How do I rent a tuxedo?
May 8, 2011 2:32 PM Subscribe
How should I go about renting a tuxedo for my school's prom this Saturday?
How long does it take for a rental tux order to go through? Am I screwed for having waited to the last minute? Any suggestions? Thanks.
How long does it take for a rental tux order to go through? Am I screwed for having waited to the last minute? Any suggestions? Thanks.
It's pretty straightforward. I went with my brother when he got a tux for his prom. The tux stores know the deal and will set you up.
Have fun! (Oh, and don't forget a corsage for your date (if you have one). I think they're silly, but the moms will go nuts with glee if you think of this on your own.)
posted by phunniemee at 2:42 PM on May 8, 2011
Have fun! (Oh, and don't forget a corsage for your date (if you have one). I think they're silly, but the moms will go nuts with glee if you think of this on your own.)
posted by phunniemee at 2:42 PM on May 8, 2011
Protip: A wrist corsage insures that you avoid any awkward where to do pin this thing on her moments in front of her parents.
posted by COD at 2:53 PM on May 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by COD at 2:53 PM on May 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
My husband suddenly needed a tux a few months ago. He went to the shop on Friday (before noon, that was their deadline) and had it in hand Saturday morning. But we live in a big city where tux shops no doubt keep more stock on hand than a smaller town. So go on Monday and suss it out.
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:00 PM on May 8, 2011
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:00 PM on May 8, 2011
Definitely call a tux shop, they're going to be prepared for this. I do have two tips: rent the shoes with the tux, sneakers don't cut it. Also: only get black. Your future self will thank you for not getting the powder blue.
posted by Marky at 3:04 PM on May 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Marky at 3:04 PM on May 8, 2011 [3 favorites]
If all the other high schools in your area have prom on the same night, you might have to call several tux rental places before you find one that can accommodate you on short notice. (Really, it's ideal to call 3 or 4 weeks in advance, but needing an "emergency" rental is not so rare and it's usually doable by the larger chains.)
Once you find a place that has rentals still available, simply go in to have your measurements taken, pick the style you like, and pay. (It's probably going to set you back $100 - $150.) A few simple alterations will usually need to be made, expect a three day turnaround, and expect to spend about an hour in the store when you pick it up to try it on and check for any last minute alteration needs.
You'll want to jump on this first thing tomorrow, so you can have a final fitting a day or two before the actual Prom date. You'll have your hands full on Saturday as it is, without having to fuss with picking up your tux.
posted by MissySedai at 3:05 PM on May 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Once you find a place that has rentals still available, simply go in to have your measurements taken, pick the style you like, and pay. (It's probably going to set you back $100 - $150.) A few simple alterations will usually need to be made, expect a three day turnaround, and expect to spend about an hour in the store when you pick it up to try it on and check for any last minute alteration needs.
You'll want to jump on this first thing tomorrow, so you can have a final fitting a day or two before the actual Prom date. You'll have your hands full on Saturday as it is, without having to fuss with picking up your tux.
posted by MissySedai at 3:05 PM on May 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
You may have gotten away with procrastinating for this long, but don't delay further.
You need to purchase the corsage in advance too. Yes, wrist corsage only.
posted by grouse at 3:15 PM on May 8, 2011
You need to purchase the corsage in advance too. Yes, wrist corsage only.
posted by grouse at 3:15 PM on May 8, 2011
Definitely get the wrist corsage. Prom dresses aren't generally made of pin-sticking-friendly fabric.
posted by MadamM at 3:24 PM on May 8, 2011
posted by MadamM at 3:24 PM on May 8, 2011
I put in an order for my tux two weeks ahead of time, and my corsage three days ahead of time. The tux part was in, try on pants shoes shirt, pay, out the door. Pick up before prom, drop off after, a total of 30 minutes in that store. Don't sweat it.
posted by trogdole at 4:25 PM on May 8, 2011
posted by trogdole at 4:25 PM on May 8, 2011
Another protip that earned my son points with his prom date: if you know the color of your date's dress, her corsage can be made with ribbons or flowers to compliment it!
posted by misha at 6:12 PM on May 8, 2011
posted by misha at 6:12 PM on May 8, 2011
if they are going to charge you more than 100 bucks for a rental, consider buying one, they run about 100 from a discount suit place... you might be able to get some good wear out of it... i had one for a few years in high school.
posted by fozzie33 at 6:21 PM on May 8, 2011
posted by fozzie33 at 6:21 PM on May 8, 2011
Everyone above has it right, but as someone who used to fit tuxes in a rental shop, I also recommend, if you have the choice, to try to go somewhere that has suits on hand for try-on during the fitting, and doesn't just do measurements and send them away to their giant warehouse. Sure, some places are awesome with the measuring and knowing how that converts to the perfect jacket proportions, but some places are just staffed by kids who'll whip a tape around you a few times and call it done.
Also, if you can go to a place that actually keeps the suits in that building, that way if something isn't quite right when you pick it up and try it on (they are having you try it on before you leave with it, right? a good place will), they can just swap it out.
Also. I nosily checked out your profile location, and if you're going to be attending prom anywhere decently close to Moline or Peoria rather than literally Chicago, I of course would recommend you get your tux from my old store. I don't have anything to do with them except having worked there and seen a lot of prom kids and groomsmen leave happy. They've got all kinds of sweet suits too, so you get a wider selection beyond just the traditional if you want to go that way.
Otherwise, as far as major chains in Chicago go, my boyfriend recommends Mens Wearhouse. (He asks me to point out that he's never rented there, but has been happy with his suit purchases.)
posted by dust.wind.dude at 7:50 PM on May 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, if you can go to a place that actually keeps the suits in that building, that way if something isn't quite right when you pick it up and try it on (they are having you try it on before you leave with it, right? a good place will), they can just swap it out.
Also. I nosily checked out your profile location, and if you're going to be attending prom anywhere decently close to Moline or Peoria rather than literally Chicago, I of course would recommend you get your tux from my old store. I don't have anything to do with them except having worked there and seen a lot of prom kids and groomsmen leave happy. They've got all kinds of sweet suits too, so you get a wider selection beyond just the traditional if you want to go that way.
Otherwise, as far as major chains in Chicago go, my boyfriend recommends Mens Wearhouse. (He asks me to point out that he's never rented there, but has been happy with his suit purchases.)
posted by dust.wind.dude at 7:50 PM on May 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also, once you have the tux - keep in mind that the tux doesn't make you, you make the tux.
No matter your body type (or whether you manage to score a modern tux or get stiffed with something past its expiration date), stand tall and ramrod straight and enjoy the hell out of yourself.
Unless the tux is fitted to you... and very few at a prom are, or benefit from being fitted, it's merely an invitation card thing. OWN your tux and project that you like how you look in it.
posted by porpoise at 8:00 PM on May 8, 2011
No matter your body type (or whether you manage to score a modern tux or get stiffed with something past its expiration date), stand tall and ramrod straight and enjoy the hell out of yourself.
Unless the tux is fitted to you... and very few at a prom are, or benefit from being fitted, it's merely an invitation card thing. OWN your tux and project that you like how you look in it.
posted by porpoise at 8:00 PM on May 8, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by amro at 2:37 PM on May 8, 2011 [1 favorite]