The average man feels 67% more confident when sporting their best suit or tuxedo, according to new research.
A poll of 2,000 U.S. men revealed that while their self-esteem gets a solid boost, their confidence in their ability to choose the right one wanes.
According to the results, six in ten men (59%) said they felt “somewhat” or “very” confident about knowing what to wear for different wedding dress codes.
However, the data told another story: When presented with a list of clothing and a picture, only 53% were able to correctly identify “black tie” attire.
Just 41% were able to correctly identify “white tie,” and a dismal 17% correctly picked out cocktail attire.
However, when it comes to dressing down, men were all over it. Eighty-three percent correctly pinpointed which wedding attire was “casual,” and 54% nailed “beach/tropical.’
Broadly, an additional 84% know the difference between a suit and a tuxedo.
Commissioned by Generation Tux and conducted by Talker Research, the study found that when it comes to neck and bow ties, confidence drops even further.
One in five men admit they don’t feel confident about knowing how to tie a necktie, with 24% admitting their partner ties a better one than they do.
One in ten confesses they have a “go-to video” when it comes time to get a necktie tied, with 10% saying they only purchase clip-on ties.
And while 58% said they have no need to search the internet for assistance, the top, most common search was found to be “How long should a tie be?” (16%)
For bowties, it’s even worse, as 61% of respondents report being unconfident when it comes to them. Men average three failed bowtie-tying attempts before getting it right, and nearly half (47%) flat out admit they can’t tie one.
“Follow a few simple rules to make sure you nail the dress code. Black or white tie, go with a tuxedo. Formal, wear a classic black or navy suit. Casual, tropical, or garden weddings show up in a tan or blue suit (and have fun with the accessory colors),” said Jason Jackson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Generation Tux. “When in doubt, just ask. It’s better to swallow your pride and ask than show up in something that isn’t appropriate.”
With wedding season around the corner, results revealed that the average man may be a bit unprepared when it comes to what’s already in their closet.
Only 17% said they could successfully nail down a “black tie” suit with what’s currently in their wardrobe, and just 27% could dress up for “cocktail” attire.
On average, men own two different suits and wear them outside of professional obligation on just two occasions per year.
Sadly, 44% of men agree that they aren’t fully happy with their current selection of suits, with the average respondent saying they’d be willing to drop over $1,200 on the “perfect suit.”
“The right suit makes all the difference in how you look and how you feel. Choose a color you’re excited about, and make sure you have the right fit,” said Jackson. “A great looking suit that doesn’t fit correctly won’t have you feeling like a million bucks. And with options like rental, you don’t have to spend a million bucks to look like it. Design a suit with confidence and have an unforgettable evening.”
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American men; the survey was commissioned by Gen Tux and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Mar 14. and Mar. 21, 2025.
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