Welcome to Tuxedo 101. This is for people who aren’t even sure what the difference is between a suit and a tux.
The biggest difference between a suit and a tuxedo is the presence of satin on the lapel and sometimes on the side of the pants. The lapel is the folded material of the jacket that connects to the collar.
Satin gives the tuxedo the formal look required for formal events. The red line in the photo above shows the jacket’s lapel.
There are three different lapel shapes from which to choose:
- Notch – small triangle cut-out
- Peak – steep cut angling toward the shoulders
- Shawl – full strip with no cutout or seam
Aside from the shape there are other subtle differences that also help to differentiate between your everyday suit and tux.
- Suit: The fabric is generally heavier and slightly less luxurious to the touch.
- Tux: The fabric has a higher thread count than most suits (depending on designer) giving it a lighter weight and silkier feel.
There’s another topic we should touch on while we’re discussing grooms’ wedding attire: shoes.
The type of shoe you wear at a wedding can change based on your overall outfit. There are matte (or flat) finish style shoes and shiny patent leather options, depending on the look you want to go for.
When wearing a suit it is most common to wear the matte finish, whereas tuxedos are almost always dressed up with a nice classic set of shiny patent leather shoes (right).
These are all good bits of info to keep in mind when you’re thinking about what to wear. Try to find something you’ll enjoy wearing, whether it has satin on the lapel or not.
And if you aren’t sure about what to wear, Darianna Bridal can help.
After all, there’s a reason our full name is “Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo.” Visit our Bucks County bridal shop and let us show you some samples. Our expert staff can help you find a tuxedo that’s right for you.