You don't pull your tuxedo out of the dressing room as often as your business suits, but when you do, it's to make a style statement with the ultimate dressy outfit. Follow our advice to keep your tuxedo impeccable, whatever the circumstances.
There are some rare things that you invest in once in a lifetime and need to maintain regularly, like your classic car, which you lovingly hand-clean at the weekend, or that top-of-the-range watch you keep in a box for special occasions. Your favorite tuxedo is no exception. So how do you care for it, once you've chosen it, to keep it in the best possible condition?
STORING YOUR TUXEDO
Always store your tuxedo in a breathable cotton suit cover, don't overdo the dry-cleaning and use a clothes brush after each use. Also make sure your wardrobe is well protected against moths. Nobody wants a tuxedo with holes in it!
First, invest in a quality fabric suit cover to protect it. If you don't wear it regularly, the last thing you want is for it to catch dust in your wardrobe when you're not wearing it.
Secondly, never use metal hangers, use sturdy wooden ones with shoulder support to maintain its shape during periods when you're not wearing it.
CARING FOR YOUR DRESS SHOES
As their name suggests, dress shoes are made to be worn with a chic outfit. Patent leather shoes are a sure bet. You can also opt for patent leather shoes, but they can break up the elegant silhouette of pants, which will be more visible because of the silk braids running from the hips to the bottom of the legs. Patent is also easier to maintain, but if you prefer to opt for something else, then use shoe polish to make the shoes shine as much as possible. For all dress shoes, be sure to use a shoehorn, which you can easily find anywhere. Avoid metal ones, as they can cause small cuts in the leather, which will only get bigger over time.
To polish your shoes, use a neutral shoe cream before applying a light coat of black shoe polish. And I stress the word "light". Once the coat has been applied, be sure to use a soft cloth to rub in thoroughly, then spend five minutes (and plenty of elbow grease) polishing the shoes with a medium shoe brush. Don't hesitate to apply a drop of champagne (yes, really) to make them shine even more.
Dry cleaners are great for this, but if you want to do it yourself, remember that the contrast between the silk lapels and the black wool of your tuxedo is the most noticeable part of the suit. So, if the lapels are crumpled and hanging instead of pressed firmly against the front yokes of your suit, it will minimize the "James Bond" effect. The rest of the suit is made of a slightly draped fabric, and if it's all crumpled up because it hasn't been ironed properly, you'll look more like you've worn it all night rather than for an evening out.
Store your bow ties and tuxedo belts in vacuum-sealed bags to avoid wrinkles and exposure to the elements. It may sound like overkill, but you'll thank me when you're looking for your bow tie a few hours before a party where formal wear is required.
Don't roll up your bow tie or it'll bend. Store it flat. As for cufflinks, make sure you have a silver (or gold) cloth in your wardrobe to give them a quick polish the night before your party.
Source: Hugo Boss Blog
