Tuxedos Are No Longer a Black-Tie Affair

There’s nothing like a sleek, elegant tuxedo to bring out the distinguished side of every man.

Take a look at current tuxedos and you’ll see more flair than in years past.

“Although the tuxedos themselves tend to be your basic black, white or gray, today men want to make a fashion statement and are spicing them up with colorful accessories,” says George Estrada, assistant manager of Gary’s Tux in Laguna Hills. “They’ll wear cummerbunds, ties and vests in a wide range of colors and patterns.”

Some makers are even trying tux colors other than basic black. “Raffinati is coming out with tuxedo jackets that are purple with black lapels or green with black lapels,” says Joe Bhaghani, manager of Allen’s Tuxedos in Anaheim.

There is a variety of tux shops in Orange County that rent and/or sell tuxedos. Consult the Yellow Pages for a complete listing, and shop around for quality merchandise at a reasonable price.

The following stores offer a wide selection. All rentals include suit, shirt, tie, vest or cummerbund and all shops do on-the-spot alterations.

AFTER FIVE TUX SHOP

These stores rent and sell both new and used tuxedos. If you want to impress at a formal party, try the Christian Dior “Le Connaisseur,” a 100% wool tapered tuxedo ($470 to buy, $68 to rent). This single-breasted tux is cut for the person who would like to appear larger in the shoulder area, says Carlos Elizalde, assistant manager of the Orange store. “Le Connaisseur” also comes in a double-breasted tuxedo ($475 to buy, $65 to rent).

For an afternoon wedding, they have the “Enrico Marselli”--a classic black single-breasted suit with a peak lapel ($320 to buy, $59 to rent). To accent this tux, try a black 100% silk tie and a black paisley vest ($60 to buy both).

Before going to the theater or opera, slip into their “Avanti by Henry Grethel” double-breasted tux in black with a full round black satin lapel. For added flair, wear a “paintbrush” motif cummerbund and tie of green, blue, purple and white. (All of this, along with a white shirt sells for $470, $68 to rent).

1683 West Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, (714) 533-6808; 1913 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, (714) 646-1124; 3992 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, (714) 262-0602 and 1030 N. Tustin Ave., Orange, (714) 633-6365.

ALLEN’S TUXEDOS

These stores have a lot to offer for sale and rent, including the “After Six” single-breasted basic black tuxedo with a notch lapel. This can be worn with a brocade paisley vest and matching bow tie in teal, pink and purple ($50-$60 to buy) and a white ring-collar shirt ($25 to buy). (The whole outfit sells for $350 or $64 to rent).

If you have a formal party aboard a yacht or a similar occasion, the “After Six” shawl lapel tux is your best bet. This is single-breasted and has a white dinner jacket with black pants ($250 to buy, $50 to rent). Wear a white ring-collar shirt ($25 to buy) and a Jewel tie and matching cummerbund in pink, purple, white and teal ($35 to buy).

Or for an evening at the opera, consider the Raffinati “Park Avenue,” a double-breasted suit with black lapel jacket and black pants ($250-$300 to buy, $70 to rent); white ring-collar shirt ($25 to buy); black tie and cummerbund ($15-$18 to buy).

903 S. Euclid, Anaheim, (714) 535-1971; 8901 Knott Ave., Buena Park, (714) 995-6871; 18120 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, (714) 968-4463; 721 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton, (714) 879-1872; 700 E. Whittier Blvd., La Habra, (310) 691-1735; 662 N. Tustin, Orange, (714) 538-0992 and 13730 Golden West St., Westminster, (714) 897-2330.

THE COSTUME TRUNK

If you’d like to step into the past and wear something different, then this is the store for you. They rent authentic reproductions of popular tuxedos from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

If it’s a ‘30s era tux you want, try the “Big Boxy,” which comes double and single-breasted. This black suit has a wide lapel, dropped crotch pleated trousers and comes with a satin bow tie and cummerbund and white pleated wing collar shirt.

Or there is the 1890 “frock coat” in black or charcoal. This has squared tails and is open in the front. Wear it with a cravat tie in gray stripes or black solid that can be tied in a big bow under the chin. The accompanying vest has a black background with a gold embroidery floral; the trousers are striped and the tux looks best with a pleated white front wing shirt.

All tuxedos rent for $40 to $50.

27762 Forbes, Laguna Niguel, (714) 582-1370.

GARY’S TUX SHOPS

If you have a wedding to attend, try this store’s Christian Dior “Matisse” ($479 to buy, $78 to rent). This double- breasted black tuxedo with peak lapel has black satin buttons.

Wear it with an Adolfo cummerbund and tie set in red ($35 to buy) and a Bill Blass white wing shirt ($45 to buy). Or for a formal occasion before 6 p.m., try the traditional tux, the Lord West “Rennaisance” Cut Away ($80 to rent, not for sale). Wear this single-breasted charcoal suit with a gray paisley ascot tie and white wing shirt.

For the formal black tie affair, check out the “Karl Lagerfeld--St. Tropez,” a black single-breasted tuxedo with a self-top collar that matches the suit. The lapel is satin and the tux has flap pockets. (Rent only for $75.) Wear this with a Brandon Michael 100% silk abstract design cummerbund in white, blue, red and gray and matching tie ($65 to buy) and a white spread shirt ($25-$35 to buy).

18583 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, (714) 841-0611; 26882 S. La Paz Road, Laguna Hills, (714) 831-9730; 26012 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (714) 582-7780; Fashion Island Newport Beach, (714) 644-0280; 3845 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, (714) 549-2666 and 2133 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 547-2266.

GINGISS FORMALWEAR CENTERS

These stores rent and sell new and used tuxedos. If you’re looking for the type of tuxedo many men wore to the “MTV Music Awards,” then “Shawl by Raffinati” is for you, says Michael Young, assistant manager of the Buena Park Mall store.

This tuxedo comes single- and double-breasted and full dress (tail). It has a shawl lapel (hence its name) and comes in black or white ($400 to buy, $65 to rent single-breasted; $70 to rent double-breasted and tail).

With a double-breasted tux, try a tie and cummerbund from the bright, multicolored “Ocean Mist” line ($25-$35 to buy).

You could wear this with a quarter-inch pleat wing shirt in white ($30 to buy). Or if it’s a more traditional look you want, try the stores’ namesake, “Starmist” by Gingiss, a single-breasted charcoal gray tux with notch lapel ($400, $65 to rent). Wear a matching vest and tie ($35 to buy) and white wing shirt ($30 to buy).

For a more elegant, less traditional look, try the single-breasted “Parisian” by Christian Dior ($450-$500, $65 to rent). This elegant suit comes in black, charcoal, gray, navy, blue or white and is considered their finest quality; it’s fully lined, double-stitched and made of 100% tropical wool, which is very lightweight.

Brea Mall, (714) 990-3271; Buena Park Mall, (714) 828-4640; South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, (714) 751-4160; Mission Viejo Mall, (714) 364-2490; MainPlace/Santa Ana, (714) 543-3003 and Westminster Mall, (714) 892-8309.

NEIMAN MARCUS

This store only sells tuxedos. If you’ve a wedding to attend, consider the Giorgio Armani double-breasted black tux with shawl collar and rounded lapel without peak ($1,300). This can be accented with a Neiman Marcus 100% silk tie ($20) and a Giorgio Armani white tuxedo shirt ($90). The shirt buttons can be removed and replaced with studs. Try silver tone studs with black onyx ($80).

For a black tie affair, they have the “Mani” ($875). This black single-breasted suit has a notch collar and satin lapel. Add flair to this tux with an unusual cummerbund from India that has a peacock design and beaded gold stones ($160). Finalize the look with a black 100% silk tie ($20).

Or if it’s a less conservative, yet still formal look you want, try the “V2 by Versace.” This is a single-breasted one-button shawl collar tuxedo that looks “very different because the whole suit is striped black-on-black,” says sales assistant Duane Fay. Wear it with a tie and cummerbund of gray and gold ($80) and a white Italian tuxedo shirt ($160).

Fashion Island Newport Beach, (714) 759-1900.

TIPPECANOES

This vintage shop sells a wide variety of used tuxedos, mostly from the ‘20s through the ‘70s, although it does carry some modern suits.

For something different to wear to a formal party, try a late-1940s black tux with a long dove tail and peak collar ($63). The cummerbund and tie are also black and are new ($15), as is a white wing-tip tux shirt ($16).

Go to the opera in ‘40s style in a black tuxedo with peak collar ($63) and a white pleated tuxedo shirt ($16). Short tuxedo gloves in red add a special flare during the holiday season, although they also come in white and black ($6, new). Finish the look with a festive fringed 100% silk white scarf ($10-$13), a red carnation for the lapel and a dance tuxedo cane ($4).

For a wedding, you might want to try a more modern look. They have a black tuxedo with shawl collar; jacket ($43), pleated pants ($23) and a new white wing-tip shirt ($16). Accent with a black tie and cummerbund ($15), or for a more fancy look, try a satin tie with geometric patterns in bright colors ($17).

648 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (714) 494-1200.