How to Pull Off a Canadian Tuxedo
Double down on double denim this season with styling tips on how to pull off a Canadian tuxedo.
By: Harry Rosen Staff
The Canadian tuxedo is a polarizing look that comes in and out of fashion — you either love it or you hate it — but you can't knock it until you’ve tried it.
Rocking double (or even triple) denim is a rite of passage for every Canadian; it is named after us, after all. However, there are a few basic guidelines to follow if you want to get it right.
This is our surefire guide to pulling off a Canadian tuxedo, so you can have your very own Justin Timberlake – Britney Spears red carpet moment.
When wearing two garments made of the same fabric — whether a suit, sweat suit, or Canadian tuxedo — colour becomes integral to your outfit.
Unless the colour and wash of your fabrics are an exact match, it’s more aesthetically pleasing if they contrast. For example, a light wash pair of jeans with a dark wash denim jacket (or vice versa) is better than two blue washes that look similar but not the same.
Don’t forget about white denim either! A pair of white jeans and a blue trucker jacket is an effortless combination that still counts as double denim.
When doubling up, let your denim do the talking — a Canadian tuxedo is a bold look on its own, so pare it down with a neutral underpinning to tie the outfit together.
Whether it’s a T-shirt, thermal, hoodie, or other underpinning, keep anything you wear underneath your denim jacket, overshirts, or button-up a plain, neutral colour.
Wearing double denim doesn’t necessarily require a trucker jacket — alternatively, you can also wear a denim or chambray shirt, overshirt, or chore coat to achieve a similar look.
Playing with a variance of weight can help create a more cohesive look, and if you’re really bold, you can even use it to combine a third denim piece into an outfit as well.
The easiest way to go triple denim is with a pair of jeans, a chambray button-up, and a denim jacket; also known as the three-piece Canadian tuxedo.
When denim makes up most of your outfit, your accessories become even more important.
Between your shoes, belt, hat, watch, and other pieces of jewellery, there are lots of ways to accessorize a double denim look, and while it’s easy to overdo it with accessories, including a few will provide contrast and help balance your outfit.
When it comes to shoes and belts, textured materials like suede and leather naturally complement the rugged, matte finish of denim, creating a cohesive look. In contrast, the sheen of metal watches and jewelry provides an elegant counterpoint, adding polish to denim’s hard-wearing aesthetic.
