Tracking Tuxedo Trends for 2018

In looking back through our blog archive, which it's hard to believe goes sporadically back to 2009, we've never given much consideration to what our guys are wearing. And we are pleased to be able to provide a full line of tuxedo rental and sales service, plus accessories, for men (of course, women are welcome to don tuxes, as well).
So as we get back into publishing a regular blog (shooting for every Thursday, if you want to follow), we decided it's high time the guys get a little attention. There's no better place to address men's fashion as we head into prom and wedding season than to look at trends in men's tuxedos. For the moment, let's look at two trends that have jumped out:

Fit

A couple of years ago, we started receiving requests from our younger customers for a tighter-fitting tuxedo, especially the pants. Admittedly, with their adjustable style, tuxedo pants can offer some pretty baggy fits for slender gentlemen.
Initially, tuxedo pants came in two basic fits, pleated pants and flat-front pants. Pleated pants offer a little more room when sitting but still lay nicely when you are standing -- perfect for the bigger guys. But at that point the thinner fellows only had the flat-front option, which still offered ample room in the seat.
Several years back, more modern tuxedos started coming with the modern slim-fit pants, which eliminated some of the baggy complaints. The slim-fit pant gives a more tapered look, but with the advent of the skinny pant in ready-to-wear fashion, many younger men still didn't feel this look was slim enough.
Last year, Jim's Formal Wear began providing us with an ultra-slim pant that seems to satisfy the quest for a truly skinny look. If you're not familiar with this style, you can expect the pants to hug your thighs and taper to the ankle, where they need to be hemmed above the shoe top as they are not wide enough to drape over the shoe. The cut of the seat also means the waist rides lower than traditional tuxedo pants, so you get a completely different look with an ultra-slim pant.
Jackets also have become more snug fitting from the slim fit to the ultra slim. You can expect an ultra-slim jacket to strain across the stomach when you button it.

Color

The tuxedo purist might say the only true tuxedo is a black tuxedo or maybe white, but grays and blues have been gaining a greater share of the tuxedo market in recent years. (No, we're not talking about the sky blue tuxedos of the 1970s.)
Last year's addition of a steel gray option to the Michael Kors Wedding Suit lineup from Jim's (a tux that debuted in 2016 in black and navy) proved popular in both prom and wedding tuxedo rentals.
Shades of gray have been strong choices for wedding parties for several years. But it's hard to pin down a favorite as Jim's offers options in steel gray, medium gray and heather gray, each of which draws fans. A heather gray suit from Allure Men has been added to the Jim's catalog this year.
Blues also have been gaining ground the past few years, to the point this year it has been our most requested color for the guys booking their wedding tuxes early. While the navy wedding suit seems to be the leader so far, Jim's has added an indigo blue tuxedo from Ike Behar this year to add a fourth blue option (cobalt and slate are the other two).
No matter your preference of fit, style or color, ETC boutique is happy to work with you to find the perfect look for your wedding, prom or any other special event. Our extended hours in the mall make it easy for you and the members of a wedding party to make it in for measurements and fittings.
You can preview the entire line from Jim's Formal Wear on their website, where you have the option to build your tux and book it through ETC boutique.