Need a tux in London

February 11, 2006 4:13 PM

I need to find a place to rent a tuxedo this week in London. Sub-questions follow...

I've up in the N3 area near Finchley Central (Northern Line), but travel down to Charing Cross M-F so that area is good too. Recommendations further away are welcome, but I'd prefer something close, obviously.

I need it for next Saturday night, when I'll be going up to Cambridge for a Canadian Club dinner. (I'm Canadian, see?)

Sub-Questions
1) Should I expect to be able to pick it up Saturday and return it Sunday, or Saturday-Monday or Friday-Monday?

2) How much should I expect to pay, on average? I don't want them to 'see me coming'.

3) Can I realistically learn how to tie a bow tie in one go, or should I get a clip on?

4) I don't have proper shoes, can I rent those too?

5) What else does one who's never worn one of these things need to know?

6) Can I wear a tux on the train without ruining it/the look of it? Should I plan on having to carry it and change somewhere in Cambridge?

posted by tiamat to clothing, beauty, & fashion (17 comments total)

plz, don't wear a clip on
tx
posted by Count Ziggurat at 4:14 PM on February 11, 2006

will people be able to tell?
posted by tiamat at 4:15 PM on February 11, 2006

Can't help you with london specific stuff, but:

3: If it's a _good_ clip-on and you're not going to something too stuffy, don't sweat it. It's not a Trinity 300yr anniversary, so no one will give a shit about the fact you're wearing a clip on. Stay away from really satin-y or extra large bow-ties though.

4. I forgot my shoes once and wore black trainers. Not advised, but hey, you're not going to get lynched

5: Nothing: treat it like a Nice Suit. Remember to wear black socks in case the pants are short. If you're renting, they'll give you all the advice you need on how to use suspenders/cummerbunds (I don't like cummberbunds, cut that's me) etc. I like double breasted tuxes. Stay away from the white jackets.


6: Yes - you can wear it most places. I've skied in a tux and then gone to a formal dinner. Take your tux jacket off, and drape it over a seat next to you. it'll be fine. One proviso: if it rains really hard then it'll suck. Have an umbrella/trenchcoat if you think this'll be a problem.

Relax! No-one will disallow you entry if you look dishevelled: cambridge has seen tens of thousands of dishevelled, ripped, puke stained tux wearing freaks roam the streets and balls and parties: (I was one of them once) making an effort is what counts.
posted by lalochezia at 4:50 PM on February 11, 2006

If you're staying the night in Cambridge, you could hire one in Cambridge and change there (in the hire shop changing room?). I've never hired black tie gear in London before, but I'd guess that it'd be cheaper to hire in Cambridge. Should be about £25-30 (inc. shoes) from A.E. Clothier in Pembroke Street. Other options include Ryder and Amies on King's Parade and Ede and Ravenscroft (expensive). The reason I suggest A.E. Clothier is that Pembroke St is approximately between the station and the centre of town, so should be relatively convenient on the way there (depending where it is you're going, obviously).

Sorry if this is irrelevant, and you really do need to hire in London. Enjoy the dinner.
posted by matthewr at 4:51 PM on February 11, 2006

matthewr, thanks. I hadn't thought of that. I'll have to think about whether I have time to do it that way or not.
posted by tiamat at 4:57 PM on February 11, 2006

4. Yes, tuxedos demand either patent leather shoes or a spit shine that fools others into believing it is patent leather. Any place that rents tuxedos should also rent shoes as part of the package.
posted by furtive at 5:40 PM on February 11, 2006

I don't want them to 'see me coming'.

Ask for 'black tie' or 'a dinner suit', not 'a tuxedo'.

Can I realistically learn how to tie a bow tie in one go, or should I get a clip on?

No, you can't. You'll just get frustrated. Get a clip-on. Nobody will care.

What else does one who's never worn one of these things need to know?

Wearing a simple (no big frilly bits) marcella or pleated dress shirt with stud buttons, a wing-tip collar and straightforward black cufflinks will add more to your air of sophistication than a hand-tied bow tie would, and will subtly set you apart from everyone who's just thrown on their normal white shirts with their nasty off-white plastic buttons.
posted by chrismear at 6:57 PM on February 11, 2006

Try searching Moss Bros for shops near to you. They have one in Cambridge which you might be able to pick up from, otherwise look for one around N3, or Kings Cross, they'll hire shoes to. Whatever you do, don't wear trainers, or white socks.
posted by MrC at 7:25 PM on February 11, 2006

tiamat, in my experience clip-on bow-ties look more realistic than clip-on regular ties (because it's a horizontal clip, rather than a vertical clip, if that makes sense).

Also, in my experience, you have to go for a tuxedo fitting, you can't necessarily just show up and walk out with a tuxedo, so I'm not sure if matthewr's suggestion is practical. Maybe if those stores have branches in London that could co-ordinate, so they have the right size tuxedo at the time? On the other hand, I've only rented in high-school formal season, when it's really busy so you need to book ahead; it may not be an issue tihs time of year.

Your dinner sounds very chi-chi; will the GG be there?

/wanders off to bed, amused at rhyme
posted by Dasein at 10:13 PM on February 11, 2006

Ask are they selling old dinner jackets (Pls dont say tux in this country). You can often get a great deal. It doesnt matter if it looks old and moth eaten; you are trying to look like you wear a dinner jacket all the time; not a one-time attendee to the Oscars. Nobody really has patent leather (except my dad), just clean your shoes. Please remember that a black-tie event is fun because you are all wearing a uniform and so nobody can tell who or what you are. And trust me; if you can tie your shoes you can tie a bow tie. And yes; it is normal to pose infront of the mirror doing 007 impersonations.
posted by priorpark17 at 2:06 AM on February 12, 2006

The Cambridge suggestions are all great, and you will get a much better quality dinner jacket there than at Moss Bros, for not much more money. The salesmen in A.E.Clothier are brilliantly old-fashioned, I'd recommend there as a first choice. If you give them your measurements in advance you ought to be okay - I've had both black and white tie from there without fittings and it's been okay.

As for learning how to tie a bow tie - you might be lucky and get it in one go, or it might take you weeks like it took me... Buy the tie now and practice, but get a clip-on just in case. If you get patent leather shoes you will probably be the only person there wearing them, so I wouldn't bother. Any reasonably smart black leather shoes will do. Have fun!

Also I disagree with the wing-tip collar - technically it's for white tie, not black tie! But it does seem to be fairly universal these days so either type will not look odd.
posted by greycap at 2:46 AM on February 12, 2006

For those curious about the event, info here. The GG will not be coming, but the High Commissioner Mel Cappe will be, which is plenty cool.
posted by tiamat at 4:15 AM on February 12, 2006

Also I disagree with the wing-tip collar - technically it's for white tie, not black tie!

It's compulsory for white tie; with black tie, the choice of shirt is yours. Personally I think you might as well make a statement with the one bit of the outfit you have a bit of freedom with.
posted by chrismear at 5:01 AM on February 12, 2006

Yup, if you ring up A.E. Clothier and give them your measurements you should be fine. Re priorpark's suggestion, they do sell ex-hire dinner jackets; not sure how much they cost.

I've never been to Queens' for a formal, but the Old Hall looks great!
posted by matthewr at 8:18 AM on February 12, 2006

There's a tailors opposite the tube station in Golder's Green that treated me very well the last time I used it. Can't remember the name though..
posted by ascullion at 10:08 AM on February 12, 2006

A.E. Clothier it is. I've called them and I won't have a problem getting a tux in Cambridge on the day of the event.

Thanks everyone!
posted by tiamat at 11:17 AM on February 12, 2006

I should note that I am quite tall and went to A.E. Clothier to hire a dinner jacket. They said they would hold the one that would fit me but then decided to hire it out to someone else. So I will never trust them with anything important.
posted by grouse at 10:19 AM on February 28, 2006