

GoTravel

I think it sounds lovely!

My father, who is 78, looks smashing in the same thing only his shoes are patent leather (they must be 30 years old so they are well worn and lovely).

I'd try for silk on the cummerbund and bowtie.

I would check Ralph Lauren's website along with Brioni and Zegna.

Diana

Thanks GoTravel!

I think a tux looks fantastic on just about EVERY man, and of course I think my husband is the most handsome, dashing man in the world ANYway, so success is virtually guaranteed. =D>

bobludlow

What a great gift idea and it sounds like you have chosen a great outfit. Don't worry too much about using a "real" bowtie - if your husband doesn't know how to tie it then the gift will only cause frustration. Clip-ons look just fine. There has been some great advice here about body shapes and temperature issues but the best advice is to choose an outfit that you like and that you think your husband will like - there are many different choices in tuxedos and ALL ARE EQUALLY APPROPRIATE. Is the tuxedo lapel wing-tip or notched or is it a shawl collar? Is the tuxedo faced in satin or gros-grain? Is it single- or double-breasted? Does the shirt have a wing collar or turndown collar? Pleats or stiff front? bowtie/cummerbund or tie/vest? Who cares? They are all appropriate (except for a few obvious combos like wearing a cummerbund with a necktie or underneath a double-breasted jacket). Ignore the people telling you that their choice is the BEST or ONLY choice. Especially ignore the ones telling you what is fashionable "this season". Men's formal wear isn't about current fashion - their job is too look like classy book-ends so their wives can show off with fancy dresses.

GoTravel

I found the Brioni cummerbund and bowtie on sale here: http://store.luxurychoices.com/accessory.html

About $175 for both which is about half price. They will last forever.

Budman

Diana, I think you have chosen well. BTW, the cuff links and studs can be purchased as a matching set.

rightted

I agree with the others, you've put together a very classy tux.

Craig

Congratulations on being able to sort through 26 different opinions and coming to a solid conclusion without becoming confused.

Diana

Craig!

That's pretty funny! I imagine it is from having been a long-time poster on here and used to hearing a lot of different ideas and picking and choosing what will work for me.

I always appreciate a lot of replies to requests for help because people DO bring up things I never would have thought of. Even if I don't always agree, everyone's different input is never dull and people are so helpful.

GoTravel, I am going to the Brioni link now, and thanks to those of you who concur I "done good."

hsv

Diana,

kudos to you! That's a classic and therefore classy outfit!
Have fun and enjoy your cruise!
hsv

lcuy

Good choices Diana. I am also of the opinion that any man in a well fitted tux with nice quality accessories will always be killer handsome!

The fit of the suit is crucial. There are no right or wrong accessories- match the man's personality and the occasion.

When my surfer husband & I used to go to a lot of formal dinners on the mainland he often "dressed up" his oh-so-serious Brooks Brothers tux with a hawaiian print bow tie and cumberbund.

Sounds goofy, but it was a a very subtle print, mostly black, and looked great!

GoTravel

With a well cut and well fitted tuxedo, any print cummerbund and bowtie looks great lcuy!

johnthedorf

Interesting that no one mentioned Braces. The spread collar basic tux shirt at Nordstrom is 79.50, a Robt. Talbot bow tie either pretied or not is around 39.50. The studs should match the links.

Tandoori_Girl

bowtie and no cummerbund. that's what I like.

Lex1

The traditional shoe paired with a tuxedo is a dress lace-up patent leather. Silk, satin or velvet slip-ons, "slippers" are acceptable alternatives. "Highly shined" cap-toe shoes are not. The bowtie should coordinate first with the material of the lapel and may, but need not, match the cummerbund. Any of your shirt alternatives is fine, though a wing collar pleated shirt is the apex. Wouldn't encourage buying the jewelry at a rental or department store. Tiffany and its peers have very good selections of studs and cufflinks, as do numerous fine men's stores, such as Ben Silver of Charleston and London which offers an enormous selection of custom jewelry. Advise you stay with traditional wear. Remember Cocco Chanel's dictum: fashion fades, style remains. Tuxedos were invented in America. Italians invented pizza.

cigalechanta

No loafers, black tie shoes, leather or patent. No clip-on bow tie.
no belt if wearing braces. cummerbund optional. Simple onyx black cuff links or white mother of pearl but if he has something sentimental, I'd go for it. Today not many stick to the rules of dress.
Mimi who worked for many years at Brooks Bros.

Lex1

Again, your husband needs a formal shoe with his tuxedo. See fashionmall.com/flusser_book/doc/ch3.htm. While the advice you receive to the contrary is well-intended, it is unsuitable. You've invested a good deal in the tuxedo. Finish the outfit appropriately. No one whose informed opinion you value will snicker because your husband chose the proper shoe. Patent leather shoes will outlive your husband, with a modicum of care. Just make sure your next husband has the same size foot.

mitchdesj

Pretied bowties are not all clip ons; the good ones are pre tied with the band going round the back of the tip shirt; it's a nice look. Dh and I never managed to figure out how to tie a proper bow tie.
Dh's tux is a double breasted Armani and he does not need to wear cummerbund; I really do not care for the look of patent shoes on men unless they have thin feet that do not make the shoe crease....

Allow yourself extra time the first time dh puts on his new tuxedo outfit, specially if the shirt has jewelled buttons to insert, etc..