Accessories - Tie, cummerbund/vest, shirts, gloves, hats, shoes, handkerchiefs, cuff links, studs, cane, socks, suspenders or ascot.

Arm Bands - An elastic band worn over a shirt on upper arm under coat to shorten a shirt sleeve. Arm bands are especially useful with boy's size shirts.

Ascot - A tie with broad ends hanging from a knot, worn with a stick pin and wing tip shirt. Usually worn with a Cutaway jacket and often worn for formal daytime weddings.

Band Collar Shirt - A tuxedo shirt with no collar. This shirt can have a pleated or plain front. Worn with a button cover or collarband.

Black Tie - Black tuxedo jacket, black tuxedo pants, white shirt, black cummerbund and tie, or matching tie, cummerbund or vest, and formal shoes. (The term "black tie" on an invitation connotes formality and indicates that you must wear a tuxedo. "Black Tie Invited" means tuxedos are preferred, but dark suits are acceptable.

Button Cover - A decorative accessory worn over top button of the shirt. Usually worn on band collar shirts.

Boutonniere - Flower worn on the left lapel.


Bow Tie - Clip-on is usually worn with wing-tip collar shirts. Band tie is pre-tied, attached around the neck, and can be worn with any collar. Self tie must be tied into a bow by wearer. Western tie is usually worn with a western tuxedo.

Cane - Carried when top hat is worn. Usually matches top hat.

Collar Extender - Little plastic button with a loop that attaches to the top button of the shirt to add a little more room in the neck.

Cuff Links - Decorative accessory that keeps a shirt cuff closed instead of using a button. Always required with a French Cuff shirt.


Cummerbund - Formal, pleated, adjustable waist sash, worn with pleats up.

Cutaway (also called a Morning Coat) - A long jacket, rounded off at the bottom, with no satin. Worn for daytime weddings or daytime formal affairs. Usually worn with striped tuxedo pants.

Dinner Jacket - Usually a white or winter white shawl collar jacket. Can be single or double breasted and worn with black tuxedo pants.

Double Breasted - Jacket closes over to the side and buttons outside on the right and inside on the left. Worn closed, usually with a cummerbund or high button vest.

Flap Pocket - Usually the same fabric as the jacket, with a flap over pocket opening.

Formal Shoes - Patent leather or similar looking shoe.


French Cuff - Double folded shirt cuff requiring cuff links. Rental tuxedos do not have French cuffs.

Full Dress (also called White Tie) - Black Tails, black tuxedo pants, white pique wing tip shirt, white pique tie and vest, with formal shoes.

Gloves - White gloves are worn with "Full Dress" or "White Tie" attire.

Lay down Shirt - Tuxedo shirt with regular collar and pleated front. The collar is similar to a business style dress shirt.

Morning Coat (also called a Cutaway) - A long jacket, rounded off at the bottom, with no satin. Worn for daytime weddings or daytime formal affairs. Usually worn with striped tuxedo pants.

Notch Lapel - Squared off to top collar making a "notch" effect on jacket.

Peak Lapel - Lapel points extend upward above bottom of top collar of jacket.

Pique - A waffle texture in fabric.

Pocket Square - Hankie or piece of fabric put in breast pocket to accessorize the coat. Usually white or matches the tie and vest or cummerbund.


Satin Fabric - Soft, lustrous fabric, usually on top collar, lapels, pockets, buttons, and down outside seam of tuxedo pants. Many ties, cummerbunds, and vests are also made of satin. (Satin is a weave, not a fabric type)

Scarf - Often match accessories, sometimes matches the jacket. Worn over a jacket under the collar.

Shawl Lapel - Smooth collar and lapel that is a curved piece extending to the bottom of the lapel.

Single Breasted - The jacket usually has one to four buttons in front, and can be worn unbuttoned.

Stroller - A daytime jacket with no satin. Often worn for daytime weddings or daytime formal affairs. Usually worn with striped tuxedo pants.

Studs - Worn instead of shirt buttons. Most shirts require three to four studs. Studs are not worn with windsor or sharpe ties because this style of tie covers shirt buttons.

Suspenders - Adjustable, clip type suspenders are fastened onto front and back with a waistband clip. The button on the suspenders are used with pants that have suspender buttons fastened in the waistband.

Top Collar - Collar of jacket that extends around the back of the neck from lapel to lapel.

Top Hat - Wool, felt, or all felt, flat topped, very formal hat often accompanied with a matching cane.



Tuxedo Pants - All formal tuxedo pants have satin stripes down the outside seam. Striped pants that are worn with a Cutaway or Stroller coat do not.

Vest - Worn in place of cummerbund. Full back vests have front and back panels, and are fitted based on the individuals coat size.

White Tie (also called Full Dress) - Black Tails, black tuxedo pants, white pique wing tip shirt, white pique tie and vest, and formal shoes.

Wing Tip Shirt - Formal shirt with tab (wing) collar and a pleated front. Tabs are usually worn above the tie.