Royal Oak High School on Lexington Boulevard has been one school since 2006, when Dondero and Kimball combined. Prom season starts in our showroom in March, usually with a parent and a teenager who disagree about whether to rent.
Own it if he will wear it again
The honest answer depends on one question: will he wear it again in the next year? For most seniors the answer is yes. Graduation comes next, and a summer wedding and a first interview usually aren’t far behind. A suit from our Everyday Classics line is $139 to $159, in durable blends that hold a press, and it’ll do all four of those days. For a boy who’s still growing, that’s also the line we’d put him in, because he’ll be a size bigger by the wedding.
Rent it if prom is the one night
If the answer is no, and prom is the one night, rent. A consultant fits every rental in person, on our floor. Roman at Lincoln Tailor, inside the store, goes over what can be adjusted on it. After that, it waits on the rack with your son’s name on it. He won’t leave with something that fits like it came from a warehouse.
Three weeks out, and bring the shoes
Two practical things. Come in at least three weeks out, because bold colors and slim cuts in a 36 short go first. And bring the shoes he will wear, so the trouser is hemmed to the right break rather than to a guess.
Nobody here is on commission. If the cheaper option is the right one, we’ll say so.
Also for Royal Oak: Renting a Tuxedo from Royal Oak: How the Fitting Works. More on tuxedo rentals, or plan your visit to our Oak Park showroom.
