Black Tie Functions- black bowtie? cravat? cummerband?

[xarope]

If the dress code is black tie, does the bow tie have to be black? I have a black as well as burgundy, also a black+white cravat, and have always worn either depending on my mood at the time of dressing (I used to attend a lot of functions, not that many nowadays), but the increase in questions on black-tie have got me thinking now. Or is the cravat strictly off-limits (too informal) for a dinner function?

How about a cummerband? My favourite is to wear the DB (I'm not so fond of the way I look in my SB), would it end up looking too busy for a DB w/cummerband?

Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[Anthony Jordan]

Originally Posted by xarope

If the dress code is black tie, does the bow tie have to be black? I have a black as well as burgundy, also a black+white cravat, and have always worn either depending on my mood at the time of dressing (I used to attend a lot of functions, not that many nowadays), but the increase in questions on black-tie have got me thinking now. Or is the cravat strictly off-limits (too informal) for a dinner function?

How about a cummerband? My favourite is to wear the DB (I'm not so fond of the way I look in my SB), would it end up looking too busy for a DB w/cummerband?

Enquiring minds want to know!

Suggest cummerbund is unnecessary with d/b and might be heating; it shouldn't look busy, though, unless you choose to unbutton the jacket. I think your intuition with regard to the cravat is correct and I would say black bow tie is preferable to any other colour.

Anthony.

 

[whoopee]

Should be black.

 

[The False Prophet]

I understand that the bow tie should match the facings on your dinner jacket. So, black silk for black silk, black grosgrain for black grosgrain. If you had a midnight blue tux with blue silk facings (there are debates elsewhere over whether this is preferable to black silk, I do not express an opinion on that), I would imagine you should procure a midnight blue silk bowtie.

As for the cummerbund, it's right to say that it ought not be visible while you're wearing a DB jacket. Should you want to remove that jacket, it will cover the waistband of your trousers, however, which is desirable. If you have Daks tops on your trousers, this is the look you want. If you are wearing braces, and plan on doffing the jacket, you'll need a waistcoat, I'm afraid.

As to what formal waistcoat to wear with a DB DJ, I have no idea!

 

[TCN]

Originally Posted by The False Prophet

I understand that the bow tie should match the facings on your dinner jacket. So, black silk for black silk, black grosgrain for black grosgrain. If you had a midnight blue tux with blue silk facings (there are debates elsewhere over whether this is preferable to black silk, I do not express an opinion on that), I would imagine you should procure a midnight blue silk bowtie.

As for the cummerbund, it's right to say that it ought not be visible while you're wearing a DB jacket. Should you want to remove that jacket, it will cover the waistband of your trousers, however, which is desirable. If you have Daks tops on your trousers, this is the look you want. If you are wearing braces, and plan on doffing the jacket, you'll need a waistcoat, I'm afraid.

As to what formal waistcoat to wear with a DB DJ, I have no idea!

The correct facings for a midnight blue DJ would be black (grosgrain preferrably).