Basic question

So I need to look sharp for this thing we do in college every few months, either you wear a suit or something close. You would get away with cream chinos + a shirt once, like I did, but then i needed to upgrade. I didnt want to pay for a whole suit, so i got a suit pants and black shoes, and I wear them with a shirt+tie and it does the job.

however, I need some kind of formal wear for college balls/weddings etc. I didn't want to buy a suit because I thought if i got a tuxedo this would cover me for the balls/weddings and I could just go as above for college.

However now I see lots of people just wear a suit to weddings anyway, and forego the tux.

My question is: is a suit shirt and tuxedo shirt the same? say I bought a tux, could I just remove the waistcoat, swap the dicky bow for a tie and now its a suit?

Alternatively, I guess I want someone to suggest something that i could use for balls/weddings. I though I had to go tux or suit but looking online there seems to be some kind of hyrbid thing goin on: http://www.magicosoftware.com/files/...ge_3_48384.jpg

What would you call that?

So basically, should I buy a suit or a tux? Im afraid if i get a suit its less badass for black tie, but a tux is less versatile.

Most weddings you're going to be overdressed if you're in a tux.

Originally Posted by eMacPaul

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Most weddings you're going to be overdressed if you're in a tux.

I think you're right. A versatile suit is probably my best option.

Originally Posted by insolentpup

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. I though I had to go tux or suit but looking online there seems to be some kind of hyrbid thing goin on: http://www.magicosoftware.com/files/...ge_3_48384.jpg

What would you call that?

A three-piece suit.

Originally Posted by Foxtrot

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A three-piece suit.

So thats what that is! LOL!

makes a lot of sense

Originally Posted by insolentpup

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My question is: is a suit shirt and tuxedo shirt the same? say I bought a tux, could I just remove the waistcoat, swap the dicky bow for a tie and now its a suit?

A tuxedo shirt is not the same as a normal shirt. And, more importantly, a dinner jacket is not the same as a black suit jacket. The trousers are also different. So no, you cannot wear any part of a dinner suit as if it were a normal suit.

And lol @ 'hybrid thing' and a pic of a standard 3-piece suit

Get a plain dark navy suit. Vest not necessary. Tux shirts aren't supposed to be the same as regular French cuffed (i.e. double with cufflinks) shirts, but you may be able to get away with that. In fact if you don't get the tux you can just wear your regular-cuffed white shirt (I take it you have one of those).

Not sure why you think the suit in the pic is a hybrid: it's just a regular suit with a third piece, i.e. the vest.

Originally Posted by Sanguis Mortuum

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A tuxedo shirt is not the same as a normal shirt. And, more importantly, a dinner jacket is not the same as a black suit jacket. The trousers are also different. So no, you cannot wear any part of a dinner suit as if it were a normal suit.

And lol @ 'hybrid thing' and a pic of a standard 3-piece suit

Yeah, I fail at basic knowledge at the mo