Prom week hit our house like a tornado. Three looks. One car. A lot of lint rollers. I wore some of the pieces myself, I styled the rest, and yes—I danced in them, too. Here’s the real tea on what I used, what held up, and what I’d change next time.
You can catch the full, minute-by-minute breakdown over on Sharpman if you want every shoe-shine hack and panic moment I left on the cutting-room floor—just dive into the complete chronicle.
So, what did I actually wear?
I wore a navy wool suit from SuitSupply (Havana fit) because I like a sharp, clean line. The jacket hugged my shoulders but didn’t squeeze. The pants came long, so I had a tailor hem them with a slight break. Simple. Classic.
- Shirt: crisp white, also from SuitSupply. Not see-through under flash, which matters for photos.
- Tie: The Tie Bar knit silk tie in navy. Textured, not shiny. I liked how it looked in prom pics. No weird glare.
- Shoes: Allen Edmonds Park Avenue in black. Sturdy, sleek, and—this surprised me—comfy for a long night.
- Undershirt: Uniqlo Airism. It kept me cool under the lights. I don’t mess around with sweat circles.
That pared-back navy-and-white formula is straight out of my recent field test of French fashion for men—simple pieces, nailed fit, zero fuss.
The suit felt light enough for a spring dance but still rich. No itch. No pulling when I raised my arms for photos. I could sit, stand, dance, and not think about my clothes. That’s the dream, right?
If you still need a place to pick up prom threads fast, the curated suit and accessory lineup at Sharpman is worth a scroll. You can also skim Teen Vogue’s best prom suits for men roundup for even more inspiration.
Oh, one thing: I wiped my shoes with a tiny bit of lotion on a cloth before photos. Quick shine. Not fancy, just practical.
My brother’s tux: clean, simple, no fuss
My brother Nate rented from The Black Tux. We picked the peak lapel tux and stuck with a black bow tie. We did the home try-on, and the fit was close. The sleeves ran a bit long, so I asked customer service for a swap. They sent a shorter jacket fast. Easy win.
- Shirt: their pleated white shirt. Felt smooth, not crunchy.
- Shoes: the patent shoes from the rental. They looked slick but squeaked a little. Nate kept giggling, so I added thin Dr. Scholl’s gel insoles. Less squeak, more comfort.
- Pocket square: The Tie Bar white linen. Folded square. Done.
In photos, the tux read true black, not gray. Flash didn’t wash it out. I checked in the bathroom mirror under those harsh lights—you know the ones. Still looked good.
If you’re tempted to push that midnight palette into full dramatic territory, you’ll love the texture tricks I uncovered while trying out gothic fashion for men; think tonal blacks layered so the camera still catches depth.
Javi went bold, and I loved it
My neighbor Javi asked for “color, but not clown.” We tried the ASOS Design skinny tux in deep green. The fabric had a soft finish, not plastic-shiny. Lined sleeves, smooth to slide on. I wore this exact tux at a party last winter, so I knew the fit ran tight in the arms. We sized up the jacket and tailored the waist.
- Shoes: Dr. Martens 1461 in black. Not classic, but cool. Chunky, steady, safe to dance in.
- Shirt: plain white H&M dress shirt. Ironed it. Used collar stays. Looked crisp.
- Tie: skinny black tie from The Tie Bar. Narrow, not flimsy.
Under gym lights, the green popped. On the dance floor, it looked rich and moody. He got three “Bro, where’d you get that?” in ten minutes. He kept count.
His chunky shoes and sharp lapels gave off the same rebel charisma I chased during my week in rockabilly fashion—proof that attitude sometimes matters more than price tag.
A budget look that surprised me
For my cousin Leo, we grabbed an H&M Slim Fit suit in charcoal. Off the rack. The shoulders sat right, which is the big test. We hemmed the pants at a local tailor. Twenty bucks. Worth it.
- Shirt: Target Goodfellow white dress shirt. Soft collar. Didn’t scratch.
- Shoes: my black Converse Chuck 70 high-tops. Yes, I’ve worn them a lot. Still clean. And guess what? They worked. Smart up top, playful down low.
This look hit that “cool but not trying too hard” sweet spot. In photos, it didn’t scream “cheap.” It just looked clean and young. Grandma loved it. So did his date.
The stuff that bugged me
- Cheap Amazon cufflinks: one snapped while I was fastening it. Sad. I switched to a pair I already owned from The Tie Bar, and they held up.
- A $15 polyester shirt we tested: scratchy collar, sweaty back. We tossed it back in the bag. Life’s too short.
- Super shiny ties: with flash, they glare. The knit tie and matte satin looked way better.
Fit notes that saved the night
Most of these cheat codes came from spending a month road-testing outfits inspired by style legends—from Steve McQueen to A$AP Rocky—which I documented in my fashion-icons field report.
- Sleeves: show a little shirt cuff. A half inch looks sharp.
- Pants: a slight break or no break looks clean with dress shoes. With Chucks, I go no break.
- Shoulders: the suit should not dent or ripple there. If it does, size up or try another brand.
- Lapels: peak lapels read “formal.” Not a must, but nice for prom.
- Buttons: when you stand, button the top button on a two-button jacket. When you sit, unbutton. You’ll feel less stiff.
I know that sounds fussy. But once you try it, you’ll see the difference right away.
Little things that made a big impact
- Uniqlo Airism undershirt: no sweat lines under the armpits. Thank you.
- Lint roller: I kept one in my bag. Black tuxes love dust.
- Clear gel deodorant: no white marks on dark jackets.
- Tiny sewing kit: I stitched a loose button in five minutes in the car. Felt like a hero.
- Blot paper for faces: killed shine before photos. Fast and cheap.
The corsage moment (yes, color matters)
We matched ties to corsages. Soft pink corsage? Go navy tie or black bow tie, not hot pink. Red corsage? Black tie or subtle pattern. When colors fight, photos suffer. When they blend, people look calm. Strange but true.
What I’d repeat next year
- SuitSupply Havana: I’d wear it again, no questions asked. Great drape. Not heavy. I could move.
- The Black Tux: solid rental, easy swaps, clean look.
- ASOS green tux: if you want to stand out, this is the one. Size up the jacket if you lift.
- H&M suit + Converse: cheap, fresh, and comfy. Tailor the hem. Crisp shirt. Done.
- The Tie Bar everything: ties, squares, cufflinks. Reliable and not pricey.
What I’d skip
- Ultra shiny ties. Flash is not your friend.
- Cheap cufflinks and shirt studs. They break, and then you stress.
- Super skinny pants you can’t sit in. You will sit. Trust me.
Quick checklist before you roll out
- Try on the whole outfit a week before: jacket, shirt, tie, belt or not, socks, shoes.
- Sit, stand, raise your arms, dance for 30 seconds. If it pulls, fix it.
- Check the look with flash. Take a quick photo on your phone.
- Bring band-aids, breath mints, and a lint roller.
- Keep cash for the coat check and the food truck. You’ll thank me.
Final thoughts
You know what? Prom fashion for guys isn’t hard.
But looking sharp is only half the battle—actually building chemistry with your date can feel even trickier. Before prom I skimmed this straight-shooting list of hacks to fuck any girl and it laid out confidence moves and conversation starters that took the awkward edge off and helped me connect for real.
If your crew’s after-prom road trip happens to land in New Hampshire’s seaside city