Prom Tuxedo Guide 2027: How to Pick Your Prom Look

October 9, 2026

Prom is one night, but the photos stay around for years. Here's how to pick a prom tuxedo or suit for spring 2027: the style, the color, the fit, when to shop and what to budget. Everything we sell is yours to keep, from $249 online and from $299 in our stores.

Tuxedo or suit?

A tuxedo has satin details: satin on the lapels, satin-covered buttons and usually a satin stripe down the pants. It's the most formal look, and it's made for a bow tie. A suit uses one fabric all over, so it's easier to wear again for graduation, weddings and interviews.

Both work for prom. Want the full formal look? Choose a tuxedo. Want something you'll wear all year? Choose a suit. Still deciding? Read Suit vs. Tuxedo: What's the Difference?

Pick a color that works with your date

You don't need to match your date head to toe. Pick one of these two approaches:

Classic tux, matching accent. Wear black, navy or gray, and match your date with the bow tie, tie or pocket square. It's the easiest look to get right.
Statement jacket, simple accents. Go bold with a colored, velvet or patterned tuxedo, and keep the shirt and accessories plain so the jacket stands out.

A few standout prom styles: the Velvet Sequin Three-Piece Tuxedo in emerald green, navy, black or burgundy; the Paisley Shawl Collar Tuxedo in gold, blush pink or black; and the Sharkskin Three-Piece Suit in colors like lavender, champagne, dusty rose and red. See every style in our prom collection.

Choose your lapel and cut

Shawl collar: a smooth, rounded lapel. The classic tuxedo look.
Peak lapel: pointed lapels that make your shoulders look broader. Sharp and formal.
Notch lapel: the standard suit lapel. Clean and easy to wear again.
Double-breasted: a bold, fashion-forward look. Keep it buttoned when you stand.
Three-piece: the vest keeps you looking sharp after the jacket comes off on the dance floor.

Get the fit right

Fit makes the biggest difference in photos. Check these four things:

Shoulders: the seam ends where your shoulder ends, with no dent or overhang.
Jacket front: the button closes without pulling into an X.
Sleeves: about a quarter to half an inch of shirt cuff shows.
Pants: hemmed to touch the top of your shoes, with little or no break.

Use our size guide to find your size in two minutes. Our pants come unhemmed, so plan on a hem. In our stores, alterations are usually ready the same day, 2 days at most. Bring the shoes you'll wear to prom so the hem comes out right.

When to shop

Most proms in our areas happen between March and May. Shop three to four weeks before yours. That leaves time for alterations and accessories, and you'll have the best choice of colors and sizes before the rush. Ordering online? Every US order ships free, so just leave a few extra days for delivery and a hem.

What it costs

Our suits and tuxedos start at $249 online and $299 in our stores. You own it: no deposit, no return deadline and no late fees, and you can wear it again for graduation, weddings and other formal nights. See how that compares in Buy vs. Rent a Tuxedo.