Dear Budget Fashionista,

Here’s a tough question…What should I wear to a black tie wedding attended by a fashion forward group in Toronto (hope that is not an oxymoron)?  I’m on a verrrry tight budget and would rather not rent a “monkey suit”.

Answer: This question is sooooo easy. Look black tie no longer literally means “black tie”, which means you now have other options besides renting a “monkey suit”.

Pair your black suit (if don’t have a black suit, run out and get one. Every guy should have one in his closet, for occasions like these and funerals, job interviews, etc) with a crisp white shirt. I recommend purchasing a new white shirt for the occasion (Marshalls has an amazing selection of white shirts for well under $30), because you want to make sure the shirt hasn’t been discolored due to the “dry cleaning effect” (yellowing of whites due to dirty perc). In terms of tie, black doesn’t necessarily mean bow tie. Rock a silver or black silk tie (again, pick one up from almost any store). Make sure you wear dress black shoes, shoes with a bit of shine to them (but not prom like- patten leather), which you can get from Payless or a store like K&G for under $50.

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