Bond with the tux

Manpriya Singh 

When it comes to men’s fashion, nothing conforms to traditional black tie-standards, like a tuxedo. Delhi-based men’s designer Harsh K Vashist during one of his recent visit to Chandigarh had joked, “If the bride is wearing a gown at the reception, the groom wants a tuxedo. He might want it in bottle green colour, or not know what a tuxedo is, but he wants to wear a tux.” 

His humour wasn’t lost in the fact that tuxedo comes with its own strict codes of dressing. An appropriate occasion to wear it is just the starting point.  

We pulled out— The tuxedo

What is it? Often described in context of their difference from the suit, a tuxedo is traditionally characterized with the presence of satin. Think James Bond and satin facing on the lapels, buttons, pocket trims…For those who still don’t get the picture think Daniel Craig in his midnight blue tuxedo in Skyfall (or the dinner jacket as the designer Tom Ford) calls it. With evolution of lifestyles come the exceptions to the rules of styling. Historically tuxedos are only to be worn with bow ties and cummerbunds, or waistcoats.  

Iconically made popular by: No designer essentially but the several stars walking down the red carpet wearing a tux. If you are a men’s fashion designer, you cannot not make tuxedos. It is to the West what probably bandhgala is to Indians. A wardrobe essential. 

The point of a tuxedo: The point of wearing them is to look formal and nice. But that’s only a part of the point. Suits are formal and can be worn at special occasions but sometimes they are not formal and special enough. If it’s your wedding day, a suit would do too but since every other guest would be wearing a suit too, a tux will spell ‘special’. 

Accessorise me best: A tux in itself spells formal, special, evening wear, like nothing else. Ludhiana-based men’s designer Aseem Sangha, recommends minimal styling with tuxedos. “Keep the pocket square in block colours rather than in print and keep the shoes in patent leather or classic Oxford shoes.” That will more than suffice.