How to wear a black suit in a non-work / social context ?

[NowPlayingTheGame]

How did you wear a black suit in a non-office setting ?
I always wore office suits with a white shirt and a tie...
But, how do I dress it "down" a little for a wine mixer, for example ?

* If I wear a white dress shirt and NO tie, do I risk looking like a waiter?

* Do I wear a more casual checkered (Bananna Rep/JCrew) dress shirt, the kind that you don't wear a tie with? Keep the top bottom open ?

* Wear a T-shirt under the jacket ?

 

[Xiaogou]

Originally Posted by NowPlayingTheGame

How did you wear a black suit in a non-office setting ?
I always wore office suits with a white shirt and a tie...
But, how do I dress it "down" a little for a wine mixer, for example ?

* If I wear a white dress shirt and NO tie, do I risk looking like a waiter?

* Do I wear a more casual checkered (Bananna Rep/JCrew) dress shirt, the kind that you don't wear a tie with? Keep the top bottom open ?

* Wear a T-shirt under the jacket ?

On weekends when my wife and I go out, she usually wears one of her Armani coctail dresses--black. I feel obligated to wear black as well. This is just my opinion, but I feel that if one person is in black and the other isn't, it is odd. So I usually wear a black suit with a blue striped shirt if it is dinner. During the week, I normally do not wear a black suit at night.

I would avoid the white shirt due to the waiter look.

 

[binge]

Oddly enough, how many men wear their black suits for daytime is probably better suited for night. Take your black suit and white shirt and pair it with a satin tie and a contrasting color yet "flashy" pocketsquare and there you go.

A few months ago, I had a dinner out with a group of friends and I wore a shadow-stripe black suit, white shirt, red satin tie, and white silk pattered pocketsquare with burgundy silk hose and black captoes.

IMO, in the dim lighting of a lounge or restaurant, a black suit provides a subtle backdrop against which to pair some deep, solid colors.