seriously?

[rm]

I have just discovered that my tux, which while fitted/designed here is constructed abroad, is stuck in customs, and while the lovely ladies of Duchess are doing everything they can, with the impending holiday, I think there's a very good chance I may not have it for the cruise.

And if, but some miracle, it can get to me in time, it may be necessary to ship it to my parents house to ensure delivery, which is not, even remotely, an ideal scenario (ETA: just updated my mother on this and she was oddly sanguine and not jumpy as she usually is about my gender stuff because "it's like Ellen (Degeneres)"). Also time for alterations = none, and I'll have to pray it's as perfectly fitted as my other two Duchess suits.

When I found this out earlier I had to laugh for the sheer absurdity of it. And it's certainly one of those things beyond everyone's control.

But seriously? I'm not happy about the prospect of having to choose between the level of formality I'm comfortable with (i.e., formal with my evening gowns -- I was planning to bring two, but now may bring three as I had planned to reserve my suits for the semi-formal nights) and the gender I'm comfortable with (when I don't want to wear women's clothes, I really can't stand to, and it's not always predictable) while on the boat.

I also.... Jesus, I'll have plenty of occasions to wear the thing, so that's no big deal, but how much do I not, for reasons somewhat complicated, want the first time I wear it to be at Gally?

AAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRgh!

2009.

Fucking hell.

Comments

[magicwoman.livejournal.com]

I hope it arrives on time...

I agree with your sentiment about 2009. Seriously, I've had things, events, people delayed for the silliest of reasons. I'm ready for a bit of order.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

GAH!

Is it possible that they're waiting on you to file some damfool form. I had to do ditto when rush-importing the linen for my mother's shroud. Turns out the factory thought I should have filed it, and I thought *they* should have filed it.

The nice chaps at customs explained (it was to do with the value of the package and it being a purchased item, not a gift) and let me fax the form to them and they released the package later that day.

Mind you, the fact that I kept mentioning that my dying mother was hanging on, waiting for the linen (she was) might have helped move things along.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't have to do anything, Duchess does it for me, and they are trying to sort it... so at least I'm not on the fucking phone about it too, but I could just scream. It's a good distraction from the cat thing, except I don't really want a distraction.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

ALL of Draco's custom costumes and outfits were stuck in customs as we ventured out to LUMOS, ou5t first HP con. Thankfully Whimsic Alley outfitted him nicely, as the boxes were not released until the last day of the con, too late for our emergency shipment plan. Now we laugh ... ;-)

I hope the tux is released soon.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

If it gets release tomorrow or the 31st or on the 2nd, we can get it to me. But we're seriously running out of days.

I'm thinking I need to go buy some white dress shirts and a nice black tie, so if I feel I have to wear a suit on one of the formal nights it'll at least look like that horrid Hollywood habit of not wearing tuxes, but thinking a long black tie and a black suit is fine if they are expensive enough. I hate that, but, what can you do?

[zeldajean.livejournal.com]

Backup plans are what they are, and yours is good. :)

Here's hoping things work out that you get to wear your tux should you so desire :)

[marchek.livejournal.com]

Your back up plans are sound.

Having never been on a cruise, do the men at the formal nights generally own their own tuxes or somehow do a long-term rental? Either way, chances are your custom black suit is far more impeccable than what most men will be wearing even if it's not technically correct.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Dark suits are, god help us, I hate 2009, somehow considered appropriate for the formal nights, and I've been told that only about 40% of the men wear tuxes -- and yes, largely rentals through the cruise line -- there's forms for that shit with all our registration. So yeah, I'll look better, but I'll be _cranky_ -- actually once I'm on the trip, I doubt I'll be cranky at all.

[marchek.livejournal.com]

You'll have Patty, sunshine, and probably more plot bunnies than the world is ready for. I doubt you'll be cranky at all ;)

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

Know you any places that sell vintage tuxes, you may be able to get a little emergency tailoring done, but even if not, your backup plan is solid. A gentleman always has something on hand.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I'm so slight, custom is the one true way. At least if the tux comes in time and all it needs are the slacks hemmed (the main thing I'm worried about) I can do that myself, no matter how irritating it may be.

[delchi.livejournal.com]

The generic black suit has always worked for me , but then again I'm not as formal as you are ( as yet :) ). I won't claim that I pioneered the black shirt with the black suit, but it stands out in the sea of rented white shirts IMHO.

Ps : Thanks for the link earlier to the studs. I've been shopping for cuff links and that site had exactly what I was looking for.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Also, if you get really bored -- cufflinks.com -- most of it's ugly, but some of it's great or amusing.

[snufflesdbear.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good backup plan. It's all in how you wear it, ya know? But, if you do need it shipped somewhere other than to your home, how about directly to the cruise line? They should have a "hold for", like I've done for conventions,where you ship to a hotel for pick up.

I hope it works out, 'cause I am looking forward to seeing pictures of you in it (I hope, and the gowns, too).

Oh, and be careful not to get sunburned. That's my only cruise advise. *ouchie*

[pin-drop.livejournal.com]

when I don't want to wear women's clothes, I really can't stand to, and it's not always predictable

This, absolutely! When I travel I always feel like I'm packing for two different people. (An imprecise way of explaining what I mean, but I hope you'll understand anyway. "Two different possible mes" is closer, but sounds odd.) True story: due to an accidental luggage switcheroo last summer, I got stuck in North Carolina for a week with two pairs of skinny jeans, stiletto heels, a really femme power suit and a couple of hideously lacy pastel button-down blouses. All of it fit reasonably well (a minor miracle in and of itself) but I can't tell you how itchy I was.

I really hope your things arrive in time, and in good order. Either way, try to have fun on your cruise.