Ugly Black-Tie.

I was browsing the NYSocialDiary and I couldn't find a formal outfit that was even vaugely elegant. All the trousers were pooling around cheap shoes, jackets pulling against beer bellies, all the lapels that were too shiny and all the people just looked shoddy. Of course, there was a surfeit of notch lapels. Now, I assume the majority of those people are wealthy individuals; but they all looked like people up for an award for say, Film Editing, or Michael Moore. The other spectrum, I suppose, are the presumed tastemakers, whose taste is more suited for Urban Outfitters given the thrift-store effects they achieved with their versions of creative formal wear. I couldn't even find anyone who looked cool from breaking the rules. Harold Koda--for someone who is the head of the Costume Institute, I wouldn't expect something that looked it came out of the Mens Wearhouse Prom bin: Why are trousers always looking like they were made for Thunder Thighs? Tom Ford has evidently gained weight: David Lauren--Ralph Lauren's son--who perhaps escaped from an '80s prom: Valentino in a three-buttoned black suit like thing:

At least most of the example you have shown are of peak lapels. In Koda's case he is actually quite correctly dressed, only that his dinner clothes fit him surprisingly poorly (coat a bit too long for him and needing a bit more waist suppression). You are right about Ford looking like an overstuffed sausage. I personally have nothing against the 6x1 coat but it just looks like Lauren is wearing tight black jeans with that rather fully cut coat, resulting in a gross mismatch. Valentino has successfully managed to do everything possible to make himself look even shorter than he really is. He has chosen to accentuate his lack of height with a coat a tad too long for him, cummerbund creating a strong horizontal line, trousers with an excessive break for his height, three button DJ (!), gorge of only average height - and as the coup de grace a partner much taller than he.

Are those Kenneth Coles?

Originally Posted by Sator

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and as the coup de grace a partner much taller than he.

Ahh ... but it makes slow dancing so much more fun.


That, and leg room in coach, are the greatest advantages to being 5'3".

Originally Posted by amerikajinda

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Are those Kenneth Coles?

This is just an awful look. It seems like he is wearing black jeans with Harley boots and the ugliest db tux jacket ever + it's not really his size + the bowtie is too small for a jacket with lapels that almost touch the shoulders...

Originally Posted by LabelKing

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...Of course, there was a surfeit of notch lapels.

I'm not a fan, but they are here to stay. I personally think that they are better suited to a night at the clubs (they are, after all, the most casual version of eveningwear) then to a black-tie event, but the world disagrees with me.

Originally Posted by Sator

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Valentino has successfully managed to do everything possible to make himself look even shorter than he really is. He has chosen to accentuate his lack of height with a coat a tad too long for him, cummerbund creating a strong horizontal line, trousers with an excessive break for his height, three button DJ (!), gorge of only average height - and as the coup de grace a partner much taller than he.

Is that really his date? It looks like jennifer garner, but i'm not sure.

Originally Posted by Sator

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and as the coup de grace a partner much taller than he.
Let's not miss the forest for the trees here. Yeah, it's Jennifer Garner.

I personally think that they are better suited to a night at the clubs (they are, after all, the most casual version of eveningwear) then to a black-tie event, but the world disagrees with me.

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No, I agree. There are some places just not necessarily suited for a peak lapel, IMO.

JB

I think Mr. Koda should at least score a couple of points for wearing the right sort of thing. But the others are mostly awful.

It's a shame that David Lauren missed his chance to kick it up another notch by wearing high-top Air Jordans. That would have really completed the ensemble.

Koda's outfit looks like it was made for someone at least a size larger than him.

David Lauren's outfit is the worst of the bunch. It's like he just threw on a bunch of stuff together that was on the floor.

Originally Posted by LA Guy

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I'm not a fan, but they are here to stay. I personally think that they are better suited to a night at the clubs (they are, after all, the most casual version of eveningwear) then to a black-tie event, but the world disagrees with me.

I'm not a fan either, but I'll admit there are some instances where it can at least look acceptable.

Originally Posted by Sator

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Valentino has successfully managed to do everything possible to make himself look even shorter than he really is. He has chosen to accentuate his lack of height with a coat a tad too long for him, cummerbund creating a strong horizontal line, trousers with an excessive break for his height, three button DJ (!), gorge of only average height - and as the coup de grace a partner much taller than he.
Valentino's shoes are awful. They look like slightly pointed black Timberlands.

I was thinking on this thread today... maybe this is material for a new thread.

Seems to me that the only people interested in clasic elegance, well made shoes and beautiful canvased suits are ....

US

Yes... Us in the forum.

I reallly don't know nobody else in real life that know something about this things or searches for this clasic elegance we pursue.

Even the guys I know who take good care of themselves and dress up and are considered as the best dressed of the bunch... wear glued square toed shoes and fused suits that don't fit well.

What happens ?

Are we right and the rest of the world wrong ?

Or are we just the ones that are left behind in the past ?

Off course I know what everybody here will say

But maybe for a moment, step out of the rut.

Why if the whole world is embracing this kind of clothing and style, are we going against the stream ?

I even once showed the forum pages to a friend ( a hot chick the kind we all want to get )... I showed her some pages and specially the shoe Appreciation pages... Her reaction.. "Oh those shoes are ugly" go figure...

While Koda's outfit could be a bit more fitted, I'd rather see more people dressed like him at black-ties than the others, or even what I've seen in person at black-tie events I've attended recently. I think Koda is even wearing patent pumps with a grosgrain ribbon.