Black tie · Est. 1972
Tuxedos.We don’t rent them.
A rented tuxedo is built to fit a thousand men badly. If you’re going to stand in photographs that outlive you, own the thing.
The Man’s Shop does not rent tuxedos. We sell them — off-the-rack for a fast turnaround, or fully custom, cut to your measurements in your choice of fabric and lapel. Custom tuxedos take about six weeks. If you expect to wear black tie more than twice, buying costs less than repeat rentals.
The position
Why we stopped at “sell”
Rental tuxedos are cut generously so they can be let out and taken in for the next man, and the next. That’s not a flaw in the garment. It’s the business model.
The result is familiar to anyone who has seen their own wedding photos: shoulders slightly wide, sleeves slightly long, a jacket that hangs rather than fits. Every man in the row looks like he’s wearing someone else’s clothes, because he is.
We’d rather sell you one that fits. Off the rack if you’re short on time, custom if you’re not.
Two ways in
Off the rack, or made for you
Off the rack
In stock, tried on today, altered in-house. The right answer when the event is close or black tie is a once-in-a-while thing for you. Allow two weeks for alterations if you can.
Custom
Your measurements, your cloth, your lapel — peak or shawl, grosgrain or satin. One appointment to order, about six weeks to build, and you collect it here. The right answer if you’ll wear it more than once, or if off-the-rack has never fit your shoulders.
- Lapel
- Peak is the most traditional and reads unmistakably formal. Shawl is softer and slightly more modern. Notch is the most contemporary of the three and appears on a great many tuxedos today. All three are worn well — we’ll show you each one on you and let your eye decide.
- Facing
- Grosgrain has a fine ribbed texture and photographs with restraint. Satin is smoother and catches more light. Neither is wrong; one will suit you.
- Cloth
- Black or midnight blue. Midnight blue photographs as a deeper black than black does under artificial light — an old trick, and a good one.
- Trousers
- Braid down the outseam, no belt loops, side adjusters. Cuffed trousers are not black tie. We’ll hem them plain.
Worn, not rented
Black tie, Texas
Black tie in Texas has its own grammar. A hat and a good pair of boots are not a departure from the dress code here — they are the local accent, and they only work when the tuxedo underneath is genuinely yours.
Notch lapel, satin facing, worn with hat and boots
Peak lapel, black tie, patent formal shoes
Father and son, both custom
Two men, thirty years apart, in tuxedos cut to their own measurements. Neither has a return date. Neither had to guess at a size over the phone. Both were measured in Arlington, and both were adjusted here by our tailor.
That is the practical case for owning. The tuxedo is ready when the invitation comes, it fits the man rather than the average, and it is still yours in ten years when your son needs one of his own.
The arithmetic
Buying versus renting, honestly
A tuxedo rental in the Dallas–Fort Worth area typically runs a couple of hundred dollars once the shirt, tie, and studs are added. Rent three times and you’re within range of owning an off-the-rack tuxedo outright — one that actually fits and is available on twelve hours’ notice.
The break-even lands around the second or third wearing for most men. If you attend one wedding in a decade, rent — from someone else, with our blessing. If you have a wedding, a gala, and a New Year’s on the horizon, buying is simply cheaper, and it stops being a scramble every time.
Wedding parties
Groomsmen, coordinated
Start early
Six to eight weeks minimum for a wedding party, longer if anyone is going custom. Out-of-town groomsmen can send measurements, though we always prefer to see them in person.
One point of contact
We coordinate the party so the groom isn’t chasing seven men about trouser lengths. One person here owns the list from measuring day to final pickup.
They keep them
The unexpected upside of buying: every man in the party walks away with a tuxedo that fits him, rather than a receipt and a return deadline.
Common questions
Tuxedos, answered
Does The Man’s Shop rent tuxedos?
No. We do not offer tuxedo rentals. We sell tuxedos, both off-the-rack for a faster turnaround and fully custom made to your measurements. If renting is genuinely the right call for your situation, we will happily point you elsewhere rather than sell you something you don’t need.
Is it cheaper to buy a tuxedo than to rent one?
It depends on how often you wear black tie. A rental in the Dallas–Fort Worth area typically runs a couple of hundred dollars once accessories are included, so the break-even against an off-the-rack tuxedo lands around the second or third wearing. Beyond that, owning is cheaper — and the fit is better every time.
How long does a custom tuxedo take?
About six weeks from the appointment where we measure you and you make your selections. You return once to collect it and try it on, and any adjustments are handled in-house by our tailor. Off-the-rack moves much faster, though still allow roughly two weeks for alterations. Ordering just before a major factory holiday can add time.
What is the difference between a tuxedo and a suit?
A tuxedo has satin or grosgrain facing on the lapels, a braid down the outer seam of the trousers, and no belt loops. Black tie also assumes a formal shirt and either a bow tie or, less commonly, a black tie. A dark suit is not a tuxedo, though it is often an acceptable substitute at events described as black tie optional.
Should I choose black or midnight blue?
Midnight blue is the traditional choice and photographs as a deeper black than actual black does under artificial light, which is where most black tie events happen. Black is never wrong. If this is your first tuxedo and you intend to keep it for twenty years, midnight blue is the quiet expert’s answer.
Can you wear cowboy boots and a hat with a tuxedo?
In Texas, yes, and it is done well all the time. The rule is that the tuxedo has to be right first: proper lapel facing, a formal shirt, and trousers hemmed for the boot rather than for a dress shoe. Boots change where the trouser breaks, so tell us at your appointment and we will hem accordingly.
Can you outfit an entire wedding party?
Yes. We coordinate groomsmen from measuring through final pickup with one point of contact, so the groom isn’t managing it. Start six to eight weeks out at minimum, and earlier if anyone in the party is going custom. Out-of-town groomsmen can submit measurements remotely.
Black tie, done right
Own the tuxedo
Bring your date if it helps. Six weeks for custom, same week if we have your size on the floor.
100 S. West Street, Arlington, Texas 76010
Mon–Sat 10am–5pm · Closed Sunday
(817) 265-1116