To tux or not to tux (part two)

Saturday morning I called Eric. We had talked about going to Baldwin's Formal Wear at 11. It was too ambitious. I called to see if he wanted to move it to 1. He was thankful. When he called me back, he sounded as if he was still asleep.

At one I found myself suited in a three button tuxedo, notch collar, wing-tip shirt, a tie, and cumberbund. Lew said I looked great. I thought the tux looked a little dull. It looked like a rental tux. I asked him about buying. He said their tuxes started at $450.00. The rental for the week and extra would cost $240.00. I asked him to put the tux in pending; I told him I'd call him on Monday to confirm.

Afterward Baldwin's, we went to Macy's. Eric said he had bought a suit last year at this time and that they had sales at this time. He was right. Suits were discounted 40-50%. We flipped through the racks, trying things on. He said he might stick to renting. He didn't have the time to accessorize. We had lunch in Koreatown and then he went home. I met up with Lin and Michael at Podunk and then Li Ting in Chinatown. I thought about tuxes.

Friday night I had gone to Syms and Century21. At Syms I found tuxes for as low as $119.00, but they were dull or ill fitting. Hugo Boss tuxes went for around $350.00-$400.00. At Century21 I tried on an Armani tux. The list price was well over $1000.00; Century21 sold it for around $800.00. Flipping through the racks, I found a Kenneth Cole tux for $280.00; the retail price was $600.00.

Sunday morning I returned to Century 21. I looked around. I bought the Kenneth Cole tux. I bought a tux shirt with a laydown collar for $20.00. I looked for a cumberbund by itself but they all came in sets with pre-tied bowties. I found a black silk set for $22.00. The cashier said they had cumberbunds for cheaper. I couldn't find one, but when she rang up the tie and cumberbund, it came out to $8.00. Total price: $330.00.

Cherry called and said she was going to stop by later. I told her she had to tell me truthfully what she thought of the tux. I still had the rental on hold, and if she didn't like the tux I would return it. She said she loved it and she loved the idea that I now owned a tux. I said if I had the money and opportunity I could totally become a clotheshorse. Lin said I have the makings of one already. Now all I have to do is find comfortable shoes. I had asked Lew about renting shoes, but he said if I were going to buy a nice tux, you don't want to wear rented shoes. Posted by eku at May 9, 2005 9:17 AM