You’ve got the suit now make sure you look polished from head to toe on the big day with Ted’s grooming advice. After all, you want to dazzle the bride and make a good impression in the photos that’ll last forever.

We all feel great when we catch our reflection after getting a dapper do, so make sure this is how you feel when you look at the millions of wedding photos you’re sure to feature in. Ted recommends getting a haircut the week before your wedding, giving it time to look not-too-done while still looking fresh. Make sure to ask the barber for some styling tips. Remember, if you try new products make sure you practise before the big day – no one wants to look back on photos thinking ‘what did I do?’.

Ask yourself, when are you happiest with your facial hair? Right after a fresh shave? The day after? Three days after? Ted’s top advice is to look sleek, but most of all, look like yourself. He also suggests getting the groomsmen together for a tidy up, hot towel, massage and ear flaming a day before the wedding. Ted’s on Mortimer Street is the perfect spot, accommodating four gents at a time in his appointment lounge. Complimentary drinks are also included.

IN SHAPE

FACE OFF

A well-tailored prom suit or tuxedo goes a long way to make a man look his sharpest, but menswear stylists also always have a few tricks up their sleeves to make sure models look immaculate on set.

So, in the interest of sharing, we asked our stylists for a few of their favourites that’ll help sort the men from the boys on prom night.

So here’s the thing: classic menswear rules say you should always have your shirt tucked into your trousers, but this is prom and you should dress however makes you feel most like you. If you want your shirt worn casual and untucked, go for it. Really.

But, if you do decide to go for the pulled-together look, the trick to a flawless finish is to tuck your shirt not only into your trousers but right into your underwear too. Sounds weird, might feel a bit weird, but trust us, it works.

Talk to any tailor and you’ll hear them throw around the word ‘break’ when they’re talking about your trousers. This is where your trouser hem meets your shoe. With a tailored fit, your hem should just brush the top of your shoe. On a skinny fit, your hem will barely clip your shoe. Gone for an on-trend cropped trouser? Your hem will be nowhere near your shoe.

Bonus option: roll your hem a couple of times for a more casual vibe that works particularly well with a pair of trainers.

This one covers both your jacket cuff and your shirt cuff and it goes like this: your jacket cuff should sit at your wrist bone and your shirt cuff should be about 2.5cm longer. This is mostly designed so your shirt cuffs help to frame your suit, but is also a nice way to show off a cracking pair of cufflinks too.

If there’s one tailoring rule you need to know, it’s this: never fasten the bottom button of your jacket or waistcoat. The story goes this came from King Edward VII – not because he was the most stylish man of his day, but because he got too fat to fasten his bottom button. Because he was King, everyone else followed suit and to this day it’s the mark of a well-dressed man.

The rules for a one-button jacket are a little different (seeing as the top button is also the bottom button) so if you’re wearing it on its own, wear it buttoned while standing and undone when you sit down. If you’ve got a waistcoat underneath, undo your jacket and wear your waistcoat buttoned up, except for the last button.

If you wear a tie for school, you’ve probably got the four-in-hand knot (also known as the schoolboy knot) down, but to look like a man of the world, there are two styling tricks to check off before you head out.

First, length. The tip of your tie needs to touch your waistband. Not stop above it, not sit below it, but right at it. Second, meet the tie dimple. This is the artful little fold that adds depth and character to your tie. There’s a bit of a knack to it, but it’s achieved by pinching the fabric of your tie inside the tie knot just before you pull it through it for the last time. This should create a small dimple that will get held in place as you tighten your tie’s knot. Practise, as always, makes perfect.

Prom is a rite of passage in lots of ways, but it’s also really likely to be your first time buying a suit. If that’s true, you’re probably a bit unsure of what it is you actually want.

Whether you’re new to suit-buying or you’ve done this before, any questions you might have about which prom suit to buy will fall under four areas: fit, style, occasion and price. Get them all right, and you’re on to a winner.

So let’s break them down, shall we?

Getting the right fit is your number one priority – consider it your framework that everything else hangs on. Our in-store suit experts are on-hand to take your measurements and we also offer alterations through all of our stores.

But it’s not as simple as just getting the right size – it’s also important to be realistic about which fit will work best for your frame. If you’ve got broad shoulders and a narrow waist you’ll look great in our tailored fit, however, if you’re slim-framed with slim limbs, then you’ll pull off a skinny fit or slim fit.

Whatever fit you go for, your suit should sit flat on the chest and shoulders. Not too wide and not too tight. For a tailored look, your jacket length should end by the middle of your thumb when your arms are by your side, while a skinny or more trend-led jacket will be cut a little shorter. Read how to get the right fit for a detailed look at each of our fits and step-by-steps to measure for a suit.

This is where seasonal trends and personal taste come into play, but it can be daunting if you’re new to the game or not sure what you’re looking for. If you need some guidance, looking at what our in-store suit experts are wearing is a great place to start. Who better to give you advice than someone who wears a suit day-in and day-out?

Our suit experts are also a great source to find out what other guys are wearing too. Ask them what’s selling in-store at the moment to get a good idea of what’s popular. For example, blue suiting is our most asked-for but pastel colours are a big trend this season. If you’re not quite into head-to-toe pastel pink, try adding in louder colours and prints with your accessories instead.

Don’t be afraid to come in with ideas you’ve seen on Instagram or in magazines – the more you share with us, the more we can help you. Sharing what you like or what inspires you can be the difference between simply a stylish suit and an outfit that makes you look and feel your very best.

If anything influences the kind of suit you should be buying, where you’re going to wear it is a key thing to consider. In your case it’s prom and this is actually the most freedom you’ll ever have to wear something that you can really shine in.

Feeling bold? Go all out in a pastel-hued suit or take your look a step further in a double-breasted style. Traditionally the uniform of bankers, the double-breasted suit has been reimagined for life outside the City in slimmer fits and standout cloths.

If you’re a more understated kind of guy, you’ll never go wrong with a dinner suit or prom tuxedo with classic black satin lapels.

It’s best to be honest with any budget you have in mind. As a prom go-er buying your first suit, you might not have finished growing yet so there’s no point blowing your budget on something that might not fit for very long. If your budget is tight, think about buying a versatile two-piece suit that’ll look great styled up with accessories for prom, but also work dialled down for all those interviews you’ll have to go to now you’re a man of the world.

We’ve got a wide range to pick from including our own-brand labels like Moss, as well as leading brands including Ted Baker, French Connection and DKNY, so there’s something to suit every style and every wallet.

If you are keen to make an entrance but still need to keep an eye on costs, you can also think about hiring a suit for the night. Our prom hire collection includes modern lounge suits starting from just £52.

And that’s it: your guide to shopping for a prom suit like a pro. Ready to get started? Get down to your nearest store or take a look at what’s new in online.

Unless your prom has a strict dress code, you’ll have the choice between wearing a suit and a tuxedo. So what’s the deal – they’re both pretty smart, right? Yes, but put simply, one is more formal than the other. The main difference is satin: tuxedo jackets have it and suit jackets generally don’t. But there are a few other things to know before you pick a side.

NICKNAME

Whistle and flute

AT A GLANCE

Smart, but not overly formal. A prom suit gives you lots of freedom to express yourself, with all sorts of fabrics to choose from and plenty of ways to style it.

WEAR WITH

Anything, really. On the more dressed-up side of things, wear with a formal shirt, tie, pocket square and polished shoes. But if you’re happier in casual kit or want to stand out, try a Cuban collar shirt in a can’t-miss-it print and trainers.

KILLER MOVE

Once prom’s nothing but a great memory, a suit can be dusted down and worn again for an interview or your next special occasion.

NICKNAME

The penguin suit

AT A GLANCE

Peak formal. Traditionally defined by sleek satin lapels, a wing-collar shirt and bow tie, a prom tuxedo will also probably have a satin-covered, single-button fastening and it might even have a matching satin stripe down the side of the leg. But our Moss London tuxes and jackets also come in bold colours and metallic fabrics that’ll light up the dancefloor.

WEAR WITH

For classic style, add a dress shirt, black bow tie, black patent shoes, silver cufflinks and a smart dress watch. After something more modern? Ditch the accessories and take the floor in a statement tuxedo jacket.

KILLER MOVE

Ever heard of the tuxedo effect? It’s the idea that when you wear a tuxedo, you’re instantly more attractive. While we can’t promise success with your crush at prom, a pin-sharp tuxedo’s going to go a long way to help.

Think of it this way: your suit might be the hero in your prom outfit, but even the best heroes have a partner in crime. A great prom shirt will make your suit look its best, playing a support role to your overall look. Sometimes it’ll even steal the spotlight. Either way, the two need to work together to get the best results.

Here are four winning suit and shirt combinations to get you going.

Bold, but surprisingly easy to pull off. This season’s graphic-print shirts might seem a little daunting for some, but wearing one with a suit in a very similar shade streamlines the look because there’s less contrast. It also keeps the focus firmly on your statement shirt with only maybe a patterned pocket square to add a shot of contrast colour.

A classic black tux is supposed to be worn with an impeccably pressed white dress shirt and, really, they don’t look as suave with anything else. But this is prom and you’ve got years of sticking to formal black tie rules ahead of you, so feel free to throw a more casual shirt into the mix. It should really still be white for the full tuxedo effect but forgo the traditional bib version in favour of a stud-buttoned one and leave it unfastened at the collar for a more relaxed take.

Gone all out with your jacket? Then you’ll need a solid foundation piece to support it. This prom jacket ticks off metallic brocade cloth and a large-scale floral motif in one – that’s already a lot for any look, so you’ve got to be careful not to stray into ‘too much’ territory. A black shirt is suitably simple but will feel more nighttime-appropriate than a white one, or lean into the gentleman’s lounge look with a block-colour rollneck instead.

It doesn’t get much fresher than a tropical floral pattern. Except a tropical floral shirt paired with this season’s freshest pastel suiting. You don’t need them to match but you’ll want to pick a floral pattern with similarly toned shades to your suit. In this case, the shirt’s pink and red motif complements the suit’s pink cloth, while the high-contrast base colour adds impact.

Got your prom suit sorted? Good. Now for a lesson in accessorising. Note-taking is optional but a well-rounded prom look is essential.

The list of bow tie wearers is a long one, from old Hollywood movie stars to current red carpet regulars and, of course, just about every James Bond ever. In other words: it’s shorthand for suave. Usually worn with a tuxedo, as shown here, but equally as stylish with a three-piece suit. Go for a pre-tied bow tie for ease or, if you’re up for the challenge, here’s how to tie a bow tie from scratch.

Tucking a pocket square into your top pocket is one of the easiest ways to take your look from so-so to sharp. Choose one that complements but contrasts with the colour of your suit. Extra marks for pattern-clashing with your shirt. And while we’re on the subject, there are loads of ways to fold your pocket square, but these two are a good place to start.

Kim and Kanye. Chris and Kem. Suit and tie. There are some pairs that are just meant to be. If you’re wearing a tie to prom there are few things you need to remember. Your tie should be a similar width to your lapels (so a skinny fit suit gets a skinny tie, a mid-width lapel needs a tie that’s little wider). As for colour, you can go one of two routes. For a pulled together look, choose one that’s a similar shade to your outfit. For a bolder look, pick one that’s a contrasting colour, as shown above. Either way, make sure your tie is always darker than your shirt.

We’ll shout about the importance of accessories any time, any place, but sometimes simple really is best. See our boy above – he’s already got a sharp suit in this season’s pastel blue and a graphic print shirt. Anything extra would just be a distraction from a strong look. The lesson here? If you think it looks too much, it probably is.

But even though it’s pre-tied, you’re still going to have to adjust it to fit your neck. Here’s how it’s done.

SHOP BOW TIES

First up, a brief intro on all the parts of your bow tie. Clip A is a T-shaped bar at the end of the strap that goes into the slots on the back to adjust the fit. Clip B is a movable bar on the strap that you’ll connect to clip C, a hook on the back of the bow itself.

1. Take clip A and fold the bow tie’s strap back on itself to a length that will fit snugly around your neck, with clip B at the end

2. Fix the length by sliding clip A into one of the slots on the back of the strap

3. Hook clip B onto clip C to secure your bow tie. If it’s too loose or tight, move clip A into a neighbouring slot to adjust the fit

Once your bow tie’s on, adjust its sides and plump them out a little. A flat bow tie is a sure giveaway that it’s pre-tied. There’s no shame in a pre-tied bow tie but a little artful illusion never hurt anyone.

If you search ‘how to tie a tie’ on YouTube, you’re going to get more advice than anyone’s got time for and loads of different knots to confuse you. Save yourself the bother. As a young guy, the four-in-hand knot is your best bet. Also known as the schoolboy knot, it’s the easiest of the bunch but looks just as good as any other if you get it right.

Here’s how to do it in six steps.

Meet the pocket square: a simple square of fabric that takes an average outfit to something much sharper. There are loads of ways to fold your pocket square, but these two are a good place to start.

Looks fancy, is actually really easy. Most pocket square folds are all about symmetry but this one’s much more low maintenance. It looks best casually ruffled to show off a brightly coloured pattern.

1 – Lay the square on a flat surface
2 – Pinch the square in the middle
3 – Then twist about halfway down
4 – Tuck into your pocket

Basic, but in a good way. The straight fold is crisp, clean and usually worn with a formal tuxedo. It’s also a good option if there’s already a lot of pattern or detail in your suit. Usually seen in white, but also works with other plain colours.

1 – Lay the square on a flat surface
2 – Fold the square in half
3 – Then fold it into thirds
4 – Tuck into your pocket with about 1cm of the folded edge showing at the top