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Midnight Blue Tuxedo (for Toronto Wedding)

post #1 of 24
8/30/12 at 9:09pm
Thread Starter 
I have a wedding next September and I've been looking to acquire a midnight blue tuxedo for the occasion. I am going back and forth on how to proceed.

- MTM vs OTR (not sure if my budget allows for Bespoke -- also not sure if I really want my first Bespoke piece to be a tux)
- Stay with vendors in Toronto or go out of town (risking travel issues but expanding vendor list)

I have considered a few vendors already:
• Garrison
• Trend
• Gotstyle
• Harry Rosen
• Holt's

Budget is approximately $1000-$2000.
Peak Satin Lapel, One Button. Slim fit that can also be described as timeless.

One of the first issues that I've encountered so far is that simply midnight blue for a tuxedo is still somewhat of a rarity. Most vendors offer only black in their tuxes especially OTR. Any advice to the direction where I should proceed would be much appreciated.
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post #2 of 24
8/30/12 at 10:29pm
It's doable in that price range, but are you sure you can justify the purchase over the long term? Even an OTR cheapie from Hugo Boss is 1k, depending on fabric choice, it should be ballpark what a MTM suit costs.. You can always find tuxedos at the Rosen or HR clearance centers, midnight blue might be tricky. How often will you wear it over the next few years? Unless you have a lot of weddings or charity events to go to, the money may be better spent elsewhere. A few years ago, I bought a white dinner jacket because it was at a HUGE discount, Other that partywear, I've used it three times in it's correct setting.
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post #3 of 24
8/30/12 at 10:41pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the reply.

I can certainly reallocate the budget elsewhere (much to my fiancée's delight) but I would like to be in a position to at least see some viable options. We've set a budget that is actually quite reasonable and we're not in bad shape at all. Sure, if it comes down to the need to cost-cut then I'm sure we can re-evaluate the need for the tux.

Still, my job (and age, for that matter) will probably have more than its fair share of formal events that I can probably justify wearing it in the future.
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post #4 of 24
8/31/12 at 5:11am

There are so many OTR tuxedos that get so many things wrong, or at least deviate from classic design, that it is tough just finding one in black. Finding one in midnight blue that fits your above criteria is going to be borderline impossible. I think you will need to go MTM.

 

In addition to the above-stated criteria, I would suggest grosgrain silk lapels as opposed to a satin finish (there are some who feel that satin is appropriate only for shawl lapel). No vents is also preferred, though it is relatively easy for a tailor to sew them up.

 

Have you thought about waiste coverings? With peak lapels, a vest is preferred. Finding a vest to coordinate with your midnight blue dinner jacket will not be easy, so that is another reason to go MTM for both the suit and the vest.

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post #5 of 24
8/31/12 at 7:52am
Thread Starter 
I would agree with you that no vents would be the way to go. I

was considering a cummerbund instead of a waistcoat but I will definitely consider it. Thanks for the heads up.
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post #6 of 24
9/2/12 at 6:41am
Will you be in Chicago, New York or Washington DC in the next couple of months? Suit Supply has stores there and what looks like a fairly comprehensive MTM program that'll probably be well within your budget (it says they start at $899, so probably a bit over a grand when you're all done). Their OTR tux has every detail you're looking for, except it's black, but if their fabric choices are as extensive as they claim I'm sure you can find a suitable midnight blue in the book to substitute for the black.
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post #7 of 24
9/2/12 at 9:44am
Consider Kent Wang's MTM. They send you an OTR suit, you try it on, make notes on what changes need to be made, send it back along with the notes, and then they send you your suit. He has several midnight blue fabrics and offers all the tuxedo options, usually for less than $1,000. http://www.kentwang.com/about/suits
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post #8 of 24
9/2/12 at 10:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by karwoski View Post

Consider Kent Wang's MTM. They send you an OTR suit, you try it on, make notes on what changes need to be made, send it back along with the notes, and then they send you your suit. He has several midnight blue fabrics and offers all the tuxedo options, usually for less than $1,000. http://www.kentwang.com/about/suits

Seems a little risky if you don't have experience doing measurements and doing these things via correspondence. The OP should really assess his travel schedule the next couple of months and see if he'll be in a city with good, reasonably priced MTM options. SS is in Chicago, Washington and NYC, not sure where KW is, and I know a good friend of mine who found good MTM in Boston for about $600.
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post #9 of 24
9/2/12 at 12:26pm
"Next September" - is that this month? Unless it's September 30th, you are tempting fate are you not?

If you do some searching, Doxe had his done at Bulloch Tailors. I have yet to try them.

I went to Brooks Brothers for OTR, but they only have black and the one button is a Madison (they'll sew up the vent for you though and Vox said tuck in the flaps) - problem is it was in the shop for a long time because the sleeve pitch was off.
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post #10 of 24
9/2/12 at 12:39pm

Probably not at all on the same level as what you're looking for, but Indochino offers at MTM midnight blue tuxedo (which is easily customizable to the "correct" tuxedo standards).

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post #11 of 24
9/2/12 at 12:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
"Next September" - is that this month? Unless it's September 30th, you are tempting fate are you not?


Apologies for the confusion. Wedding is in September 2013. So I definitely have some time. Unfortunately, I'm just coming off emergency surgery so it's looking like I won't have an opportunity to visit a tailor until I recover which will probably be in October or November. Thought I'd start my planning early so when I recover I'll know exactly what I would like to do.

Quote:
Seems a little risky if you don't have experience doing measurements and doing these things via correspondence. The OP should really assess his travel schedule the next couple of months and see if he'll be in a city with good, reasonably priced MTM options. SS is in Chicago, Washington and NYC, not sure where KW is, and I know a good friend of mine who found good MTM in Boston for about $600.

I would tend to agree with this in regards to risk of going to Kent Wang. My trepidation to going out of town is if I do MTM with Suit Supply or any other vendor, it would be that traveling back and forth for a fitting might be too much of a hassle. I won't be in New York until the summer of next year which for September wedding seems cutting it close. However, if that's the way to go, I rather do it right. Suit Supply seems to be half-canvas, so certainly the quality for price is actually not bad, considering it's MTM as well.

Quote:
If you do some searching, Doxe had his done at Bulloch Tailors. I have yet to try them.


Bulloch Tailors seems like a good option. From some of the members here, their work seems quite superb.

I have briefly checked out GotStyle in Toronto and from the little research I did, they don't seem as promising but I'll give them a shot...

Thanks again for everyone's input! Really appreciate the help.
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post #12 of 24
9/2/12 at 1:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by spcl-k View Post

Apologies for the confusion. Wedding is in September 2013. So I definitely have some time. Unfortunately, I'm just coming off emergency surgery so it's looking like I won't have an opportunity to visit a tailor until I recover which will probably be in October or November. Thought I'd start my planning early so when I recover I'll know exactly what I would like to do.
I would tend to agree with this in regards to risk of going to Kent Wang. My trepidation to going out of town is if I do MTM with Suit Supply or any other vendor, it would be that traveling back and forth for a fitting might be too much of a hassle. I won't be in New York until the summer of next year which for September wedding seems cutting it close. However, if that's the way to go, I rather do it right. Suit Supply seems to be half-canvas, so certainly the quality for price is actually not bad, considering it's MTM as well.
Bulloch Tailors seems like a good option. From some of the members here, their work seems quite superb.
I have briefly checked out GotStyle in Toronto and from the little research I did, they don't seem as promising but I'll give them a shot...
Thanks again for everyone's input! Really appreciate the help.

First off, here's hoping for a speedy recovery!

One option I would consider with Suit Supply is simply ordering one or two of their stock suits online and seeing how close the OTR styles are. If you're essentially a stock size with them then you could probably do everything in one trip (try on the stock one, show the tailor just what little adjustments are needed, then order the midnight tux). They'll let you return within 30 days.
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post #13 of 24
9/2/12 at 3:48pm

Definitely go bespoke if you can afford it, or MTM if you are on a tighter budget. RTW is a minefield for dinner suits, and midnight blue in particular is hard to find. With MTM you can specify details, which is especially important nowadays since RTW often come with no-nos like notch lapels. 

 

I got one bespoke earlier this year and went for a midnight blue single breasted, single-button, no vents, peak lapels, the trousers had raised side-seams and side-adjusters on the waist (no belt loops, no turn-ups), and I had the sleeve buttons and lapels in black grosgrain. Accessories were black whole-cut oxfords, black bow tie (grosgrain), black and silver cuff-links, white marcella shirt with cream MoP buttons and turn-down collar, black cummerbund as waist covering, and white linen pocket square. After 6 events it will work out cheaper than if I rented a dinner suit each time, and the fit/look is a vast improvement on my old RTW number. 

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post #14 of 24
9/2/12 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cosmic View Post

Definitely go bespoke if you can afford it, or MTM if you are on a tighter budget. RTW is a minefield for dinner suits, and midnight blue in particular is hard to find. With MTM you can specify details, which is especially important nowadays since RTW often come with no-nos like notch lapels. 

I got one bespoke earlier this year and went for a midnight blue single breasted, single-button, no vents, peak lapels, the trousers had raised side-seams and side-adjusters on the waist (no belt loops, no turn-ups), and I had the sleeve buttons and lapels in black grosgrain. Accessories were black whole-cut oxfords, black bow tie (grosgrain), black and silver cuff-links, white marcella shirt with cream MoP buttons and turn-down collar, black cummerbund as waist covering, and white linen pocket square. After 6 events it will work out cheaper than if I rented a dinner suit each time, and the fit/look is a vast improvement on my old RTW number. 

This is all true, but if you're very close to a stock RTW size (regardless of the particular details you desire) doing MTO vs. MTM can give you significantly more options with far fewer hassles. Technically this would probably be priced as MTM (though some places like Zegna, Brooks Brothers and maybe even Ralph Lauren) do MTM events where it's MTM suits at RTW prices. However, if you're doing MTO you could most likely handle the whole thing by phone. If this works for someone they can save a lot of time by simply finding the right size (jacket and trousers could even be different sizes) and making a call.
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post #15 of 24
9/2/12 at 4:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Definitely go bespoke if you can afford it, or MTM if you are on a tighter budget. RTW is a minefield for dinner suits, and midnight blue in particular is hard to find. With MTM you can specify details, which is especially important nowadays since RTW often come with no-nos like notch lapels.

I got one bespoke earlier this year and went for a midnight blue single breasted, single-button, no vents, peak lapels, the trousers had raised side-seams and side-adjusters on the waist (no belt loops, no turn-ups), and I had the sleeve buttons and lapels in black grosgrain. Accessories were black whole-cut oxfords, black bow tie (grosgrain), black and silver cuff-links, white marcella shirt with cream MoP buttons and turn-down collar, black cummerbund as waist covering, and white linen pocket square. After 6 events it will work out cheaper than if I rented a dinner suit each time, and the fit/look is a vast improvement on my old RTW number.

After some thorough browsing, I can totally relate. What is up with all these RTW offerings of notch lapels? Some just look like a black suit. I might as well be serving food to my guests if I'm wearing a black suit and bow tie.

Anyway, I think it is a good idea just to invest instead doing any sort of rental. My worries are more that I have to settle with black instead of the midnight blue which it's getting more and more apparent that if I got RTW, I'll need to.

Quote:
One option I would consider with Suit Supply is simply ordering one or two of their stock suits online and seeing how close the OTR styles are. If you're essentially a stock size with them then you could probably do everything in one trip (try on the stock one, show the tailor just what little adjustments are needed, then order the midnight tux). They'll let you return within 30 days.

Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely consider that. Would you know the turnaround time for such MTM with Suit Supply? And can anyone confirm that Suit Supply is actually half-canvas?
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