How to Create Your Own Tuxedo

When you have a formal occasion for which a tuxedo is required, you are probably tempted to buy off the rack and hope for the best. However, tuxedos look best when they perfectly fit the man and you might have better luck if you design your own tuxedo.

Things You'll Need

• Sketch pad
• Pencils
• Fashion catalogs

Instructions

1. Purchase a sketch book and a set of drawing pencils from your local art supply store. If you're going to create your own tuxedo, you'll need to play with several designs until you know you've got the right one.

2. Browse through fashion catalogs to see what styles are currently popular. Would you prefer a notch or peak lapel? Do you like contemporary or traditional styles? Will you need tails? All of these questions can be answered by looking at photographs of top designs.

3. Choose a color for your tuxedo. Black, charcoal, gray, striped and ivory are all colors that are frequently used with formal black-tie dress, but the sky is the limit here. Just make sure you can live with the color you choose.

4. Sketch different tuxedo styles in your sketchbook, and compare them to one another. You can either select a design you've already drawn, or you can mix and match various attributes from each design you created.

5. Find companies in your area that allow you to create your own tuxedo. Sewing formal wear is not an activity for amateur, but there are plenty of formal wear outlets that encourage designs by their customers. This is the easiest way to get the tuxedo of your dreams.

6. Sew your tuxedo or hire someone else to sew it if you'd rather have it hand made. You'll need to purchase the material, cut it to size and assemble it yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask for help if you don't know how to sketch a tuxedo. Chances are, you have an artistically inclined friend or relative.

• Keep your options open just in case you aren't able to fulfill one of your desires for the tuxedo.