Anyone here own a tuxedo? Been getting invited to an increasing number of black tie functions, and it seems that given the cost of rental ($100-150 here in NYC), at some point the ROI makes more sense to own a tuxedo…even including dry cleaning costs and whatnot.
Love to hear anyone’s cost-benefit analysis, if anyone here has contemplated buying vs. renting.
Would you ever interview in said tuxedo?
I’ve owned a couple of tuxedos: something to do with being a magician.
I’d buy one, buy YMMV.
I bought my own. I wore it 3 or 4 times last year and will wear it about the same amount this year. Didn’t go crazy, got a J.Crew one and got a good tailor. Gets lots of compliments and was all things wasn’t too expensive.
I’ve considered it a few times over the years, but my weight moves around too much for it to make sense. It’s also been a couple of years since I’ve needed one, so haven’t given it consideration lately. If you go to a couple of things per year and your weight is pretty consistent, I think it’s a no brainer to buy. Just avoid anything trendy. If I were going to buy, I’d Google Cary Grant and Sean Connery in tuxedos and find something similar.
^ Agree. Buy a fairly conservative one. Plus you can use it for your wedding 
Agreed with higgmond, if your weight is fairly stable get a classic black tux or midnight blue and have it tailored. Worth it for sure.
It’s all about how often you’re going to need it, and whether you will change size much between occasions. If you are a performing musician (or magician), it makes more sense to buy. If you are going to galas and charity dinners all the time, it makes sense to buy. If it’s not that much money to you and closet space isn’t an issue, it may make sense to buy just for those “what the heck, let’s go to Monaco” occasions.
As usual, YMMV.
I bought a tuxedo after doing some NPV. However, I ended up only wearing it once so far. So, the lesson, I suppose, is that analysis and reality sometimes don’t work out…
^Other than my two weddings, I have never had any occasion to wear a tux.
To be honest, I don’t think I’d care to attend any event where I had to wear one. And if I were forced to wear one, I’d just rent.
EDIT - had to google YMMV.
I wear a tux roughly once every two years. Sometimes it makes sense to tango in a tux, but a suit usually works just as well.
What are you, a farmer?
I have a number of bespoke suits, including a nice navy blue by Huntsman, but I have an upcoming event that is “black tie only.” So, however good my suit may look, I might not fit in given that it will be a sea of men in tuxes and ladies in…whatever looks super hot and glamorous I suppose.
I usually go to 1-2 black tie events a year and my weight has been pretty stable.
^ Then renting is quite beneath your social stratum. Have your factotum engage a tailor, forthwith.
Im surprised a bsd like you doesn’t already own a few.
^ Haha, I’m actually more low-key than high-brow (which seems like it may surprise some folks on the forum). However, given that this upcoming event is “black tie only” and since there is a most generous donor for this event that is sponsoring me and some friends (they bought a table), the least I can do is make sure I look the part. As I anticipate going to these sorts of events a bit more often, I’ve started to think about whether it makes sense to own my own tux.
The main takeaway I have from reading the other posts here is that if someone can keep a stable weight and has the occasion to wear it at least half a dozen times in the foreseeable future, it makes sense to own rather than rent…
This is sensible. I know a few people who have done this, usually buying for their own wedding, and have gotten good mileage over the years. I personally never go to black tie events and rarely have any desire to dress up beyond shorts / t-shirt so it’s a stretch for me but generally makes sense to buy if your weight is stable and you’re a 20/30 something finance guy.
damn numi i was hoping mb we could be friends but if we ever run into each other youd prob throw a benjamin at me and tell me to go park your bentley
If you are representing someone else, then definately wear the tux. I try to wear a black suit if I can get away with it, but would not do so if someone else were paying my ticket.
I have rented thus far in my life. I wear one maybe twice a year. However the last time I showed up to pick up my rental, they had paired the wrong pants with my tux. Like 6 inches too big in the waist and 2 inches too short in the legs. I ended up wearing a suit, and nobody much cared.
That’s about right. You make it rain with ones, he makes it rain with hunds.