Tuxedo vs. Suit

When high school guys come in to look at tuxes, they often ask “What’s the difference between a tux and a suit?” Well girls (and guys) we’ll let you know so you no longer wonder!

(Warning: There will be some terms that are unfamiliar to you, so we have supplied a list of definitions in a different post if you wish!)

First of all, tuxes have always been considered more formal than a suit. After that, things begin to get a little tricky because tuxedos have changed from what was traditionally considered a tux to what society calls a tuxedo today. Today, the easiest distinction between a tux and a suit is that the tux will have a satin lapel (collar) and a satin stripe down the outside of the pant. This is the most basic knowledge you need to know about a tux, so you can go ahead and rent a tuxedo for your upcoming formal event. But if you’d like to know a little more, continue reading!

Traditionally, tuxes would have either had a shawl or a peak lapel, never a notch, but today this is no longer true. Notch lapels are very common in modern tuxes. Tuxes were often worn with a pleated shirt, bow tie and cummerbund; again, this has recently changed. Not to be confusing, but historically, a tux only had one button, but today can be found having anything from one to four buttons!

For all you young ladies and gentlemen out there, the most important thing to remember about a tux is it has a more formal look than the suit, so for an event like prom or a gala, be sure to show up in a full tux to avoid any faux-pas!