<p>“Ask her” absolutely-- this adage comes in handy for the future too ;)</p>
<p>Black Tux-- why not get one at a vintage store?! </p>
<p>Try American Rag or something similar, call ahead to check on sizes. If too big, it can be tailored. For <$100 you will own a cool ~1940’s tux and you will wear it again. Probably also available on ebay… Or maybe just get a groovy one-button tux jacket, tie, & cumberbund, and wear it with regular black slacks? </p>
<p>You will be 100% cooler than anyone else, also nice and edgy. They will look like Napoleon Dynamite; you will be Cary Grant!</p>
<p>My son ordered two small white orchids with a slim black ribbon as a wrist corsage for his formal date, who was wearing black. It looked stunning.
As for your tux, black is the choice, but the guys sometimes get creative with their vests and ties. The price, including the tux, shirt, vest, tie, cuff links, and shoes comes to $120 here in L.A.</p>
<p>Son’s prom was today. Tuxes were anything but typical. My own son’s tux was black, and had a mandarine collar, black vest, white tux shirt, black satin tie (regular style black satin tie, not bow) …longer length jacket. Other boys had similar jackets…most longer than the usual. One boy wore white - the rest wore black. All wore longer jackets. </p>
<p>Girls all had wrist corsages…roses or orchids. His date gave him a single red rose boutonniere. Pics were taken at the Phila Museum of Art front steps, overlooking the city. Girls gowns were very elaborate…some has small trains. Girls’ make-up was very elaborate! False lashes were everywhere! Most gowns were strapless or had spaghetti straps. Most girls had their hair pinned up in some sort of way…professionally done…yet natural looking…not the beehive thing!</p>
<p>After pics, limos were waiting to take them to the prom location. Limos will take them back to museum so they can get their cars and go to after-prom locations. </p>
<p>Tuxedo… Well, went to the Beverly Connection, went to the Mens Wearhouse, and rented… a… tuxedo… set to pick up on Thursday. Paid … $143 for it. </p>
<p>Ah well.</p>
<p>Next up: Limo w/ friends, and picture packets… Corsage, what to buy…</p>
<p>Oh, my date is wearing a dress with straps, but I’m still a bit wary about the wrist corsage…</p>
<p>P.S. Tux is fairly conservative, dark grey vest with matching tie. I hate bowties. Did I mention I hate bowties? Black tuxedo. Hopefully, it doesn’t depress everyone that my date is also wearing black. =)… The white is too easily stained.</p>
<p>If you hate ties don’t wear one
Some of the boys here didn’t wear ties- didn’t wear jackets- wore regular tie.
Its your prom- wear what makes you happy.</p>
<p>Don’t forget to take money or a blank check for the group photos they take at the prom. Don’t get just the usual one of you and your date. The photos my D got were absolutely great–they were posed “bad-ass”, meaning they posed them so a few in the group were wearing sunglasses, a few have their fists under their chin, a few are gazing cooly over their shoulder. You sort of have to envision the “last supper” painting, meaning it’s not one of those with everyone straight on looking at the camera and smiling. Don’t know if every prom does these but I think it’s way cool.</p>
<p>As for the limo arrangements, I know the logistics sometimes get hairy as nobody seems able to make a decision and stick to it. Well it will all work out–as long as the limo shows up on time you’ll have fun.</p>
<p>The photo place offers, well, 6 packages. Some are a bit on the excessive side, others are, well… hrmm…</p>
<p>I think I’ll have to bring some cash anyway. Some people say I should go into the buddy pictures. so…</p>
<p>Don’t quite know what to take with my prom date though. They have it where you can take it as a couple, or have solo pictures then a couple picture, but that just seems a little excessive.</p>
<p>And you wonder if the couple/guy/girl who took the sample pictures for the company received discounts… hrmm. =)…</p>
<p>Or if you have or can borrow a digital camera you can take as many pictures as you want at no cost and just keep the good ones. You can also easily email them to your friends.</p>
<p>tlaktan, you’re in good company. I didn’t see one bow tie when I was taking pics of my son and about 20 of his friends on Friday. I guess bows are “out” around here.</p>
<p>Wrist corsage nowadays. Easier to deal with. As to the young man who just got “flowers,” when I went to prom in the middle ages, we had nosegays (a bouquet kind of like bridesmaids carry) - sounds similar. Orchids are actually easier to come by right now than roses after Mother’s Day.</p>