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The tuX files: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

The holiday season is upon us, and with this week’s dusting of snow, it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! While everyone knows that most retailers list December as their busiest month each year, people are often surprised to learn that in the formalwear industry, business crawls to (nearly) a standstill over these weeks, and we take advantage of the season to attend to the many tasks that get neglected during our busy prom and wedding seasons. Inventory, garment repairs, and CLEANING take priority this time of year, but perhaps the best thing that happens is that we decorate the shop and it looks, well, awesome! (Nice job, Molly).

That’s not to say we have NO business this time of year. Certainly we have weddings almost every week, but they are few and they tend to be smaller parties. Too, we still visited by our loyal suit customers, shopping for Christmas gifts and dandy duds for holiday parties. Of course, there is a steady stream of ladies needing alterations on cocktail dresses for New Year’s Eve, and a steady but significant trickle of customers looking for gift certificates and unique stocking stuffers for the men in their lives.

So, we understand if tuxedos aren’t the first thing on your mind as you awaken to a driveway of snow this morning, but do know that if you find yourself tossing and turning in a full holiday panic because you forgot someone on your shopping list, we have you covered! Bowties, neckties, suits, blazers, dress shoes, scarves, fun socks, cufflinks and tiebars, and of course, TUXEDOS…whatever your sartorial predilection, you will be able to find something you like at a price you love at the SouthCoast’s (official) #1 men’s store, Main Street Formals.   

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The tuX files: Fit to be tied

Indigo Suit

New Bedford City Councilor Steve Martins looks lean and mean in this slim-fit indigo suit from Main Street Formals.

At Main Street Formals, we are often asked what the “rules” are when it comes to men’s fashion.  Although ignorant fops routinely break the Commandments of Style (which were written in tailor’s chalk on a bolt of gabardine by the Almighty himself), we can surely agree that certain menswear commandments engender a spirit of elegance to which every gentleman should aspire. For instance, one should never fasten the bottom button on a two button jacket. Ever. Also, every man should own a navy blazer, which pairs as neatly with gray flannel as it does with designer denim. Naturally, we’d never pair a business suit with loafers.  And so on. But, if we were to establish a punch list of fashion tips, there would be one unequivocal tip to top them all: Fit is everything.

Model Josh Clattenburg cuts quite the athletic silhouette in this perfectly cut tuxedo from Main Street Formals.

No matter how much you’ve paid for it, an ill-fitting suit or tuxedo automatically looks cheap.  A $149 suit that is tailored to perfection will out-shine a $1000 potato sack any day of the week.  At Main Street Formals, we know that when it comes to menswear, fit is the key, and as such, we are the SouthCoast’s only men’s formalwear specialist that offers full-time in-house tailoring services.

Taylor Cormier

WBSM News Director and Rat Pat Crooner Taylor Cormier hams it up for the crowd at the FUN 107 Bridal Expo.

Whether your wedding party is renting or buying, you will not have to worry about your jacket looking like it came out of your grandfather’s closet or your best man’s trousers looking like parachute pants. We HATE that, and we’re sure you do, too.  With the help of our expert tailoring staff, Main Street Formals will go above and beyond to make sure your guys look perfect for your wedding day.

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The tuX files: Back to Black: Permission to indulge

Slim-fit Shawl Tuxedo

Fabian Couture slim-fit shawl tuxedo

Let’s talk about you. You’re smart, you work hard. Right? Right. You do your job, you feed the family, you go to school–you get it done. Sometimes, you think about a version of you that doesn’t have to worry about the bills or the hours or the kids. While you are wiping the oatmeal off the front of your sweater, you wonder if somewhere in another dimension, you’re waking up in St. Tropez in silk sheets, warm air with a cool breeze …But then there’s another stack of papers, another pile of snow, another spill, another stain, another day, another dollar, and you’re not in St. Tropez–you’re just here, and you’re doing the best you can.

The daily grind is built on compromises—coupon clipping, corner-cutting, staying in on Saturday nights. You deal with a little bit less now, so that you can have a little bit more later. But soon you are getting married, and when it comes to your wedding, you deserve More.

More is freedom from compromise; more champagne, more dancing, more luxury, more glamour. More is limousines and ball gowns, flowers and lights and multi-tiered cakes. This is a celebration of you and yours, and far from your daily life, the only grind you’ll find is on the dance floor. Your wedding day is more than an ordinary day, and a jet-black tuxedo is more than an ordinary suit. It’s says, You are not just “a” man. You are the man.

Once-in-a-lifetime events deserve more than the ordinary. For your wedding day, feel free to elevate your expectations. You deserve it.

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The tuX files: Out with the old, in with the blue

Navy tuxedo

Navy Sebastian tuxedo by Ike Behar. Photo courtesy of ImageMakers 

When it comes down to it, there are two kinds of people in this world; those who sing “Da Ba De Da Ba Di,” and those who know “If they were green, they would die.” Whichever way you fall in this key cultural divide, all children of the nineties will remember the iconic Eiffel 65 classic, “I’m Blue,” in which the song’s subject pays tribute to the coolest of all colors with their blue house, blue corvette, and blue girlfriend.  What makes this song relevant in today’s vastly different world, you ask? Well, it turns out Eiffel 65 had it right when it comes to this year’s biggest color in wedding menswear!

slate tuxedo

Slate Bartlett tuxedo by Allure. Photo courtesy of ImageMakers 

That’s right, 2017 channels 1999 as blue is THE color. Luckily, you don’t have to venture out into the cosmic sea of bridal blues alone.  Whether you’re looking for London blue, slate blue, navy or indigo, Main Street Formals offers a wide selection of retail and rental options to complete your wedding day vision.  As always, when it comes to fashion, you can trust the award-winning formalwear experts at Main Street Formals to style your guys perfectly, without breaking the bank.  Now, that’s something everyone can get behind– “da ba de-er’s” and “ if I were green-ers alike.”

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The tuX files: Classy as buck

Showroom1Main Street Formals celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2016, and we remodeled our showroom to celebrate! If you haven’t been here since your high school prom (or longer), take a short ride to the countryside and check out our new look and all of the new offerings on display.

  • Spring 2017 suits (on the way!)
  • Our new “Milan” slim-fit tuxedos
  • Our new “Main Street” necktie collection!
  • Our new “Axis” line of patent formal shoes
  • Our new “Allure” caramel brown formal shoes
  • Our new “Hudson” matte-finish formal shoes (on the way!)
  • New colors in our Simply Solid vest line
  • New hats
  • New statement socks
  • New lapel pins
  • and our uber-classy new mascot, Bogart the Buck!

 

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The tuX files: Wedding transportation

Offered by Providence Limo Bus, his spacious limo bus offers seating for up to 35 passengers with additional standing room for 5 more.

Offered by Providence Limo Bus, his spacious limo bus offers seating for up to 35 passengers with additional standing room for 5 more.

Often we’re asked, “Do you guys know any limo companies?” Sure, there are lots of transportation companies out there, but how do discerning brides and grooms separate the wheat from the chaff? Whether you want a stretch limo, party bus, or antique trolley, understand that the professionalism of the company is as important as the appearance of the vehicle.

Steer clear (see what we did there?) of the many fly-by-night limousine companies that offer rock-bottom rates and rock-bottom services. The cost of entry into the transportation business is very high (vehicles, maintenance, staffing, insurance), and so consumers should expect that renting a luxury vehicle won’t come cheaply. If it does, then ask yourself, “What corner is this company cutting?” Do your research online, talk to friends, and read reviews, but in the end, as in all wedding planning, you will be best served by making a personal visit with the vendors themselves, and discuss the vision you have for your wedding and whether or not they have the equipment, skills, and experience to help you achieve it.

To learn more about planning your transportation visit www.SouthCoastWedding.com or chat with our friends at Providence Limo Bus.

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