<p>Go with a tux, of the more conservative variety, if only for the photo ops. Don’t worry about “outshining” your cadet … full dress gray can hold its own. All the officers will be in Army blues with black bow tie or in mess dress, if they have it. Wearing a tux honors your cadet and the occasion. It’s not “unmanly” to do that.</p>
<p>A hint: I have a tux because in a previous job I had to attend frequent formal rubber chicken events. If you don’t already own one, you might check thrift shops and if you find one in good shape, buy it. You’ll definitely want one for the firstie year events … Ring Banquet and Graduation Banquet and may find that a thrift shop tux costs no more than three rentals. </p>
<p>We bought thrift shop tuxes for our sons who sang in a choral group in high school that required them. The group had a fairly reasonable rental arrangement with a local shop, but we found that it cost about the same to buy them and have them tailored … did it twice in four years to accomodate growth. Once you own a tux, you may be surprised how often you can use it. For our sons in high school it meant being set up on last minute blind dates with girls at other high schools by friends who knew they wouldn’t have to go out and rent tuxes. Sounds like a scary prospect, but it generally worked out well and one son actually met a girl that way who he dated the last year of high school and through much of West Point. He still sees her occasionally.</p>
<p>Also, the conservative styles of tux never go out of fashion, so you will be able to use it for years, if not decades.</p>