Prom Magazine is an annual publication issued each January. It is generally considered “The” book by prom goers and retailers who cater to this specialized market

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The magazine’s resident expert, DeBora Rachelle, gave FORMAL TIMES an exclusive preview of what we can expect in men’s prom fashion attire trends. Here are her comments:

“Cummerbunds are definitely out. Full back Vests are in -not the fake ones with just a strap around the neck. Guys plan on taking their jacket off during the dance, so they want the real deal. Black and white tuxedos are always classic and still the hot rave. Two years ago everyone wanted the blue tux from the movie ‘Napoleon Dynamite’. Now blue is a don’t do. Brown in tuxedo colors seems to be the thing for bridal however the guys tend to be staying away from this for prom. No shirts with pleats please! Micro-fiber shirts that are very silky and feel good are very in. Looks like a dress shirt but it’s a special kind of fabric. Tails are out on the tuxedo, 3 to 4 button jackets are great or longer jackets. Longer jackets are going great with fitting the rap mood or baggy pant dudes. Single breasted tuxes are coming on strong.”

“Long ties are in that match the vest in a print or just a plain color – bow ties are out. Prommers are matching the vests to the girls’ dresses. Vests with bright colors are in with oranges, fuchsia, greens, turquoises, reds and blues. A designer tux is a must: FUBU (For Us By Us) is hot designer name right now.”


“Canes, hats and gloves are out. So no need to waste your money.”

“Manufacturers need to produce tuxedos for more informal types of dances with just vest and ties- something you can leave the jacket off with. Perhaps coming up with just a fancy vest or tie for an informal homecoming event? Or super dress shirts that have a built in vest look?”

“Shoes: are staying plainer with the black patent leather with square toes.

“Cuff links: If you can go all out, cuff links with a Prommers initial of their date on them are always nice. “

For more information, contact Prom Magazine Inc., 501 Lake Avenue South, Ste. 102, Duluth, Minnesota 55802 , (218) 727-8100 info@PromMagazine.com.

Now Luxury Marketers Can Find Out What Is Selling and Who Is Buying

The most critical information challenge for marketing executives responsible for building their company’s sales is to have the right information about the target consumers: who they are, what they want, and how much they are willing to pay.

Unity Marketing's Luxury Tracking Service provides just that information.

Dedicated to providing luxury marketers with the vital consumer data they need for marketing decision making, Pam Danziger and her company Unity Marketing have been at the forefront of consumer insights about the luxury market. Since 2002, Pam Danziger, president and founder of Unity Marketing and author of three books, including the latest Shopping: Why We Love It and How Retailers Can Create the Ultimate Shopping Experience, has made understanding the affluent consumer and their passion to shop and buy luxury goods and services a priority.

Unity Marketing’s luxury Tracking Service is the essential tool that luxury marketers use to track the buying and spending trends in the luxury market. Every quarter, subscribers to the Luxury Tracking Service discover what luxury goods and services luxury consumers are buying, how much they are spending, where they are shopping and what brands they favor.

Based upon a quarterly survey of 1,000-1,200 affluent consumers (average income of about $150,000), Unity Marketing provides marketers with the latest insight on luxury consumer trends to help marketers see “over the horizon” and predict where their customers are going, how they are changing and what they will want in the immediate future.

Unity Marketing’s Luxury Tracking Service is more than just a tool to help executives understand the past trends in the luxury market, but helps luxury marketers anticipate changes and shifts coming in the market.
Visit http://www.unitymarketingonline.com/reports2/luxury/luxury3.html to learn more about the scope of coverage in the Luxury Tracking Service and how luxury marketers can customize the service to meet their specific product category and company and competitive brand tracking needs.

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It’s time to make resolutions for next year. Here are comments from two IFA members:

Black Tie Formal Attire-Philadelphia Bob Smith of Black Tie Philly-

“Since you asked, I will tell you that the most important thing I could wish for is for our industry to stop promoting formalwear that closely resembles regular suits. Drop the long ties; stop embracing the idea of suit rentals for destination weddings and get back to tradition. Start promoting cutaways and strollers.”

“Re-invent the classics. Re-promote the allure of wearing formalwear. Capture a new, young customer.”

“Get pro-active with Hollywood and use product placement in movies and television shows-anyone remember when After-Six used to provide the formalwear for the Miss America pageant?”

“Instead of conceding to the casual trend of American males-create new ones that include formalwear.”

Wayne Griner, After Hours Formalwear, VP of Strategic Planning-

“Grow the Business double digit over prior year. Improve service levels/on time delivery in all Service Centers. Reduce Cost per Unit by 5%...Improve quality…Hope all employees have a healthy and prosperous New Year”

FORMAL TIMES thanks Tim Moore, Regional Representative for After Six Formalwear, for providing this:

CHRONOLOGY OF THE FORMALWEAR INDUSTRY OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS

February 1981 - The Weiss family acquires First Nighter Formalwear from the Cohen Brothers who began the company in 1901.

January 1983 -  Raffinati Division of Chromalloy Textile Apparel Group begins first year in tuxedo rental industry. Records $5 million in sales at end of first year…more than double projections.

February 1984 -  After Six-Philadelphia unveils new “Dynasty Collection” of formalwear based on the hit television series for delivery in fall of 1984. Models feature characters from the series. After Six also manufactures tuxedos under the Yves St. Laurent and Bill Blass labels.

July 1984 - Clem Crystal named president of Lord West Accessories.

Fall 1984 - Raffinati introduces Robert Wagner Signature Collection. Hollywood movie star appears in all product ads. After Six- Philadelphia unveils Dynasty Collection based on successful television series.

March 1985 - After Six-Philadelphia and Lord West rejoin AFA (precursor to the IFA) after two-year absence.

February 1986 - Norman Fryman named president of Greif Cos. Fryman had been vice-president of Bidermann Industries and prior to that was senior vice-president of sales at After Six-Philadelphia.

November 1987 - After Six-Philadelphia moves into former 400,000 square foot Keebler Cookie factory. Former eight story 260,000 square foot downtown location sold to IBM. After Six receives $7.4 million in tax exempt financing from city.

July 1988 - After Six-Philadelphia signs licensing deal for Henry Grethel formalwear to introduce for fall 1988 in retail and for Spring 1989 for rental.

March 1990 - Greif Clothing enters the formalwear rental industry for Spring 1991.

August 1990 - 23 Night for Michael Jordan formalwear line introduced by After Six for Spring ’91 delivery.

July 1992 - Edward Kaminow named president of Lord West Formalwear. Harvey Weinstein remains CEO.

July 1992 - After Six-Philadelphia acquired by Baltimore-based CSE Acquisition Corp. CSE is a newly-formed corporation owned by principals of Sterling Capital Ltd. and Allstate Insurance Co.

October 1992 - Noel Feldman named president of After Six-Baltimore

July 1993 - Raffinati Div. of Chromalloy-American gets formalwear license for Oscar de la Renta.

August 1993 - Norman Fryman resigns as president and CEO of Greif Cos.

August 1993 - Lord West president, Harvey Weinstein, is kidnapped and held for $3 million ransom. He is found alive 13 days later in an underground pit in New York City on Amtrak property. He had been kept captive and hidden 14 feet underground in a seven foot wide pit covered by a steel plate, leaves and cinderblocks. His kidnappers, an employee and the employee’s brother-in-law, we’re later arrested.

September 1994 - Team NFL formalwear and accessories unveiled for Spring 1995 by Lord West

November 1994 - Genesco Corp. puts Greif Cos. Division up for sale. Greif made formalwear under the Perry Ellis brand

February 1995 - Lord West acquires Perry Ellis and Chaps by Ralph Lauren labels for rental formalwear from Peerless Clothing

April 1995 - Noel Feldman joins Lord West as executive vice-president

July 1995 - After Six Ltd.-Baltimore acquires direct license for Christian Dior formalwear. Previously was a sublicense from J.Schoeneman/Palm Beach Cos. Division of Plaid Clothing Group

July 1995 - Edward Kaminow named CEO and president of Lord West Formalwear, replacing retiring CEO, Harvey Weinstein. Weinstein was CEO since 1968. Noel Feldmann named president of Lord West Accessories replacing Clem Crystal who will remain as vice-chairman.

November 1995 - Plaid Clothing Group, Inc. announces it will no longer produce Christian Dior formalwear for After Six Ltd.-Baltimore. Plaid had filed for Chapter 11 protection in July

September 1996 - After Six-Baltimore files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

April 1997 - Raffinati acquires After Six trademark for $2.5 million

August 1999 - FUBU is licensed to Pietrafesa for rental market for Spring 2000 delivery

November 1999 - Desai Capital Management acquires 51% stake in Mitchell’s Formalwear. Company currently operates 115 stores

March 2000 - Mitchell’s Formalwear acquires 75 store Nationwide/Small’s Formalwear chain of West Chester, PA

April 2000 - Mitchell’s acquires Master’s Tuxedos three stores in Mobile, AL

April 2000 - Lord West acquires Claiborne/C 2.0 formalwear license from Liz Claiborne

August 2000 - May Department Stores Company acquires David’s Bridal

December 2000  - Gary’s acquires 36-store President Tuxedo chain in northern California

December 2000  - After Hours acquires Michigan-based Sempliner’s Tuxedo World (34 stores in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana

December 2001 - May Department Stores Company acquires After Hours Formalwear from Desai Capital Management for $100 million. (242 stores in 19 states.)

February 2001 - Gary’s (175 stores) and Gingiss International (85 stores/170 franchisees) merge in a stock transaction. Merger creates 430 stores in 33 states, more than 200 stores larger than After Hours Formalwear.

February 2001 - Gingiss announces letter of agreement to acquire President Tuxedo of Michigan. Transaction ends up never happening.

February 2002 - May Department Stores Company acquires Priscilla of Boston brand name and bridal stores.

February 2003 - After Six celebrates 100 years of formalwear

May 2003  - Tuxedo America Group joins with CCA Global Partners to grow their formalwear retailer group to a nationwide presence

June 2003  - May Department Stores Company acquires 23 store Modern Tuxedo chain in Chicago and Indianapolis.

September 2003  - May Department Stores Company acquires Desmond’s Formalwear (66 stores in 10 states)

November 2003 - May Department Stores Company acquires four Formal America- Atlanta stores from Jim’s Formal Wear.

December 2003 - Gary’s Tux Shops abruptly close all 17 Seattle area stores

December 2003 - May Department Stores Company acquires Gingiss Formalwear’s 125 company-owned stores and announces plans to discontinue Gingiss franchise name.

January 2004 - Owensboro, KY-based Mr. Tuxedo abruptly closes 16 Mr. Tuxedo stores in Kentucky and Illinois along with four Top Hat stores in Indianapolis.

March 2004 - Cecil Wimbs named new president of After Six-Athens replacing retiring Bob Bennett.

April 2004  - Tuxedo America Group announces name change to Savvi Formalwear with 26 members representing over 300 stores. Many Gingiss franchises eventually either sign on as Savvi stores or with Buffalo, NY-based Tuxedo Junction as licensees.

December 2004 - Jim’s Formal Wear closes company-owned Castelli by Formal America stores in metro St. Louis.

August 2005 - Federated Department Stores acquires May Department Stores Company. Announce plans to divest themselves of David’s Bridal, Priscilla of Boston, and After Hours Formalwear by 2nd quarter of 2006 fiscal year.

November 2005 - Jim’s Formal Wear Co. acquires Endicott, NY-based Schapiro Formalwear. Some retail stores retained, others closed. Primary acquisition was wholesale rental business. Bridal gown preservation business not part of sale.

December 2005 - Federated Department Stores acquires Boston-based Mr. Tux (40 stores in 6 states).

January 2006 - After Hours changes name of wholesale rental business nationally to Jeffrey Morton by After Hours.

April 2006 - Kathleen Peskens named president of After Six-Athens, succeeding Cecil Wimbs.

July 2006 - Mel Howard Accessories and Formal One end merchandising partnership.

July 2006 - Formal One takes over Lord West operations. Company takes on new name of FLOW, a merger of the letters in Lord West and Formal One.

July 2006 - Elite Accessories and Mel Howard Accessories merge and form merchandising partnership with Formal Wear International (FWI).

July 2006 - Key owners of Savvi Formalwear stores buy out Savvi name from CCA Global and end relations

August 2006 - Men’s Wearhouse announces plans to open new 300,000 square foot tuxedo rental distribution center near Scranton, PA. Also announce plans to open three additional distribution centers in the coming years with plans to rent 3 million tuxedos per year.

November 2006 - Harrisburg, PA-based Capitol Rent-A-Tux closes its doors after nearly 70 years in business. The wholesale account base is turned over to Jim’s Formal Wear and Capitol president Ron Kaplan will assist in the customer transition to Jim’s for a brief period of time.

November 2006  - Key employees of Buffalo-based Tuxedo Junction buy out owner Barry Snyder. The group was led by Mike Bristol and Cal Cleveland. Terms were not disclosed.

November 2006 - Federated Department Stores announces sale of 511 After Hours stores and nine distribution centers to Men‘s Wearhouse for $100 million. A five-year marketing relationship (providing of bridal leads) with David’s Bridal will continue with After Hours and Men’s Wearhouse.

November 2006 - Federated Department Stores announces sale of 269 David’s Bridal and ten Priscilla of Boston stores to Leonard Green & Partners for $750 million. Leonard Green also owns FTD Florists, PETCO, and Sports Authority among other retail ventures.