WHAT TO WEAR TO A SCHOOL FORMAL FOR GUYS

Olive green has become one of the year’s hottest formalwear colours. For this one, you want our new-season olive tux jacket, with black slacks and a black bow-tie. When your jacket looks this good, you don’t want to distract with too many patterns, colours or accessories. Keep things simple with monotone black and white. Definitely a good option if you like your formals shaken, not stirred.

When people think school formal tux, this is what they picture: a black shawl-collar tuxedo jacket, slim-fit white dress shirt, patent black shoes, black pants and a black belt. It’s your classic fail-safe option. This jacket actually has a detachable collar, too, so even after the formal’s been and gone, you can still get some mileage out of it. Because of its classic, simple and elegant look, this outfit relies heavily on a well-tailored fit.

If you want to keep it simple but still want to look like you made an effort. We recommend going for: Bordeaux velvet tuxedo jacket, black tailored pants, patent leather loafers and a paisley bowtie. This combination works because it’s all about smart pairing of colours and textures. Let your tuxedo jacket be the pop of colour and keep the rest neutral. Match the texture of your jacket to your bowtie but keep the colour the same as your pants. Finish the look with a paisley pocket square for a bit of personality. Style tip: Remember to get your pants hemmed at a tailor 3-5 days before the big day. Ask for a slim-line taper, finishing at the calf.

For a slightly softer look, don’t write-off the light grey suit. This is a good option for spring and summer formals, when black-on-black might look a bit heavy. Start with a three-piece suit: that’s a light grey tailored jacket, with matching vest and pants. Then simply highlight with a dusty pastel shade—pink and grey is a great combination. Find a matching pocket square for the ultimate finishing touch.

Dress like the icons with the ultimate black-on-black-on-black formal combo. Sticking to one shade like this can be risky, but here’s how to do it right. Start with a black tux jacket with peak satin lapel. Throw on a black dress shirt and black tailored pants. Then finish things off with a silver tie pin, white pocket square and a matte leather belt. The accessories help break things up.

Big props for any guy who rocks a three piece suit to their school formal. That classic mix of black jacket, black vest and white dress shirt will never go out of style. The trick with this guy is fit: your vest and jacket should be slim and tapered, hugging the torso. Anything boxy is going to look weird. Also, don’t forget a pop of colour to offset the black. An emerald tie and pocket square should fit the bill nicely.