Last minute tuxedo question...I'm too fat for my pants!
December 23, 2011 8:01 AM Subscribe
Need last minute fashion advice concerning wearing a tuxedo jacket without its matching pants.
Own a really nice tuxedo now for about 10 years. Put on just enough pounds in the last six months to where the pants are barely wearable. Problem is I need to wear a tux imminently and it's too late for alterations on the pants. I have some comfortable shiny black work slacks that are almost identical in color to the tuxedo jacket, but they have belt loops (and lack the satin band on the outside of each leg that tux pants have). Can I get away with this? Can one wear a traditional belt and pants with a tux jacket? Maybe I could buy some clip-on suspenders? Any sartorial suggestions are recommended. FWIW, black tie for me is not optional.
Own a really nice tuxedo now for about 10 years. Put on just enough pounds in the last six months to where the pants are barely wearable. Problem is I need to wear a tux imminently and it's too late for alterations on the pants. I have some comfortable shiny black work slacks that are almost identical in color to the tuxedo jacket, but they have belt loops (and lack the satin band on the outside of each leg that tux pants have). Can I get away with this? Can one wear a traditional belt and pants with a tux jacket? Maybe I could buy some clip-on suspenders? Any sartorial suggestions are recommended. FWIW, black tie for me is not optional.
You can not wear those pants. It has to match. If it doesn't, it becomes very clear.
I know you don't think you have time for modifications, but you can make a simple one pretty quickly. On the back seam, you should be able to rip it at the top to create a "V" on the back waist line (basic thing to do for someone who is comfortable sewing). That'll give you a bit more freedom.
You can also get an extension piece (don't know the proper term) that goes between the button and the button hole on the front. That'll also give you a bit more freedom. Just keep your jacket and cumberbund/vest on the whole time, and you'll be fine.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:07 AM on December 23, 2011 [8 favorites]
I know you don't think you have time for modifications, but you can make a simple one pretty quickly. On the back seam, you should be able to rip it at the top to create a "V" on the back waist line (basic thing to do for someone who is comfortable sewing). That'll give you a bit more freedom.
You can also get an extension piece (don't know the proper term) that goes between the button and the button hole on the front. That'll also give you a bit more freedom. Just keep your jacket and cumberbund/vest on the whole time, and you'll be fine.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 8:07 AM on December 23, 2011 [8 favorites]
NO. You can't wear plain slacks with a Tuxedo Jacket.
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:14 AM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:14 AM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
IMO, if you're going to a tuxedo-level event and are planning to wear the top part of a tux with non-matching pants -- and with something as uniform as a tux, "close" is not close enough -- you might as well just wear one of those t-shirts with a tuxedo on it.
Take the pants to a tailor and see if they can take them out a bit. Otherwise, if you must wear a tux, rent one.
posted by griphus at 8:15 AM on December 23, 2011 [5 favorites]
Take the pants to a tailor and see if they can take them out a bit. Otherwise, if you must wear a tux, rent one.
posted by griphus at 8:15 AM on December 23, 2011 [5 favorites]
If you do the "V" thing recommended above (I have no tuxedo pants handy to see if it'd actually work) make sure after you rip out the top bunch of stitches in the seam you sew some stitches across the point of the V to stop the rest of the stitches from coming out and your pants falling off in two pieces. (No idea if it's a good idea, but pretty sure not reinforcing the bottom of the split would be a very BAD idea.)
posted by artychoke at 8:34 AM on December 23, 2011
posted by artychoke at 8:34 AM on December 23, 2011
Spanx, or whatever off-brand slimming pants you can find in a big box store near you.
posted by anaelith at 9:15 AM on December 23, 2011
posted by anaelith at 9:15 AM on December 23, 2011
I'd wear the non-matching pants, but I'm cool like that. Will anyone even see the beltloops with the jacket buttoned? What's the lighting at the venue?
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:51 AM on December 23, 2011
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:51 AM on December 23, 2011
Not sure if your tuxedo pants are hook or button closure, but have you considered a waist extender? The waist should be covered by your waistcoat/cummerbund anyway, so it shouldn't be visible.
posted by Comrade_robot at 9:59 AM on December 23, 2011
posted by Comrade_robot at 9:59 AM on December 23, 2011
How to add a gusset to pants/trousers, in two parts: part 1. Part 2.
posted by likeso at 10:14 AM on December 23, 2011
posted by likeso at 10:14 AM on December 23, 2011
If you're fabulously preppie, you can get away with go-to-hell pants and your jacket. Wild colors, embroidered with whales, ducks, etc., loud plaids. If you're really top-drawer, you could wear shorts and the jacket.
posted by Ideefixe at 1:00 PM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 1:00 PM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Based on the last time I wore a tux - last month - the combination of suspenders and a cummerbund meant the fact my fly button popped off as I sat down to dinner mattered not a single bit.
Get one of those waist expanders if you want to be a little more secure, but a decent pair of suspenders will grip you in place all night.
posted by cromagnon at 5:32 PM on December 23, 2011
Get one of those waist expanders if you want to be a little more secure, but a decent pair of suspenders will grip you in place all night.
posted by cromagnon at 5:32 PM on December 23, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by unreasonable at 8:07 AM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]