The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[Parterre]

That's Charlotte and Andrea Casiraghi, isn't it?

Cummerbund innovation? At which point do quirks go from playful to disrespectful to ridiculous?

 

[TimelesStyle]



^New here, much?
Over at Politico there's some photos of the White House state dinner last night. Interesting to me was how few peak lapels there were, although it looks like Joe did his part.

Secretary Hague was by far the best, followed closely by the British PM (with the sole shawl, from what I could see). Warren Buffett got the peaks right, but seems to have forgotten collar stays.

 

[poorsod]



^New here, much?
Over at Politico there's some photos of the White House state dinner last night. Interesting to me was how few peak lapels there were, although it looks like Joe did his part.

The State dinner is no longer the white tie affair it used to be. So disappointing.

 

[F. Corbera]

I hate to say it, but Michelle Obama might be the worst dressed First Lady ever.

 

[TimelesStyle]



I hate to say it, but Michelle Obama might be the worst dressed First Lady ever.

Only problem I have is with the hairdo. While I'm guessing you meant US First Ladies, just look at her next to her British counterpart, who appears to have gone for the geisha look (in terms of her dress).

 

[comrade]



That's better than all of the banners outside the LA philharmonic (or opera, can't remember): they have photos of their musical director in what would be a white tie getup, but with a black tie and waistcoat...

That would be a waiter where I come from.

 

[recondite]

Exactly.

Give him striped pants and a butler he would look.

That would be a waiter where I come from.

 

[comrade]



I like the sash. It's jaunty in that Fred-Astaire-tie-as-belt kind of way.
Also, F. Corb, I'm constantly impressed with your nuggets of sartorial trivia.

You want jaunty. I give you the paragon of insouciance:

Professor Irwin Corey

http://halsf.tumblr.com/post/3294344792/professor-irwin-corey-heres-a-video-recounting

 

[comrade]



I hate to say it, but Michelle Obama might be the worst dressed First Lady ever.

I guess you are too young to remember Bess Truman, or Mamie Eisenhower.

 

[comrade]

Samantha Cameron is what Woody Allen referred to as the "Anglo-Sexual" type.
Beautiful in a patrician way as befits a descendant of King Charles II and who did not
grow up in a tract home:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha_Cameron

 

[Parterre]

The State dinner is no longer the white tie affair it used to be. So disappointing.

Since Cameron is not the head of state, that was not a state dinner but merely an official one. Regardless, most state dinners are black-tie.

 

[Bounder]



You'd be surprised at how cheaply you can pick one up and how often you will actually wear it.

+1 Absolutely true. In fact, tuxedos are one of the few items of clothing I think you can reliably pick up on ebay. When someone says a tuxedo has been worn only once, it's probably true. There are a lot of DJs that someone bought for their wedding and never wore again.

I hate to say it, but Michelle Obama might be the worst dressed First Lady ever.

I don't know what you're talking about, I'm sure.

The State dinner is no longer the white tie affair it used to be. So disappointing.

George Bush had one white tie dinner in eight years. I think Clinton had only one as well. I don't think it's what it used to be for quite a while now.

 

[emc894]

Just noticed this slightly unusual combination on Jean Dujardin's wiki page. looks like navy facings on a black jacket. It doesn't look bad, and in in the company of a weird hollywood black tie, could be a good option. Its not something I would wear though.

 

[akatsuki]

To get back to black tie, is there a choice in detachable collared shirts available besides the BB shirt?

 

[TimelesStyle]



To get back to black tie, is there a choice in detachable collared shirts available besides the BB shirt?

Haven't really seen any, but perhaps some of the English shirt makers discussed here from time to time do one. However I'm curious: Why would you want/need one for black tie? White tie I understand, but for black tie it seems like more trouble than it's worth.