Tuxedo FAQ

Tuxedo Rental Questions

We work with formalwear every day. Most people don’t.

Plus, prom is a huge night! We understand – it’s only natural for you to have questions about what to wear and how to wear it. You’re at the right place. Just take a look at the FAQs below, and all your questions will be answered.

Still have a question?
Comment below and we’ll try to answer it!

GENERAL TUX RENTAL
QUESTIONS
How soon should I reserve my tux?
How much does it cost to rent a tux?
When do I pay for my tux rental?
When do I pick up my tux?
Can’t I just measure myself for my tux?
Why are the pants being measured up so high?
What if my tux doesn’t fit when I come to pick it up?
When is my tux due back?

STYLE/COLOR QUESTIONS
How do I know what color vest and tie to wear?
What is the difference between a suit and tuxedo?

Should I wear a cummerbund or a vest?
Do you have striped tuxes?
How do I fold a pocket square?

 How soon should I reserve my tux?
As early as possible! The sooner you reserve your tux, the better, for a number of reasons. First of all, while we have access to one of the largest tuxedo suppliers in Pennsylvania (Sarno & Son), some of the hottest styles do tend to go quickly. The earlier you reserve your tux, the better selection you’ll have to choose from! Also, we offer discount events for you early birds out there. Our prices will never go up as your prom gets closer – but we do offer discounts earlier in the season.

In general, we think it’s best to reserve your tux at least 1 month prior to the prom, to get yourself the best price and selection, as well as avoid the “last minute rush” crowds.

(back to the questions)

–

How much does it cost to rent a tux?
We have tuxedos to “suit” any budget. Your price really depends on the actual styles you pick. Just like anything else, designer styles cost more but our most popular style is the basic one.

(back to the questions)

–
When do I pay for my tux rental?
Most people seem to think it’s most convenient to pay in full when they reserve their tux. We will need a minimum of a $50 or 50% (whichever is greater) partial payment towards your tux when you place the order. You can pay the balance anytime before you take your tux, on your scheduled pick-up night. We are unable to accept personal checks within 14 days of the event. Also, if someone else is paying for your tux for you by credit card, they will need to be present to sign the credit card slip or they can call us to pay by phone.

(back to the questions)

–

When do I pick up my tux rental?
Your tux will be available for pick up the week of the prom. Some people feel that is cutting it close but remember we do this all the time and it’s always like that. The tux you wear this weekend is on some other guy the week before. Other things are often not ready until the DAY of the prom. Flowers, limo, etc. are not available early and that’s ok. We call as soon as it’s available or you can call us two days prior to the event to check on the status. Van arrival times vary so don’t just stop in.

(back to the questions)

Can’t I just measure myself for my tux?
No! Would you remove your own tonsils?
We’re the trained professionals. Don’t try this at home.

(back to the questions)

–

 Why are the pants being measured so high?
The formalwear look is that the pants are worn just below the navel therefore that is where the waist measurement is taken. There are no belt loops on formalwear although it is considered proper to where suspenders. Formalwear pants do have a satin stripe down the side of the pants. The length of the pants should be at the top of the heel of the shoe so the break in the pants is right at the laces of the shoes. If a vest is being worn the pants should be worn up high enough to cover the shirt in the “v” of the vest.

(back to the questions)

–

What if my tux doesn’t fit when I come to pick it up?
First of all, don’t freak out. Keep in mind that the pickup is your first chance to try on the tux. This is the most important part of the process, because it allows us to identify if sleeves or pant hems need to be lengthened or shortened, or if other alterations or exchanges need to be made. It is perfectly normal that some form of alterations are necessary when you pick up. If you don’t believe us, ask your prom date – she probably had at least one set of alterations done on her dress. This is why we schedule your pick-up and try-on for at least a day before the event – so we have plenty of time to take care of anything that pops up.

(back to the questions)

–

When is my tux due back?
Your tux is due back one hour before the close of business- for Friday prom return it Saturday and for Saturday proms return it Monday. Most other tux places will make you return it by noon. Well, we remember our prom, and we remember wanting to sleep in the next morning. Take it easy. If closing is within one hour and we do not have your tuxedo back, we may do a courtesy call as a reminder. (We don’t want anyone to have to pay a late fee!)

(back to the questions)

STYLE/COLOR QUESTIONS

–

 

How do I know what color vest and tie to wear?
Ask your date. First of all, she’ll be impressed that you cared enough to ask what color dress she’s wearing to the prom. Second, it’ll help when you’re trying to pick a vest and tie. You have a couple choices – you can either match the dress color, or you can coordinate with the dress color. Matching the dress color can be tricky, but since we carry the largest selection of vest colors this side of the Mississippi (check out our entire catalog here), you have a pretty good chance of being able to match. However, if you’re dead set against wearing “Barbie Pink”, you’ll probably want to consider going with a coordinating color. Black, silver, platinum, charcoal, asphalt, champagne, white, and ivory are usually safe bets. BTW, don’t count on a cell phone photo to match the colors~ it doesn’t work. Bring a swatch or the actual dress for best results and keep in mind that a “close enough match” usually looks perfect in photos.

(back to the questions)

–

What is the difference between a suit and a tuxedo?

The difference between a tuxedo and a suit is the satin. Satin label, satin buttons, satin trim are all what make a tuxedo.

(back to the questions)

–

Should I wear a cummerbund or a vest?
Well, that depends. Do you want to look like you’re attending the prom, or serving dinner to the people attending the prom? Unless you’re purposely going for a “retro” or James Bond look, a cummerbund might look antiquated. If a cummerbund is worn, it should be worn around the waist with the open pleats going up.

(back to the questions)

–

 

Do you have striped tuxes?
We sure do! In addition to a couple different types of stripes, we have tons of hot new styles for this season. Check them out here or see them all at a Larenas location near you!

(back to the questions)

How do you fold a pocket square?
‘Square Folded’ Style
This is a really easy way to wear a pocket square, and it still looks great. All you have to do to prepare the pocket square is to fold it into quarters and insert it into your tuxedo’s pocket. Make sure the fold is lined up parallel with the top of the tux pocket as seen in the picture.
‘Poofy’ Style
For lack of a better term, we call this method the ‘poofy style’ of folding a pocket square. To prepare your pocket square, lay it down flat on a table. Now, grab it by the middle and let the fabric bunch up slightly in your fingertips. Insert the pocket square straight into your tux pocket with the corners down. Straighten and ‘poof’ the pocket square a bit so it looks like the photo. Tug the pocket square to make it fill the width of the tux’s pocket.
‘Corners Up’ Style
As its name implies, the ‘corners up’ method of folding your pocket square allows the corners to peek out the top! Again, place the pocket square flat on a table and pick it up by the middle. However, this time, insert the ‘bunched up material’ down into your pocket first.

(back to the questions)