Halloween will be here before you know it.  Whether it’s an informal party with friends or something a little more organized, having a good costume idea will keep you from the last minute terror of staring into your closet ten minutes before you have to leave to find something that isn’t completely lame to wear.

As Rochester’s favorite menswear & tuxedo retailer, we wanted to put a few creative ideas together for you to use that involve tuxedos.  The nice part about these ideas is that you won’t be spending hours with paint, cardboard or paper machè to create your masterpiece.

If you already have one at home, great — get to work. If you need one to wear (or the one you have doesn’t quite fit)…. well, we know a good place where you might find one. In fact, if you’d like to rent a tuxedo for Halloween, here’s a $50 Savings Certificate.  After all, you need to save a little cash for cider, donuts and those fun-size candy bars, right?

Here are our top 25 ideas:

1. Bond. James Bond. Just add a martini glass. Bonush pointsh if you can do a Sean Connery accshent. Aston Martin sports car is optional.
2. The Most Interesting Man in the World. This ad campaign for Dos Equis beer has been a favorite of ours, as actor Jonathan Goldsmith is frequently clad in a tuxedo in various permutations of their commercials. Stay thirsty my friends!
3. A Formal Apology.  Very easy to pull off — wear a tuxedo and pin a sign to the front saying, “I’m sorry.”  What are you this year? A formal apology. An extra ten points from your more intellectual friends for for creativity.
4. Dumb & Dumber. This 1994 movie with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels featured them clad in outrageous orange and powder blue tuxedos. Since most people don’t have these at the ready, we have a supplier that produces a number of brightly colored tuxedos to help you recreate the look.
5. Downton Abbey Cast Member. Pretend you’re a member of the landed gentry headed to dinner with a formal tailcoat and white tie attire. Extra credit if you get into an argument with some guy named Tom about Irish independence.
6. Bride & Groom.  Have your date grab an old wedding dress (Goodwill perhaps?) and head down the aisle.  A good option for married couples, but avoid if this raises uncomfortable conversations about why you haven’t shown more interest in popping the question to your long-term girlfriend.
7. Zombie Groom. A variation on the above idea. Like bacon, everything is better with zombies. Wear your tux with a little zombie makeup and you’re good to go.
8. Dracula. Start with a tuxedo, add a cape and medallion on a ribbon. Be sure to be home before first light tomorrow morning. Bella Lugosi would be proud.
9. Humphrey Bogart. For a guy with the right build and maybe a resemblance to Bogie, just add a white dinner jacket and a glass of scotch. Here’s lookin’ at you kid.
10. Chippendale Dancer. For the guy with self-confidence to spare, this may be an option.  Not really requiring much in the way of a full tuxedo. A bow-tie, bare chest and tight pants should do the trick. Just don’t go all Chris Farley on us, okay?
11. Psy. Get a wild tuxedo, glasses and the dance down for a great costume. Make sure to have the song, Gangnam Style on your phone to play at any time.
12. A Penguin. Find a cute penguin mask and pair it with a tailcoat tuxedo.
13. Camo Tux/Duck Dynasty Theme.  You never know when you might need to blend into your surroundings with a Mossy Oak or Realtree Camo tuxedo.
14. Zoot Suit. These characteristically featured high waists, long coats and were customarily paired with a fedora or pork pie hat. Bonus points if you sport a large feather.
15. Vintage Prom. You remember your prom right? Big hair for the ladies and a mullet for the guys. Find a vintage style and go with it.  Load the top ten hit songs from 1985 (or whenever you graduated) on your phone.
16. Phantom of the Opera. A tuxedo and a half-mask is all you need to pull off this French legend.  Try not to drop a chandelier on other party guests.
17. Party Animal. We have several animal-print novelty vest/tie combos – a cheetah, zebra, or tiger print that could be worn with a tuxedo or just with a pair of pants and shirt.
18. Jay Gatsby. Very popular after Leonardo DiCaprio’s presentation of this guilded-age tycoon. All you need are some hair products and a cocktail (see James Bond, above) to complete the ensemble.
19. Children’s Tuxedo. Bringing your son to an event? Inexpensive ring-bearer tuxedos are available to make him the best dressed kid in his class.
20. Symphony Conductor. Good evening maestro. Tux it up and add a conductor’s wand (or a piece of dowel from the hardware store) to take us on a musical journey.
21. Magician. Pull a rabbit out of your top hat or saw your lovely assistant in half (be sure to read your magician’s manual before trying this at home).
22. Monopoly Man. Wear a top hat, a tail coat and a curvy mustache. Hand out fake money to other guests at the party.
23. Vintage Hollywood. We already mentioned Humphrey Bogart, but wear a top hat & tails to be your own version of Gene Kelly or other Hollywood legends.
24. Rat Pack Reloaded.  Sinatra, Sammy, Peter, Joey and Dino have passed from the scene, but if you have a group of guys going to a party, why not re-create the Vegas glamor they represented. Tuxes with untied bow ties, a cocktail in one hand and a mic in the other will complete the picture.
25. Titanic. Leo looked great dancing in a tuxedo with Kate Winslet. Bring a date and go as this duo. Add a bucket of ice to complete the illusion.
26. Footloose. Okay, this makes 26 ideas but we believe in over-delivering. You could do a Kevin Bacon-Footloose entrance to your party. This is assuming that dancing is not outlawed in your town.

Whatever you go as this year, be safe and send us some pictures of you in your tuxedo-themed costume.  We’d love to see how it looks!