Black Tie & Tuxedo Buying Guide

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Classic Black Tie Tuxedo - Sven Raphael Schneider
Classic Black Tie Tuxedo – Sven Raphael Schneider

“If men liked shopping they’d call it research”

Cynthia Nelms


Table of Contents
  1. How To Use This Guide

Building and shopping for a respectable black-tie wardrobe can vary in cost from a few hundred bucks and lots of time for a vintage ensemble to tens of thousands of dollars for a custom ensemble with diamond cufflinks, studs, and waistcoat buttons.

That aside, buying tuxedos and black tie accessories can be very difficult because most retailers do not carry cummerbund or black bow ties in different materials such as satin, grosgrain, barathea etc. They often do not even stock self-tie bow ties. Fortunately, you can find many specialty retailers online that help you put together a phenomenal black tie outfit.

How To Use This Guide

This buying guide has been designed to help you establish a basic shopping list for all of the items you need, and to determine a budget somewhere along the price spectrum then locate retailers that cater to that budget. Always keed in mind that quality is still remembered when price is long forgotten. In that same vane, classic black tie garments and accessories are timeless. So once you invest in a quality item, you can wear it indefinitely.

Of course, we also list hard-to-find garments and accessories such as single end bow ties, black bow ties with fixed neck length and boutonnieres.

Black Tie Accessories from Fort Belvedere
Black Tie Accessories from Fort Belvedere
Black Single End Bow Tie in Silk Moire Butterfly Self Tie - Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Single End Bow Tie in Black Silk Satin

A photo of a Dark Red Carnation Boutonniere Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Dark Red Carnation Boutonniere Life Size Lapel Flower

White Initial Pocket Square - Hand-Embroidered in Italy

Fort Belvedere

White Initial Pocket Square – Hand-Embroidered in Italy

Monkey Fist Knot Cufflinks - 925 Sterling Silver Platinum Plated

Fort Belvedere

Monkey Fist Knot Cufflinks – 925 Sterling Silver Platinum Plated

A black Silk Satin bowtie

Fort Belvedere

Black Self-Tie Diamond Bow Tie in Silk Satin Sized with Pointed Ends

A photo of Eagle Claw Cufflinks with Onyx Ball

Fort Belvedere

Eagle Claw Cufflinks with Onyx Ball – 925 Sterling Silver Platinum Plated

Black Satin Evening Shoelaces on a pair of patent leather shoes

Fort Belvedere

Black Satin Evening Shoelaces Wide

A pair of black silk socks made by Fort Belvedere

Fort Belvedere

Finest Socks In The World – Over The Calf in Black Silk

Ready? You can explore all sections of the Tuxedo Buying guide here: