When in doubt wear red.
It's OK to wear white in the wintertime. Do what you want.
I have four or five custom suits, including one that's velvet, and a gray one I wear onstage. It's wool.
There are certain tuxes you can get away with a black tie, but with others, you'd be dishonoring the workmanship if you didn't wear a full bow tie.
The yoke you wear determines the burden you bear.
