Buying a Tuxedo at Men’s Wearhouse: Honest Review, Step-by-Step, Price

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Dress codes in Los Angeles are a funny thing.

For as many events and occasions are there are in LA, there are also as many different interpretations of “formal,” “smart casual” and “black tie.” I still remember the time I showed up to a “formal” dinner for an accessories brand in Hollywood wearing a black turtleneck, black suit and dress shoes, only to be met by a crowd of hipsters in denim shirts, cargo pants and sneakers. The dress code may have said “formal” but I was left feeling uncomfortable and breaking into a casual sweat the whole night.

Having lived in LA for more than a decade, I’ve now received countless invites with countless descriptions of what to wear and how to wear it. But these days, dress codes should really be taken as mere suggestions rather than mandate.

With one exception.

The Academy Awards take over Hollywood every March and it is one of the most important — and most glamorous — social and industry events of the year. I was lucky enough to receive an invitation to the Oscars this year, and knew they weren’t joking around when the invite said “black tie,” alongside the words, “strictly enforced.” The Oscars carry a certain prestige and air of elegance, and I wasn’t going to risk standing out (for the wrong reasons) again.

For this year’s ceremony, I turned to Men’s Wearhouse to help me find something to wear to the Oscars, and it turned out to be the easiest and most stress-free experience I’ve had when it comes to picking out a suit.

While Men’s Wearhouse is often a go-to for guys looking for an office suit or something to wear on vacation, the store now has a surprising selection of more formal wear options too – think dinner jackets and tuxedos for proms, weddings, and yes, even the Academy Awards.

My search for the perfect Oscars suit began at the Men’s Wearhouse location on N. La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles, where I was greeted by the friendly store associate named Maddy. After hearing about the “vision” for my Oscars look (“I want classic Hollywood glamor but with a slimmer fit and some modern touches,” I told her), Maddy walked me through the various options available. It’s not just picking out a size or color either (I went with classic black, obviously); there are also selections to be made with lapel size, trim, number of buttons and more.

For the Oscars, I chose a slim fit tux from Calvin Klein. Men’s Wearhouse offers a number of well-known designer brands, and I liked that this Calvin Klein option offered the formality of a classic black tuxedo with a few contemporary details — think a subtle sheen on the notch lapel, a slightly shorter cut, two-button finish and a tailored — but not tight — construction.

Men’s Wearhouse says the suit is made from 100% natural stretch wool, and indeed, it was comfortable enough to wear through the four-hour ceremony and onwards to the Governor’s Ball and after parties following the main show. The material is structured enough to retain an elegant and elevated look, but was lightweight and breathable enough to move around in. The slim fit allowed a streamlined silhouette without feeling restrictive. It also looked more polished in my opinion for an event like the Oscars, whereas a skinny suit might have worked at the Grammys.

Men’s Wearhouse helped me pair the tuxedo with a Pronto Uomo Slim Fit French Cuff Tuxedo Shirt, a pre-tied black bow tie (to avoid me messing it up on the day of the event), and Joseph Abboud’s Soiree Plain Toe Formal Oxfords, which were just shiny enough to lend some sophistication to the outfit without being distracting. I added a white pocket square to complete the look.

Of course, even though multiple measurements were taken at my initial fitting, off-the-rack suits will never fit as well as custom, but Men’s Wearhouse is the closest you can get to a custom suit without having to book a pricey tailoring appointment. In fact, many Men’s Wearhouse stores have an in-house tailor, and for my suit, I was able to get a few personalized tweaks to make sure my tux fit just right — like taking out the waist just a tad to give me room for a couple extra cocktails on Oscar night; taking in the shoulders since my slender frame didn’t quite fill out the edges; and hemming the length of my pants so they would hit below the ankle, but hover just above my shoes without hitting the sole.

After just a few days, I got a call saying that my alterations were done and that my Oscar tux was ready for pickup. After a final fitting at the store to make sure everything fit just right, I was on my way home with a new red carpet suit in hand.