Poll: Tux or Suit

[Aisling]

DH would like to know the ratio of men who wear tuxes to men who wear suits on formal nights. Thanks!

 

[webray]

That just all depends on who is cruising when.

When we went..there were plenty of both.

Hubby owns his tux (much cheaper than renting all the time), so it is great that he can use it on the cruises.

You can purchase them at so many places, then they are tailored to fit you. Hubby got his at Mens Wearhouse. You can also get them at Burlington Coat Factory, online in many places (a little harder to get sized..but, online none the less), I also believe the tux shop at JC penneys sells as well as rents.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

We're still undecided about the guys wearing tuxes for formal night. It would be a great opportunity for a nice family picture but we'll be seated with family who doesn't get dressed up as much as we do. We usually go to at least 1 semi-formal function a year so DH already has several nice suits, I have nice gowns/dresses, and the kids have nice clothing too. I think the last time my mom dressed up was probably at her wedding so I don't want her to feel uncomfortable or feel like she has to buy new outfits that she'll never wear again. Oh well - we have almost a whole year to decide and I'm sure our pics will turn out nice with the guys in tuxes or suits.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

On our last 7-day, I did the Tux thing. But since everyone wasn't doing it, I didn't see the point in spending the money.

I've got a suit complete with a vest. For for less than $15, I bought a black bow tie to were with the suit and vest for formal night. I'll then drop the vest and go with a "regular" tie for semi-formal night.

 

[ksjayhawks]

DH wore a black suit. Since I wore cocktail dress/pantsuits, this looks great. He has no need for a tux otherwise, so didn't seem worth it to buy one. Could have rented one, but preferred to use that money for excursions, etc.

You will see both suits, sport coats, tuxes.

 

[Aisling]

For for less than $15, I bought a black bow tie to were with the suit and vest for formal night. I'll then drop the vest and go with a "regular" tie for semi-formal night.

This sounds like a great idea. But is a bowtie ever worn with a regular suit? You can tell I don't get out much!

 

[JulieM96]

My husband has rented a tux onboard on both the cruises we have taken--one Disney, one Celebrity. The rationale was that it would be fun to get dressed up for a change, and this made one less thing (or group of things) to pack.

In practice, I think it's pretty well split between men wearing tuxes and suits, with the majority wearing suits. I think wearing either would be fine. In fact, the family we shared a table with in the DCL cruise never got dressed up at all, and it really wasn't a problem. Do whatever makes you most comfortable.

As CruisingCA2005 mentioned, it is a great opportunity for a special family photo. We ended up with some very nice ones.

Julie

 

[abitjaded]

Suit, but DH's suit is a very staid, plain black, the same thing a store-bought tux would look like, just without the velvet or silk lapels and buttons. It was a good investment, suitable for weddings, funerals and cruises. My two sons have plain black jackets, and an oft replaced-for-length pair of black pants. I made bow ties and tuxedo-cut-away vests from a Vogue pattern for fomal night, worn with white shirts, very tux-like. The boys and DH looked great. They wore regular shirts and ties for semi-formal night. Takes very little fabric to make the vests and they were co-ordinated!

Carla

 

[wide awake]

DH and DS will rent the tuxes this time. DS is 14 and is growing way too fast for me to invest in dress clothes or shoes. Since DS is going to be in a tux DH might as well too and we'll get some good pictures. My sister just got back from a cruise, was going to rent tuxes but then decided it would be too expensive...3 boys and DH...she wound up spending $1300 on dress clothes for the boys. Her rationale is that the kids could wear them again...I just laughed at her. Renting the tuxes is a one time thing though...I feel about tuxes the same way I do about limos...if you have to rent it you shouldn't be wearing it/riding in it. Last year DH wore a dark charcoal suit and DS wore khaki slacks and a blue button down shirt. They both fit in fine.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

This sounds like a great idea. But is a bowtie ever worn with a regular suit? You can tell I don't get out much!

Well I know that from time to time you see people who don't wear "regular" ties and only wear bowties as a part of their regular business dress.

My only worry is that I've got to see what a solid BLACK bowtie looks like with a carcoal grey suit.

 

[abitjaded]

Pediatrician's wear bow ties all the time. What is it with them anyway? I think bow ties look dressier, you can find them at larger department stores in other selections besides black. Do you mean charcoal? I bet carcoal is pretty black, anyway.

Carla

 

[CRSNDSNY]

DH rented a tux on our last 7-day cruise. But for our upcoming 7-day cruise, he will not be renting a tux but rather taking a 3-piece suit from home.

 

[Masonpips]

I think the on-board ratio is definitely suits as the majority. That being said, dh wears a tux (and wants to).

On our first cruise, it was his first time in a tux since our wedding (almost 7 years) and he wore it 3 nights (Palo dinner too, we were the most dressed up there and loved it). We're going over New Year's this year and he said he'll wear it 3 times if NYE isn't formal night (it's not scheduled to be, but I bet they change it).

The ease of placing the order and having it all there is wonderful and a lot less to pack!

 

[Aisling]

bump

 

[ohMom]

just curious - what is the price to rent a tux on board?

anyone ever seen a disney themed bow-tie? wouldn't that be cool looking. DH owns a black suit but he said he must hit the gym a few times before the cruise

how difficult to sew a vest/bow-tie, Carla? i can do some basic sewing (hemming, patching, etc) but my jumpers I made for DDs were decent, not fabulous.

I voted for suit but could only vote once, would've voted twice on behalf of my DF who is traveling with us and will be wearing a suit as well.

 

[abitjaded]

ohMom,

Here are some links:

http://www.cruiselineformal.com/prod_dcl_m.html

http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/voguepatterns/shop.cgi?s.item.7488=x&TI='vest'&pageNum=1&M=&UK=33956577

http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bi...item.7104=x&TI=20014&pageNum=2&M=&UK=33956577

http://store.sewingtoday.com/cgi-bin/mccallspatterns/shop.cgi?s.item.400004290=x&TI='boys'&pageNum=2&M=&UK=33956616

The Vogue are a bit fiddly. There is one funny place on view B of the tuxedo cut-away vest that takes a careful marking. The bow ties and the simple kids' vests are easy. You can make a bunch with very little fabric. I get coupons from JoAnn and buy it at a discount, I even pieced glittery quilt squares to make some kids vests then used cheap lining. Leave off the buttons and substitute velcro like crazy, if like mine, your machine is buttonhole impaired.

Carla

 

[jrabbit]

My choice isn't listed: Dress Shirt, Tie, Dress Pants!! Yes for formal night!! Oh yea, I also the one wearing sandals. And I don't skip formal and semi formal nights.

 

[mmorizio]

I don't understand. Formal means a tuxedo. There's a formal night and a semi-formal night. If you wear a jacket and tie for formal night, then what is semi-formal?

Why not wear a tux? a tux is no less comfortable than a suit and tie. It can't just be the money.

 

[Aisling]

Wow, it's just about 50/50 with tuxes and suits!

I'd also like to know how much it is to rent a tux onboard.

 

[marcij]

My DH has a tux, but we rented for our DS 8 and DS 5 from the onboard company, cruiseline formalwear. The cost of each tux was $104.50, including taxes. Boy, was it worth it. We got so many compliments -- the boys loved it. They even seemed to be on their best behavior! Not bad for two ADHD kids. The pictures of all of us turned out so well that we're going to make one of them into our Christmas card this year.