# Help me makeshift a tuxedo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026 "2009-01-06T02:55:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/1 "2009-01-06T02:55:46Z")
I’m going to this ‘thing’ in a couple of weeks that this dude puts on every year. It’s like an awards show. He gives out awards for…well…anything. He just makes up awards, and then, y’know, awards them. Then a DJ spins electronic music and people dance and drink etc. It can be a very fancy thing, with some wearing tuxedos, and some wearing really hideous 70’s era tuxedos, etc. Lots of kilts, I think. I’d like to throw something together to wear. Something tuxedo-like. But don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to sew, and don’t really want to spend tons of money on this. Any suggestions for a makeshift tuxedo? ---
**Author:** ![Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dazzling_White_Diamonds)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/2 "2009-01-06T04:20:54Z")
How about fashioning one out of duct tape? I’ve seen prom dresses made out of the stuff… ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/3 "2009-01-06T04:59:42Z")
Go in formal drag. ---
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/4 "2009-01-06T05:15:21Z")
Sweet ideas! LOVE the duct tape idea. What would formal drag look like, d’ya think? ---
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/5 "2009-01-06T06:21:01Z")
Ok, now where the hell can I buy a sewing pattern for a tuxedo?? Can’t find one online for the life of me. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/6 "2009-01-06T07:33:47Z")
Wear a black blazer, one of thoes[tux t-shirts](http://www.tuxedotshirts.com/), and if you can manage it, a top hat. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/7 "2009-01-06T07:59:16Z")
Take a black (or blackish) suit and some black adhesive tape (cloth tape is better than plastic because it will stick better). Make stripes down the sides of the pants. Put more tape along the [edges](http://z.about.com/d/mensfashion/1/0/Y/8/GeorgeClooney2.jpg) of the coat lapels. Make a bowtie with the tape and some cardboard, or tie a black shoelace under your shirt collar. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/8 "2009-01-06T13:26:59Z")
Check out a couple of thrift stores before you get busy with the duct tape. They may have just the fashion statement your friends will be talking about for years. ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/9 "2009-01-06T19:31:54Z")
Vogue Patterns has a men’s tux pattern, although I haven’t used it so can’t comment on how easy/hard it is to use. [http://www.voguepatterns.com/item/V2383.htm??tab=men&page=1](http://http://www.voguepatterns.com/item/V2383.htm??tab=men&page=1) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/10 "2009-01-06T19:37:07Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Check out a couple of thrift stores before you get busy with the duct tape. They may have just the fashion statement your friends will be talking about for years. And if they don’t, you can cover a blah one with duct tape. Far easier than making duct tape “fabric” and fashioning a tuxedo from that. ---
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/11 "2009-01-07T06:14:35Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > And if they don’t, you can cover a blah one with duct tape. Far easier than making duct tape “fabric” and fashioning a tuxedo from that. So true. I was thinking of going that route, but I’m kind of a purist at times, and choose the hard way deliberately. I should probably get that checked. Either way, I’ve decided on a duct tape tuxedo in white and red, accented with Twizzlers and jujubes. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/12 "2009-01-07T06:49:05Z")
Body paint? ---
**Author:** ![Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dazzling_White_Diamonds)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/13 "2009-01-07T13:04:51Z")
> [@Standup\_Karmic](#): > > Either way, I’ve decided on a duct tape tuxedo in white and red, accented with Twizzlers and jujubes. Pleeeeeeease say you’ll post pix of this creation when you’re done?! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/14 "2009-01-07T13:29:25Z")
Check out costume stores. They may have a pseudo-tux that you can rent for the occasion. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/15 "2009-01-07T13:30:00Z")
> [@Standup\_Karmic](#): > > So true. I was thinking of going that route, but I’m kind of a purist at times, and choose the hard way deliberately. I should probably get that checked. > > Either way, I’ve decided on a duct tape tuxedo in white and red, accented with Twizzlers and jujubes. Ah, very tasteful indeed sir. Or do I mean tasty? ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/16 "2009-01-07T13:32:04Z")
> [@Dazzling\_White\_Diamonds](#): > > Pleeeeeeease say you’ll post pix of this creation when you’re done?! Seconded. I must see this getup. ---
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/17 "2009-01-07T16:02:14Z")
I will so post, as requested. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/18 "2009-01-07T22:25:26Z")
I understand your not wanting to spend a lot, but dear lord! A homemade suit? You might as well top it off with an opera hat fashioned from black pasteboard. Seriously, isnt there something you could wear that might be more practical–ie a little expensive to buy now but you could use it later? ---
**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/19 "2009-01-08T01:16:50Z")
Please understand, the point of not wanting to spend much money is not a necessary consideration, but a deliberate one. I have plenty of suits, and could buy or rent a tux if I wanted. Given the fanciful nature of the gathering, however, I wish to go out of my way to fashion something that garners me some attention as one of the more uniquely dressed. I say homemade suit of duct tape and candy will accomplish just that! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026/20 "2009-01-08T02:13:56Z")
> [@Standup\_Karmic](#): > > Please understand, the point of not wanting to spend much money is not a necessary consideration, but a deliberate one. I have plenty of suits, and could buy or rent a tux if I wanted. Given the fanciful nature of the gathering, however, I wish to go out of my way to fashion something that garners me some attention as one of the more uniquely dressed. I say homemade suit of duct tape and candy will accomplish just that! Just be aware that you’re likely to spend more on the duct tape required than you would on a rental - especially if you’re using the expensive colored duct tape! I’d do it just for the fun of it! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-makeshift-a-tuxedo/480026.md?page=2)