Does anyone here own a monkey suit?

[Brandon]

I've heard that you can buy used ones fairly cheap.  I don't know the best place to do that, but that's one option that won't cost you hundreds of dollars.

To answer the OP, yes, I do.

You can also buy a new one fairly inexpensively (~$100 to ~$200 or so).  JCPenney has them, and they look pretty good.

[PHLBOS]

You can also buy a new one fairly inexpensively (~$100 to ~$200 or so).  JCPenney has them, and they look pretty good.

Are the above-listed prices for tuxedos or just suits (there is a difference)?  The OP's monkey suit reference in the thread title was referring to tuxedos.

[Brandon]

You can also buy a new one fairly inexpensively (~$100 to ~$200 or so).  JCPenney has them, and they look pretty good.

Are the above-listed prices for tuxedos or just suits (there is a difference)?  The OP's monkey suit reference in the thread title was referring to tuxedos.

That was for a tux.  Coat, pants, tie, cummerbund, shirt, and studs.  I think I paid less than $200.

[realjd]

Way to miss my point, which was that if you are going to impose a formal dress code, even if it is the wrong one, do it properly.

I have no problem with semi-formal weddings, or with nudist weddings, or with hawaiian shirt weddings. It's the pretend attempts at black tie weddings without actually following black tie.

Just think of it as a quirky cultural difference - similar to how they can wear shorts with suits in Bermuda and it's perfectly acceptable. Keep in mind to that outside of state dinners at the White House, we don't do white tie dress. If an invitation says formal wear, it means a tux (although a dark suit is often acceptable). Semi-formal or business formal on an invitation means suits. Our rules are just different than yours.

[kkt]

Way to miss my point, which was that if you are going to impose a formal dress code, even if it is the wrong one, do it properly.

I have no problem with semi-formal weddings, or with nudist weddings, or with hawaiian shirt weddings. It's the pretend attempts at black tie weddings without actually following black tie.

Just think of it as a quirky cultural difference - similar to how they can wear shorts with suits in Bermuda and it's perfectly acceptable. Keep in mind to that outside of state dinners at the White House, we don't do white tie dress. If an invitation says formal wear, it means a tux (although a dark suit is often acceptable). Semi-formal or business formal on an invitation means suits. Our rules are just different than yours.

No place in the U.S. at all uses white tie?  Not even a New York high society evening wedding -- a Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, or Kennedy getting married in the evening at a grand hotel wouldn't specify white tie?  (Okay, June is traditional for weddings, and so there wouldn't be white tie then because of being summer, but in case one was in winter or spring.)  No charity balls?  Not at first night of the opera season?

"Formal" can mean different things for different people.  It could mean suits for a crowd that's usually more casual.  That's why invitations usually say "black tie" if they want people to wear tuxedos or "dark suits" if they want people to wear that.

[Scott5114]

On a practical level, how are you going to enforce the dress code at a wedding? I couldn't stomach the thought of one of our friends or family being turned away from my wedding simply because they didn't meet some arbitrary rule of dress, and if you can't enforce a dress code you may as well not have one.

[kkt]

For a wedding with family and friends, you wouldn't turn people away.  The dress code is enforced by guests wishing to feel comfortable by dressing as others are, and honoring the wishes of their hosts.

At a state dinner, I think the Secret Service can still turn away guests who are not dressed appropriately.

[vdeane]

Are the above-listed prices for tuxedos or just suits (there is a difference)?  The OP's monkey suit reference in the thread title was referring to tuxedos.

When I first read the thread title, I thought it was referring to halloween costumes and had thoughts along the lines of "WTF!?".

[Duke87]

No wedding I have ever been to has been so precise as to spell out what color clothing I should wear. Granted, I have only been to four weddings thus far in my life, but still - I have not heard of such a thing.

I only own one formal jacket and it is black. It has been nearly a year since I last wore it, and I do not wear it except for really special occasions. Hell, I rarely even wear a tie. Not my thing.


As for Tuxedos, no, I do not own one, and no, I have never worn one. I have, however, been to the town of Tuxedo, NY. So I can claim I've been in a Tuxedo if I leave it vague what I mean by that.

Also...

But when you get your tuxedo, make sure you become a superhero and attack with roses.

+1

[hbelkins]

I've been in a few weddings (all of those marriages ended in divorce, so I guess I wasn't a good-luck charm) and thus had to wear a tux in them. Can't say I was fond of having to do so. I hate to put on a tie. To me, "dressing up" is wearing khakis and having to tuck the shirt tail in on my logo polo shirts that I wear to work. I tend to dress for comfort instead of style.

My high school did not have a prom when I was a student, and even if it had, I probably would not have gone. They revived the prom about eight years after I graduated and tuxes are the dress of choice for males who attend.

[Pete from Boston]

Are the above-listed prices for tuxedos or just suits (there is a difference)?  The OP's monkey suit reference in the thread title was referring to tuxedos.

When I first read the thread title, I thought it was referring to halloween costumes and had thoughts along the lines of "WTF!?".

If I owned an actual monkey suit (gorilla, whatever), I would wear it as much as possible.  I'd ride the bus in the damn thing. 

[Scott5114]

I've been in a few weddings (all of those marriages ended in divorce, so I guess I wasn't a good-luck charm)

I take it you'll forgive me if I don't invite you to mine when it happens?

[hbelkins]

I've been in a few weddings (all of those marriages ended in divorce, so I guess I wasn't a good-luck charm)

I take it you'll forgive me if I don't invite you to mine when it happens?

You can invite me, just don't ask me to be a groomsman.