Tuxedo Dictionary
Click on any term to display its definition. You may also want to visit our Groom's Wedding Calendar for a suggested timeline.
- Accessories
- Tie, cummerbund/vest, shirt, gloves, hat, shoes, handkerchief, cuff links, studs, cane, spats, socks, suspenders or ascot.
- Arm Bands
- An elastic band worn on the upper arm over the shirt and under the coat to shorten a shirtsleeve. Especially useful with boy's size shirts.
- Ascot
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A tie with broad ends hanging from a knot, secured with a stickpin or tie tack. Usually worn with a wing tip shirt and a Cutaway jacket, usually for daytime weddings. - Band Collar Shirt
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A tuxedo shirt with no collar. This shirt can have a pleated or plain front. Worn with a button cover or collar band. Also referred to as Mandarin Collar. - Barrel Sleeve
- Ends of jacket sleeve have a cuff that is unfolded and fastened with a button.
- Besom Pockets
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Self fabric or satin strip on top of pocket. Double besom is two strips, one over pocket opening and one on top of pocket. - Black Tie
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Term for formal evening attire, usually a black tuxedo jacket, black tuxedo pants, white shirt, black cummerbund and tie, or matching tie, cummerbund or vest, and formal shoes (The term "black tie" on an invitation connotes formality and indicates that you must wear a tuxedo). "Black Tie Invited" means tuxedos are preferred, but dark suits are acceptable. - Button Cover
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A decorative accessory worn over top button of the shirt. Usually worn on band collar shirts. - Boutonniere
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Flower worn on the left of the lapel. - Bow Tie
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A self-tie bow tie is a ribbon of fabric that is tied around the collar symmetrically into a bow shape. A pre-tied bow tie is already tied into a bow and then clips on. See instructions for how to tie a bow tie. - Cane
- Carried when top hat is worn. Must match top hat.
- Collar Extender
- Little plastic button with a loop that attaches to the top button of the shirt to add more room in the neck, making the shirt more comfortable.
- Cuff Links
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Decorative accessory that keeps a shirt cuff closed instead of using a button. Always required with a French Cuff shirt. - Cummerbund
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A broad sash worn over the waistband of the pants. Worn with the pleats facing up. - Cutaway (Also called a Morning Coat)
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A long jacket, rounded off at the bottom, with no satin. Worn for daytime weddings or daytime formal affairs. - Dinner Jacket
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Usually a white or winter white shawl collar jacket. Can be single or double breasted. Always worn with black tuxedo pants. - Double Breasted
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A tuxedo jacket that overlaps itself in the front, usually with 4 or 6 buttons. Always worn closed. A cummerbund or high button vest is usually worn with this jacket. - Flap Pocket
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A standard pocket on a coat, usually self-fabric, with a flap over pocket opening. - Formal Shoes
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Patent leather or patent leather look shoe. - Four in hand Tie
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A necktie fastened with a slipknot. Usually worn with a Stroller jacket, but can also be used with a Cutaway coat. - French Cuff
- Double folded shirt cuff requiring cuff links.
- Full Dress
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The same as White Tie. Black Tails, black tuxedo pants, white pique wing tip shirt, white pique tie and vest, and formal shoes. - Gloves
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Cotton or nylon white gloves are worn with "Full Dress" or "White Tie" attire. - Laydown Shirt
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Tuxedo shirt with regular collar and pleated front. The collar is similar to a business style dress shirt. - Notch Lapel
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On a coat, a notch is cut between the collar and lapel. - Peak Lapel
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On a coat, the top of the lapel is cut upward and outward. - Pique
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A waffle-like texture on a shirt or vest, which is the most formal look. - Pocket Square
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Hankie or piece of fabric put in breast pocket to accessorize the coat. Usually white or matches the tie and vest/cummerbund. - Satin Fabric
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Soft, lustrous fabric, usually on top collar, lapels, pockets, buttons, and down outside seam of tuxedo pants. Many ties, cummerbunds, and vests are also made of satin. (Satin is a weave, not a fabric type.) - Scarf
- A long piece of fabric worn around the neck that matches the accessories and sometimes matches the jacket. Worn over a jacket under the collar.
- Self Fabric
- Same fabric as jacket or pants. Usually refers to collar, pockets or waistband.
- Shawl Lapel
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Smooth collar and lapel that is a curved piece extending to the bottom of the lapel with no change from the collar to the lapel. - Single Breasted
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The jacket usually has one to four buttons in front, and is worn unbuttoned. - Spats
- Short formal fabric shoe coverings worn over the instep and reaching just above the ankle. Fastened by a strap under the foot and buttons on the side. A high-fashion accessory.
- Stroller
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A daytime jacket with no satin. Worn for daytime weddings or daytime formal affairs. Usually worn with striped tuxedo pants, a pearl vest, a lay down collar shirt and a 4-in-hand tie. - Studs
- Worn instead of shirt buttons. Most shirts require three to four studs.
- Suspenders (Also called Braces)
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Adjustable, clip type suspenders are fastened onto front and back with a waistband clip. Button-on suspenders are used with pants that have suspender buttons fastened in the waistband. - Top Collar
- Collar of jacket that extends around the back of the neck from lapel to lapel.
- Top Hat
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Wool, felt, or all felt, flat topped, very formal hat usually accompanied with a matching cane. - Tuxedo Pants
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All formal tuxedo pants have satin stripes down the outside seam. Striped pants that are worn with a Cutaway or Stroller coat do not. - Vent
- Opening in back of jacket. Center vent is a coat with one vent in center of jacket. Side vent is a coat with two vents, one on each side of coat, and Non vented is a coat with no vents.
- Vest
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Worn in place of cummerbund. Backless vests have front panels with adjustable back closures at neck and waist. Full back vests have front and back panels, and are fitted based on the individual's coat size. - White Tie
- See "Full Dress".
- Wing Collar Shirt
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Formal shirt with a wing-like pointed collar and a pleated front. Tabs are usually worn behind the tie.