Altering a black suit to a tuxedo

[kolecho]

I have a black Armani suit that I don't wear often, and thought that it could be put to better use if I could somehow have it altered to become a tuxedo.

Has anyone done that before?

 

[Manton]

It is possible (but expensive; at leat a couple hundred bucks) to have the lapels refaced. And covering the buttons is easy enough. But what about the other details? Are there notched lapels? Flapped pockets? A center vent? If so, it will not look entirely right.

The trousers should be easy to convert, by the way.

 

[kolecho]

This is the Attolini look I'd like to achieve. Â This Attolini tux has 3-button, notched lapel, ventless, flat front pants. Â My black suit has simliar details but has flapped hip pockets that can be tucked in (don't know the term for it). Â What other details should I be looking at?

 

[Manton]

Oh, dear. So many rules trampled upon.

Well, it's a look, of sorts. But it is not a classic dinner jacket. And that four in hand tie: fine for business, incorrect for black tie.

By the way, that does not look like a 3-button jacket, more like a one button. In any case, a 3-button dinner jacket is seriously not right.

 

[kolecho]

It is a 3-button Attolini jacket.. Perhaps that's why it is on eBay because of all the rules infringement

Where does the satin lining go? - Lapel - Jacket buttons - Breast and hip pocket seams? - Sleeve buttons? - Pants side seams? Anywhere else?

 

[j]

Not on the breast pocket, but you covered them all. I have seen self-welt on the hip pockets as well.

I wonder how hard it would be to convert a notch lapel into a peak lapel. If you are refacing it anyway, you may as well do away with the most blatant rules violation.

 

[kolecho]

And that four in hand tie: fine for business, incorrect for black tie.

What is the correct tie knot for black tie, assuming that bow tie is a no go for me?

 

[Manton]

It is a 3-button Attolini jacket..  

Funny, I cannot see the other two buttonholes or buttons in the photo. It really, really looks like a one-button jacket. Which would make it slightly more in keeping with black tie traditions, but the notch lapels are a serious discrepancy.

 

[Manton]

What is the correct tie knot for black tie, assuming that bow tie is a no go for me?

Only a black bow tie is correct for black tie.

 

[Alias]

I can see the other two buttons. They're very faint in the picture, but they're there.

 

[oscarthewild]

Why the pref. for satin. I think grosgrain is much more refined. I recently saw a (black mattish silk) Baldessarini with a very tight texture grosgrain that looked pretty amazing.


If you find a source for facings, please post them. I can only seem to find the satin ones. The grosgrain is a little harder to come by.

 

[Manton]

I prefer grosgrain too, but either is correct.

 

[Brian SD]

What rules are trampeled upon?

Notch Lapel,
3 buttons

that's all I can see there. I'm asking because I want to know. I know nothing about formal wear.

 

[Manton]

Pocket piping not made with same material as lapel facings; turn-down collar shirt; four-in-hand tie.

 

[Brian SD]

Pocket piping not made with same material as lapel facings; turn-down collar shirt; four-in-hand tie.

Ahh, didnt notice the pockets. Not to worried about the collar and tie myself, thats the fault of the eBay seller, not Attolini.