What is really the difference between a Tuxedo and a Suit? Most men only find out that there are different types of suits when choosing a suit for their wedding. While many men (and women) have heard the word ‘Tuxedo’, not many know the difference between a tuxedo and suit or can tell a Tuxedo apart from a suit when they see them.
In this post, you’ll get to know the differences between a tuxedo and a suit. First, it’s important that you know that there are different types of suits and tuxedo is just one of them. Other types of suits include the morning suits and tailcoats. Swipe or scroll down to learn how a Tuxedo is different from a Suit.
The Differences Between a Tuxedo and a Suit
The main difference between a suit and a tuxedo is that a tuxedo has satin (a shiny material) on parts of the jacket and trousers. Suits do not have satin – a suit is made of the same material all-over.
To help you know if it’s a Tuxedo or a suit, here is a list of things to look out for:
- Satin Lapels: If it’s a tuxedo, it will have (shiny) satin material on the jacket’s lapel. On the other hand, with a suit, the material of its lapel is the same as the suit material. [Definition: A lapel is that part of a suit jacket or coat that attaches to the collar and comes down, stopping before the button area].
- Satin-stripe on trousers: A tuxedo also has satin stripe (vertically) on the outer side of the trousers, and a suit does not.
- Satin buttons: The buttons of a Tuxedo are covered with satin material, while a suit has normal buttons.
- No belt loops: Tuxedo trousers do not have belt loops. On the other hand, Suit trousers usually have belt loops.
*Check out the picture of the men in wedding Tuxedo (down below) and spot at least 2 of the physical attributes of a Tuxedo I outlined above – satin lapel, satin stripe on trousers. Leave a comment to tell me if you spotted them.
What (Accessories) to Wear with a Tuxedo: 3 Rules of Tuxedo Styling
If you’re thinking of wearing a tuxedo (or Tux, for short) for your Nigerian wedding or any formal occasion, it’s important to know that there are rules, or formality, about how to wear them.
These Tuxedo Dressing Rules are also important to know if you’re a man preparing to attend a wedding with the invitation card stating ‘black tie’ as a dress code or if you are thinking of having a black-tie wedding.
- Tuxedo Rule #1: A Tuxedo must be worn with a bow tie. and one of them is that you must wear it with a bow tie. Regular neckties are a no-no with the tux.
- Tuxedo Rule #2: A Tuxedo must not be worn with belts. They don’t even come with belt-loops (belt holes), by design.
- Tuxedo Styling Rule #3: A Tuxedo should only be worn to any wedding or event that states ‘black tie’ as a dress code. The ‘black-tie’ means a black bow tie (i.e. it must only be a bow tie, not a necktie; and the bow tie must be black colour), with a black tuxedo, of course. But then, if the dress code says ‘black tie optional‘, it means you have an option not to wear a tuxedo – meaning you can go with a Tux or something else. In a ‘black tie optional’ wedding or event, your suit colour must be black or midnight blue, which is a dark bluish-black coloured suit.
- Don’t forget to wear a Pocket-Square, as it completes the look for a formal occasion, including a wedding.
There are a few other rules for wearing a tuxedo, but the first two above are the non-negotiables that you must observe as a fine dresser. You can get away with the other rules (and not the first two).
Conclusion: Tuxedo vs Suits
In summary, a Tuxedo is also a suit, but it’s a more formal suit worn to only formal events and very special occasions, such as weddings and dinner parties. Because a suit has all the same fabric and no shiny satin, it makes a suit look more casual than a Tux.
The quickest and easiest way to tell if it’s a suit or tuxedo is to look at the jacket lapels. The front lapels of a tuxedo are made of silk or satin (shiny) materials, while the lapels of a suit match the material of the suit itself. Unlike a Tuxedo which has satin lapels and satin-covered buttons, a Suit is made of the same material all-through and suit buttons are normal buttons (usually plastic and not covered with fabric).
Unlike Tuxedos, suits are flexible to wear. With suits, there are literally no rigid rules for how to wear them (or where to wear them to), and you can choose to dress up or down.
Should you choose to dress up in a Tuxedo for your wedding or special occasion, don’t forget the rules of wearing a Tuxedo (above) – use that as a guide to find the right accessories to complement your look.
There you have it on the differences between a Suit and a Tuxedo, and what accessories to wear with a Tuxedo. By the way, which of the two suit types is your favourite to wear to an occasion, and why? I’d like to hear from you. Tell me in the comment section down below.
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