11 tuxedos for women that are both elegant and timeless

Offering the ultimate girl power moment, the best tuxedos for women are a fantastic alternative to sparkly evening wear. With occasion season just around the corner, if you're dreading wearing a dress and prefer something a little more tailored, then a women's tuxedo could be the answer to your black tie prayers. 

Offering instant luxe factor, a well-tailored tux will ensure you stand that bit straighter, walk that bit taller and ooze confidence at any big event this season. The ultimate wardrobe essentials, suiting for women has been a staple for a while. But the best tuxedos for women offer a cool alternative to traditional partywear. A total must-have, we'd argue that a tux is even more classic than the LBD. And if you're a fan of a two piece suit for work engagements, when it comes to what to wear to a wedding this season, a tux should be on your shopping list. 

A great investment piece, the best tuxedos for women can be dressed up or down and work as an alternative to the best cocktail dresses - add a silky cami and heels for a special occasion, or wear the tuxedo jacket with skinny jeans, a tee and trainers for a more directional feel. We do however recommend to always dry clean your jacket and pants together to ensure the color of the fabric remains even.

11 best tuxedos for women to shop this season

A great alternative to the best dresses a tuxedo is ideal for evening wear, and we saw celebrities loving this look when it came to the BAFTAS 2023 best dressed. Wearable as a suit or as separates, a tuxedo can offer greater versatility than a dress, particularly as you can restyle it with ease, adding different tops and accessories. A truly timeless design, these are our favorite tuxedos to slot into your wardrobe for this season and beyond. 

Tailoring made a big impact on the spring/summer fashion trends 2023 and while tuxedos for women might be seen to be more aligned with winter party wear, they're a fantastic alternative to the best wedding guest dresses too. 

Giving a nod to the fashion color trends 2023, this hot pink blazer perfectly exudes Barbiecore style and makes a great addition to a spring capsule wardrobe. The belted silhouette ensures you can highlight your waist and gives this tuxedo a modern feel. Paired with the matching wide leg pants, this tuxedo offers a dressy but relaxed feel, that is ideal for creating and highlighting hourglass figures, as well as skimming hips. 

The pink design can easily be paired with neutral accessories, including heels for a more party-ready feel, or contrast the look with your best white trainers and team the blazer with a white t-shirt for a more casual vibe. 

Wearable together or as separates, this women's tuxedo is one you can wear in so many different ways, and as it is sold as individual items, you can get the perfect top and bottom fit. 

If you're looking to learn how to style a blazer for added luxe factor, regardless of how much your tuxedo jacket costs, the most important thing is fit. A jacket that sits neatly across your shoulder (oversized or not), will immediately look expensive and well tailored. 

Prefer a one-piece? This flattering jumpsuit from Karen Millen will be a hit at any event this summer for a black tie event with a twist, but it can be brought out again when you need your Christmas party outfit, making this a solid investment piece. Evoking a classic tuxedo, this one-piece offers a more directional feel, but keeps it classic with satin lapels and a waist highlighting belt for a universally flattering silhouette. The wrap-front is ideal for a fuller bust and the slightly cropped trouser will help elongate your legs, showing off ankles and your best designer heels, or invest in some embellished mules for a nod to the shoe trends 2023.

While it's available in six colorways, black is of course, the most timeless choice and opting for a black tuxedo jumpsuit means you have an evening piece that you can turn to time and time again, simply switch up your accessories, such as injecting a new season handbag to give this classic look a refreshed feel.

Love the look of tailoring but still want to be in a dress? This mini tuxedo dress is ideal for parties to what to wear on a first date. The tie waist makes it flattering across a midriff, with the satin belt, narrowing your silhouette, while the classic collar and long sleeves make this a chic, statement piece. 

To lean into the youthful feel of the dress, pair with one of the latest boot trends, stompy, lug sole boots to add a bit of edge to this otherwise formal look. You can even experiment by adding colorful or patterned tights.

This chic cropped tuxedo blazer, with coordinating, high-waisted, wide leg tuxedo pants from Polo Ralph Lauren makes for a very chic look indeed. The high waisted pants, feature a pleated wide leg, offering a slightly more relaxed feel, without compromising on style and elegance. Paired with a white shirt, tucked in at the waist, these pants, paired with the cropped jacket deliver the perfect hourglass silhouette. 

While not the most classic of tuxedos for women, this striking set, purchased separately is certainly one you can enjoy for many years. From classic white shirts to silky camisoles, this two-piece can be worn together or as individual items, depending on the occasion, with the cropped jacket easily worn over dresses too. 

For a twist on the classic tuxedo, opt for this Reiss jumpsuit. With the classic hallmarks of a tux - front pleat trousers and satin trimmed collar, this jumpsuit offers a modern finish. A waisted style, for that nipped in effect, the pants leg finish in a flared silhouette, balancing hips and larger busts with ease. The full chiffon sleeves add a feminine twist to this otherwise androgynous style for a look that you can wear again and again. 

As with dresses, a flattering jumpsuit negates the need for too much additional styling and this black tuxedo, just needs simple shoes, a clutch and a statement cocktail ring for a winning look. 

Digital lavender was named WGSN's Color of the Year 2023, making this a great hue to slip into your new season wardrobe. This two-piece takes elements from a traditional tuxedo, giving them a fashionable update, thanks to the polka dot print and jeweled button. An ideal look for wedding season, Christenings or what to wear to the races, this pastel hued tuxedo is available from XXS to a 4XL making it a really inclusive look. With the jacket and pants sold separately you can adapt your size choices to suit your silhouette.

For a simple but elegant look, slip this tuxedo on over a white t-shirt, or silky white camisole to tap into lighter and brighter days. Opt for a new season mule with a pointed toe and neutral clutch to complete the look. When it comes to jewelry, simple silver earrings and a chain with reflect the jacket's jeweled button nicely. 

If you snapped up the pink version last year, Jigsaw have brought out its hit tuxedo for women in white too. Ideal instead of a rehearsal dinner dress, this striking white tux with satin trim is sure to get you noticed. 

Although this look is tailored, the design offers a softer finish, thanks to the wide, waist cinching, sash belt. Rivalling any of the best designer belts, this wrap design can be bowed for a more statement look. Cut from textured crepe, it features a double-breasted button closure, peak lapel and back vent. With matching satin trim pants, this is a truly unique design and if you're looking for a strong alternative to a wedding dress to your big day, this white tuxedo taps into the latest wedding dress trends 2023, that champion tailored separates alongside full-length frocks - just pair with any of the best bridal shoes to complete your look.

Coining one of the best fashion quotes about the tuxedo, French clothing brand founder, Yves Saint Laurent designer of the iconic “Le Smoking” tuxedo said, “For a woman, the tuxedo is an indispensable garment in which she will always feel in style, for it is a stylish garment and not a fashionable garment. Fashions fade, style is eternal.” - a sentiment we whole heartedly agree with.

Subsequently, no round-up could be complete without the one and only Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo jacket. This will make anyone and everyone feel unstoppable because no one does tailoring quite like Laurent. Worn with cigarette pants and a pair of heels as high as you can go, you will not only look amazing but feel amazing too.

As classic as the best tuxedos for women is of course, the LBD (little black dress). A style that never dates and can constantly be reinvented with new accessories, this glamorous wrap dress combines both looks in one. A wrap silhouette is universally flattering, defining and creating waists, flattering busts and skimming silhouettes. To rework this look for spring/summer, add a direction feel with the latest handbag trends 2023 and allow your bag be the statement feature in your outfit. If you've read our piece on 'what color suits me' and are worried about wearing dark colors, add a pop of brightness with some costume jewelry in a shade that flatters your skin tone and taps into the jewelry trends 2023 in on go. 

American clothing brand, Lafayette 148 is a high-end, inclusive fashion brand, making beautiful, timeless pieces, and some of the best plus size clothing that will be at home in any minimalist capsule wardrobe. This gorgeous, cropped wool and silk blazer is tailored to perfection and is ideal for highlighting or creating a nipped-in waist. Wearable with the matching tuxedo pants, this jacket can be slipped over a classic shift dress as a cover-up, or styled with high waisted jeans for a similar, curve-creating effect.

The matching pants have a delightfully tailored fit, with a front pleat to help elongate your legs. Lean into the androgynous aesthetic by styling with the best loafers for women, or add a more party-ready feel by slipping on some stiletto heels.

Suits vs tuxedos: What is a tuxedo?

If you're wondering about the difference between a suit and a tuxedo, the answer is all in the fabric. A tuxedo features satin lapels, often (but not always) in black, regardless of the color of the jacket, the material also tends to have a slight sheen to it too. Occasionally the coordinating trousers will also feature a satin side stripe to add polish to the look.

Introduced to the world by Edward VII when he had a bespoke blue silk tailless smoking jacket made by Savile Row tailors Henry Poole & Co. The jacket style then made its way to America and was worn by millionaire American financier James Brown Potter at the infamous Autumn Ball in Tuxedo Park, New York, and the rest, as they say, is history…

Thanks to their fancier aesthetic, tuxedos are a stylish choice for upping the ante on your partywear. Whether you’re after an alternative to party dresses or the best wedding guest dresses, a tuxedo looks achingly cool and does all the hard work for you, minimal styling needed. A tuxedo always looks instantly glamourous thanks to the satin details.

While the most timeless of tuxedos for women will be in black, there is certainly an increase in designs utilizing color - possibly thanks to the increased popularity of colorful and patterned suits and bright tailored coords. However, these do have the potential to date more quickly than black or white counterparts. 

When it comes to fabric, a regular suit will often be in wool or a wool mix in the winter, with linen a popular choice in the summer. For tuxedos look for the most luxe fabric you can afford. From silk to velvet, it's the finer details that make this look standout. 

While traditionally it's all about a two piece, the popularity of the tuxedo has seen an explosion of tuxedo inspired dresses and jumpsuits which offer a softer and more contemporary take on the trend.

What shoes to wear with a tuxedo

Tuxedos look best teamed with a pair of barely-there heeled sandals, especially if it’s a show-stopping party look you’re going for. Tuxedo suits are predominantly black, so stick to the minimalist look and team with black sandals or courts - both are just as sleek. If you want to up the ante, you can also try a pair of metallic heeled sandals for a touch of sparkle. 

If you're looking for comfortable flats, then opt for a pair with embellishment for a more dressed-up feel. This style works particularly well teamed with wide-leg trousers.

Alternatively, for a more dressed-down look, you can team your tux with a pair of the best white trainers. Much like the best blazer, a tuxedo jacket can be dressed down with footwear, just make sure the trainers are sparkly clean - try our guide on how to clean white shoes - to keep it looking smart and fresh. 

Are tuxedos still in fashion?

Want proof that a good tuxedo for women won't date? They've made several appearances on the red carpet over the decades. Victoria Beckham donned a sleek black tuxedo and simple courts to a charity event back in 2010. Actress Dakota Johnson also wore a black double-breasted design to the InStyle Awards in 2015. And more recently, Gwyneth Paltrow brought the tuxedo back into the spotlight when she re-wore her iconic Gucci red velvet suit to the designer's Love Parade fashion show in Los Angeles in November 2021. She originally donned the two-piece in 1996 to that year's VMA's, proving just how well the tuxedo has stood the test of time. And we don't expect that to change anytime soon.