Why do grooms rent tuxes for the groomsmen that they'll never see nor have to wear again, while brides make bridesmaids buy disgusting pink frilly things that they'll also never wear again?
I know nothing about the ordering/purchasing of bridesmaid gowns, but as far as tuxedos go, there are only a handful of styles and only one basic color. This means that a formalwear shop can have tuxedos on hand in styles and sizes to fit just about any man's need without alteration, and thus rent them out efficiently.
Granted, it is entirely backwards that men should rent tuxedos and women should buy bridesmaid dresses, because tuxedos are in fact eminently reusable. If you're going to be wearing a tuxedo more than twice, and you don't anticipate losing or gaining more than around 15 pounds in between, then buying your own tuxedo is the better option. Of course, if you're a groomsman for multiple weddings, different grooms might opt for different styles of tuxedo, so this is not a hard and fast rule. But tuxedos are not limited in use to weddings.
I am no expert in bridesmaid gowns, but I do believe there are infinite styles and colors. I didn't realize there were so few tux styles.
Fancy dresses in general are reusable, but I don't believe bridesmaid dresses (or wedding gowns) typically are. I presume even grooms rent their wedding tuxes too?
blue102 said she spent only $800 on her wedding gown. Considering some people spend that much on their prom dresses, I think she got a pretty good deal.
Well, different designers will have subtle variations on the height of the lapel points, or the cut of the cuff, but there are only three or four basic styles of tuxes, and you could typically put two designers' versions of the same style next to one another and a casual observer would not tell the difference. There is more room for variation when you get to the accessories -- bow tie, cummerbund/vest. But one other thing that makes tux rental easier is that all these things are modular. You can choose jackets separately from vests. And since the jacket and pants are separate, it's easier to fit a wide range of body types.
I suppose it depends on the nature of the wedding. Often the groom wears tails, which, in today's fashion world, are pretty unreusable unless you're, say, an orchestral conductor. At the last wedding I went to, the groom was a naval lieutenant, and wore his dress uniform. I don't know what I'd do if I got married, but if I were ever in a wedding party, I would probably wear my own tux pants and shirt, and rent a jacket and accessories if I didn't have the particular style. Granted, if I were in a wedding party next month, I'd probably have to rent everything since my current tux doesn't come close to fitting, and I can't afford to buy right now.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-03-14 12:25 pm (UTC)Granted, it is entirely backwards that men should rent tuxedos and women should buy bridesmaid dresses, because tuxedos are in fact eminently reusable. If you're going to be wearing a tuxedo more than twice, and you don't anticipate losing or gaining more than around 15 pounds in between, then buying your own tuxedo is the better option. Of course, if you're a groomsman for multiple weddings, different grooms might opt for different styles of tuxedo, so this is not a hard and fast rule. But tuxedos are not limited in use to weddings.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-14 12:31 pm (UTC)Fancy dresses in general are reusable, but I don't believe bridesmaid dresses (or wedding gowns) typically are. I presume even grooms rent their wedding tuxes too?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-14 01:09 pm (UTC)I suppose it depends on the nature of the wedding. Often the groom wears tails, which, in today's fashion world, are pretty unreusable unless you're, say, an orchestral conductor. At the last wedding I went to, the groom was a naval lieutenant, and wore his dress uniform. I don't know what I'd do if I got married, but if I were ever in a wedding party, I would probably wear my own tux pants and shirt, and rent a jacket and accessories if I didn't have the particular style. Granted, if I were in a wedding party next month, I'd probably have to rent everything since my current tux doesn't come close to fitting, and I can't afford to buy right now.