The State of Black Tie: Your Observations - Page 51

The larger travesty is the fashion-y cut. Low-rise trousers, high button, gorge almost at the shoulders, bum freezer length... Ugh.

Well, my cummerbund (and braces) arrived from Clermont Direct today, and it is beautiful. Already looking forward to wearing it Friday to the Frankfurt Opera (Wedding of Figaro), though would have loved to wear it last Saturday at La Traviata as well. Now to have buttons sewn onto my trousers.

Any suggestions to source an inexpensive nice white silk tassled scarf and some white braces?

White moire braces by Albert Thurston (James Bond-approved)
http://store.asuitablewardrobe.net/whitemoireveningbraces.aspx

White silk scarf by Turnbull & Asser (completed eBay listing; this seller has listed multiple T&A formal scarves so they may turn up with more)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261134853785

Not sure which of the other usual suspects (Brooks Brothers, Robert Talbott, Jos. A Bank etc.) carry both but this is definitely the time of year to be looking as a lot of BB formalwear has become only seasonally available.

Is ivory acceptable for the scarf/braces or is that weird?

Avoid Jos. A Bank for braces! The leather used on the waistband attachments (formal versions may not have these; they may be textile) and the center piece on the back are cheap and poorly dyed. As a result I've gotten marks on my shirts.


Don't use a scarf personally, but my braces are ivory and I see nothing wrong with that. They're Trafalgar's silk variety, designed as formalwear, and quite nice, IMO.

I picked them up at a Barney's sale a year or so ago for a very good price and would recommend checking their stores near the end of the sale this year.

Finally have all my tux accessories after receiving my remade Indochino tuxedo.  It's the best I could do given my current budget.  Cummerbund is RL Polo (bought it for 50% off on ebay, new).  Bowtie is from the Tie Bar, 100% silk.  

 

The fit may not be 100% amazing, but it's pretty decent for what I paid.  Shoes (not pictured) are Brooks Brothers patent lace up bals.  Still need a white linen pocket square.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wall Street Journal takes a sartorial hatchet to evening dress:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323401904578157330216185470.html

Follow the link. You need the pictures for the full effect.

Oh, God. That is awful.

If I hadn't already switched to the FT, that would pretty much do it.

 

Sweet mother of god.

When I spotted this post, I couldn't help but think of this exchange from 30 Rock:

C'mon, guys, that's pretty standard SW&D stuff.

 

Exactly our point.

Still not as good as the time Jack got mugged and Liz comes back to find him in his tuxedo (middle of the afternoon). She asks why he's wearing a tux and he explains that his cufflinks were stolen, the only other pair he had were tuxedo cufflinks and to wear them without a tuxedo would be unheard of.