Prom season is here, and this year I got to help my son pull together his outfit—which, honestly, is one of my favorite kinds of mom projects. Even better, he’s taking a friend, so we got to coordinate two looks that feel unique but still go together.
The Vision: A Retro Vibe (with a Modern Twist)
We didn’t want the typical all-black rental suit look. Nothing wrong with that—but if you know my son, you know he likes a little personality in what he wears. His favorite color is green, so that became our starting point.
We ended up going with a green tweed suit set—vest, jacket, and pants. I know tweed leans a little more fall, but that’s actually what makes it fun. It gives the whole outfit a slightly retro, classic feel that stands out in a sea of basic prom looks.
And the best part?
Suit rentals are usually around $100 or more, and we found this set on sale for about $70. So not only does he get to keep it, but it was cheaper than renting.
Pulling It All Together
Once we had the suit, we added:
- A green dress shirt to keep the look cohesive
- A green tie with white floral detail (this might be my favorite part—it softens the look just enough)
- His brown dress shoes that he already owned
- A simple four-pack of dress socks (because somehow we are always missing those)
I really tried to stick with the idea of using what we already had and just filling in the gaps. Prom can get expensive fast, so any place you can save helps.
Coordinating with His Friend
Since he’s going with a friend (not a traditional date), I still wanted their outfits to complement each other without being too “matchy.”
His friend already had:
- A black shirt
- Black pants
So instead of buying a whole new outfit, we built off that:
- Added a brown vest
- Found a tie with green and neutral floral tones
It ties their looks together perfectly—the green in my son’s outfit shows up subtly in his friend’s tie, and the brown elements keep everything grounded.
The Boutonniere (A Real-Life Shortcut)
Originally, I planned to make the boutonniere myself. I’ve done it before—homecoming a couple years ago cost me exactly $0 because I just used greenery from outside.
But this time? It’s still early in the season, and we don’t have much growing yet.
So I found a two-pack of simple white boutonnières with greenery that looked exactly like what I had in mind—and honestly, it probably would’ve cost more (and taken more time) to DIY it this time around.
Sometimes convenience wins.
Keeping It Budget-Friendly
One thing I always try to keep in mind with events like prom is this:
You don’t have to start from scratch.
If you already have basics like:
- Black pants
- A good pair of shoes
- A neutral shirt
You can build an entire look around those pieces. That’s actually why I linked similar black golf pants my son already owns—they’re a great example of something that can be dressed up without buying something brand new.
Final Thoughts
I love how this all came together. It’s:
- Personal (green is his favorite color)
- A little different (that tweed + floral combo)
- Budget-conscious
- And still totally prom-worthy
I really think both of them are going to stand out—in the best way—while still looking put together as a pair.
And honestly, that’s the goal: feeling confident, comfortable, and just a little bit different from everyone else.
Green Suit, Shirt, Tie with white/brown flowers, black pants, Green Tie, Shoe, Green Socks. Boutonnière, Vest
