Friar Tux shares holiday formalwear guide for men

Friar Tux is steering men through festive attire ahead of holiday parties, winter weddings and seasonal events. The retailer is pointing shoppers to richer colors, statement accessories and rental options as the season’s formalwear calendar fills up.

Why it matters: - Holiday events often blur the line between formalwear categories, leaving men unsure how to dress. - Friar Tux is positioning festive attire as a chance to look polished while adding color, texture and personality. - The guidance could help shoppers choose between buying and renting for a packed season of weddings, parties and galas.

What happened: - Friar Tux released style advice for men preparing for holiday parties, winter weddings and seasonal events. - The Anaheim-based family-owned retailer has more than 50 years of experience helping men dress for special occasions. - Lauren Dorta, vice president of product at Friar Tux, said men should start with the event’s formality and then add personality through color, texture or accessories.

The details: - Friar Tux said festive attire offers more flexibility than black-tie or cocktail dress codes. - The retailer said festive looks can range from a classic suit with colorful accessories to a velvet dinner jacket or statement tuxedo. - Rich seasonal colors include burgundy, forest green, navy, brown and jewel tones. - Fabrics such as velvet, satin and jacquard add dimension and a seasonal feel. - A velvet dinner jacket can work with black trousers, a white dress shirt and a bow tie for an elegant evening look. - A company cocktail party may call for a tailored navy or charcoal suit with a colorful tie. - An upscale gala can support a tuxedo or distinctive dinner jacket. - A more relaxed gathering can suit a sport coat with dress trousers. - Accessories can shift a classic suit without requiring a full new outfit. - Examples include patterned ties, colorful bow ties, textured pocket squares and coordinating vests. - Friar Tux suggested combinations such as a navy suit with a burgundy tie, a charcoal suit with emerald green accents, or a black suit with a champagne gold pocket square. - The retailer advised against novelty holiday accessories or costume-like pieces. - Festive casual allows polished separates, a sport coat or dress trousers with seasonal accents. - Festive cocktail generally calls for a suit and dress shirt with more room for patterns, colors and accessories. - Festive formal favors dark or jewel-toned suits, tuxedos or elevated dinner jackets with polished shoes and refined details. - Black tie still takes precedence when an invitation specifies black tie. - Friar Tux offers suit and tuxedo rentals as well as purchases. - The company also offers online shopping, showroom visits in California and Nevada, and virtual styling appointments. - Customers can use the company’s Try-On with AI feature to upload a photo and preview select suit and tuxedo styles. - Friar Tux offers nationwide shipping, at-home rental try-on options and online sizing tools. - The company directs readers to its style guide, What Does Festive Attire on an Invitation Actually Mean?, for more inspiration.

Between the lines: - The advice reflects a broader effort to make formalwear feel less rigid and more personalized without losing etiquette. - Friar Tux is also nudging shoppers toward its rental, purchase and digital fitting tools, which lower the friction of preparing for one-off events. - The emphasis on interpretation suggests festive attire remains a category many consumers still find confusing.

What's next: - Friar Tux is directing customers to explore suit and tuxedo rentals and purchases at the company’s website. - Shoppers can also use virtual styling, showroom visits or the AI try-on feature to plan looks before event season peaks. - Men attending multiple celebrations may weigh rental convenience against buying a versatile suit or tuxedo for repeat use.

The bottom line: - Festive attire gives men room to stand out, but Friar Tux says the safest formula is still simple: match the event, then add one or two refined seasonal details.