16 Old Money Suit and Tuxedo Looks for Men

Old money style looks easy, but formal wear is where it shows most. The suit fits well, the colors are few, and nothing is there to impress anyone. That's what makes it look expensive without trying.

These 16 old money suit and tuxedo looks for men cover black tie, white dinner jackets, three-piece suits and a few that skip the tie. Each one lists the pieces, where to wear it and what to swap. The guide at the end covers fit, color and dress codes.

1. Black Tuxedo With a Pocket Square and Loafers

This is the full look, head to shoe, and nothing in it is loud. A slim black tuxedo, a crisp white shirt and a small black bow tie are all it takes. The white pocket square and a small silver lapel pin are the only extras, and the glossy loafers finish it. Slim trousers that stop at the ankle keep the shape sharp.

Wear it to: a black-tie wedding, a gala, a New Year's Eve party.

Swap: if you don't own loafers yet, black oxford shoes work just as well.

2. Black Double-Breasted Suit With a Bow Tie

Double-breasted jackets feel older and more serious than single-breasted ones, which is exactly the point. The wide lapels and the two rows of buttons make the chest look strong. Add a bow tie and the suit becomes evening wear.

Wear it to: a formal dinner, an opening night, a winter wedding.

Swap: a single-breasted black tuxedo is the easier first buy if you don't want a double-breasted jacket.

3. Tuxedo With Satin Shawl Lapels and a Vest

The shawl lapel is the detail to notice. It's one smooth curve of satin, with no notch, and it's what separates a real tuxedo from a black suit. The pleated shirt front and the vest underneath add depth without adding color. This is old money at its simplest: black and white, nothing out of place.

Wear it to: a formal wedding, an awards night, a black-tie dinner.

Swap: skip the vest in summer. The jacket and shirt alone are still black tie.

4. Three-Piece Tuxedo With a Gold Watch

Fixing your own bow tie is the best moment in the outfit, and it's worth learning to do it yourself. The vest keeps the middle of the look dark and clean, and the white shirt front shows just enough between the lapels. A gold-toned watch on the wrist adds a warm touch to the black.

Wear it to: a garden wedding, a late afternoon ceremony, an engagement party.

Swap: a pre-tied bow tie is fine for your first time, but a self-tie always sits better.

5. Dark Three-Piece Suit in a Wood-Paneled Lounge

This is the old club look. A dark three-piece suit, a dark tie and a table with a decanter on it. The suit does the talking here: the vest and jacket are cut close, and the whole thing is one deep color. It looks best in low, warm light.

Wear it to: a business dinner, a members' club, a winter evening out.

Swap: charcoal is a softer choice than black, and it's easier to wear to the office.

6. White Dinner Jacket With Black Trousers

The white dinner jacket is the classic summer and resort alternative to black. Black lapels and a black bow tie frame it, and black trousers keep it from looking like a costume. Sit like he does, with one leg crossed, and the whole thing looks relaxed.

Wear it to: a summer wedding, a cruise dinner, a hot-weather black-tie event.

Swap: a cream jacket is a bit softer than pure white and suits warmer skin tones.

7. Black and White Check Jacket With a Bow Tie

A small check jacket is how you do pattern without going loud. It's black and white, so it still reads as classic. The dark silk pocket square is the one extra detail, and the black bow tie keeps it formal.

Wear it to: a holiday party, a jazz night, a theatre premiere.

Swap: wear the blazer with a plain black knit tie instead of a bow tie for a calmer look.

8. Black Three-Piece Tuxedo and Sunglasses on a Balcony

A three-piece tuxedo with a V-cut vest is slim from every angle. The white pocket square is folded flat, in a simple straight line, which is the easiest fold and the best one. Sunglasses make it feel like a day wedding, not a stuffy dinner.

Wear it to: a daytime ceremony, a rooftop reception, a destination wedding.

Swap: if you don't want a vest, a black cummerbund does the same job of hiding the waistband.

9. Royal Blue Three-Piece Suit, No Tie

Not every suit has to be black. A royal blue three-piece with an open collar is a bolder way to dress up, and the white pocket square keeps it neat. No tie also means you can wear it from a daytime wedding to dinner.

Wear it to: a spring wedding, a graduation, a smart dinner.

Swap: navy is the safer blue and goes with any shoe color.

10. Black Tuxedo, Boutonniere and Sunglasses by a Tree

The white boutonniere is the sign this is a wedding look, and it's the only detail on an otherwise black outfit. He keeps one hand on the jacket and one in his pocket, which makes a simple pose look easy. The slim trouser leg is cut straight, so it hangs clean.

Wear it to: a lawn wedding, groomsmen photos, a daytime black-tie event.

Swap: for a best man, a boutonniere in a different flower sets you apart from the groom.

11. Dark Suit With an Open Collar at the Bar

This one has no tie and no fuss. A dark suit with a white shirt open at the collar looks smart even after a long night at a bar. The wood, the books and the dark jacket all sit in the same warm, dark range.

Wear it to: after-work drinks, a dinner date, a book launch.

Swap: a tie in dark green or burgundy turns this into a more formal look.

12. Black Tuxedo, Bow Tie and White Cuffs, Seated

Show a little cuff. Half an inch of white shirt past the jacket sleeve is a mark of a good fit. The jacket shoulders sit square, and the lapels are narrow and neat. It looks as good seated as it does standing.

Wear it to: a gala, a rehearsal dinner, a night at the opera.

Swap: ask a tailor to shorten the sleeves if no cuff shows. It's an easy fix.

13. Dark Dinner Jacket With a Cocktail by the Window

Soft light and a dark jacket make this the moodiest look on the list. The jacket looks like velvet or a similar soft fabric, which catches light in a way wool doesn't. A small pocket square and a bow tie are all the detail it needs.

Wear it to: a winter party, a cocktail evening, a New Year's Eve dinner.

Swap: velvet in deep green or burgundy is the colored version of this jacket.

14. White Dinner Jacket and Sunglasses in the City

A white dinner jacket works in the city too. Black and white photography makes the contrast look even sharper, but the idea is simple: bright jacket, dark bow tie, dark shades. It's also proof this look isn't only for young guys. It looks just as good on an older man.

Wear it to: a summer evening, a rooftop party, a wedding abroad.

Swap: cream is a softer option than pure white and hides small marks better.

15. Black Tuxedo Down a Country Road

Seen full length, a plain black tuxedo is hard to beat. The trousers have a straight leg and fall cleanly onto the shoe, with no bunching. Black shoes and a black bow tie keep the line unbroken from collar to floor.

Wear it to: a countryside wedding, prom, any black-tie invite.

Swap: patent or highly polished shoes are traditional, but a clean calf leather works.

16. Very Dark Tuxedo and Vest With a Satin Lapel

A very dark tuxedo can look richer than plain black, especially in soft light. The satin lapel catches it, and the vest keeps the center of the outfit clean. He's smiling, which is the part you can't buy: a good suit works best when you look comfortable in it.

Wear it to: an evening wedding, a ball, an anniversary dinner.

Swap: navy goes better with brown shoes than black does, if the dress code allows it.

How to Pick a Suit or Tuxedo That Looks Like Old Money

Fit comes first. The shoulder seam should sit right at the edge of your shoulder. The jacket should close without pulling, and the sleeves should end so that about half an inch of shirt cuff shows. Have a tailor adjust the rest.

Keep the colors few. Black, midnight navy, charcoal and white do most of the work. Add one detail at most, such as a pocket square, a flower or a watch.

Know the dress code.

Invite says	Wear
Black tie	Tuxedo, white shirt, black bow tie, black shoes
Black tie optional	Tuxedo or a very dark suit with a tie
Cocktail attire	Dark suit, shirt, tie or open collar
Summer black tie	White or cream dinner jacket, black trousers

Choose fabric for the season. Wool works all year. Velvet suits winter evenings, and a white dinner jacket is made for warm nights. A heavy fabric in July will feel like a mistake by dessert.

Skip the extras. No glittery lapels, no loud bow ties, no big logos. If you want more ideas on tying a look together, see our guide to formal color combinations for men and the old money color combos. Going to prom? Start with these prom suits for men.

FAQ

What is the old money way to wear a tuxedo? Keep it plain. A black or midnight navy tuxedo, a white shirt, a black bow tie and polished black shoes. Add a pocket square if you want, and nothing else.

Can I wear a suit instead of a tuxedo to a black-tie event? A very dark suit with a black tie is accepted at some events, but a tuxedo is the right choice when the invite says black tie. Check with the host if you're not sure.

What color tie goes with a dark suit? Navy, burgundy, dark green and black are easy picks. A white shirt goes with all of them.

Is a white dinner jacket formal enough for a wedding? Yes, for a summer or tropical black-tie wedding. Wear black trousers and a black bow tie with it, and keep the shoes black too.