The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[OTM]

Dreamt of rocking a standard get-up but with a very light colored lilac shirt with covered buttons. Skip the pocket square altogether.

Even a faint paisley pattern to the shirt. I spend too much time on SF.

 

[archibaldleach]

^ I'd think too much time on SF would talk you out of such a thing.

 

[OTM]

Haha! Good point

I guess my own standard advice applies: Get to 10 yearly black tie events, after that one can get adventurous in evening wear.

 

[archibaldleach]

^ Good advice. Of course, if you manage to get to 10 black tie events per year, one of them is going to probably be called something like "creative black tie," which may be a decent excuse to do something crazy.

 

[ShawnBC]

I'm not sure I'll be able to attend 10 black tie events in my life.

 

[archibaldleach]



I'm not sure I'll be able to attend 10 black tie events in my life.

"F-ck it. It's New Year's Eve. I'm wearing black tie." - Multiply by number of years you expect to live. Boom. I would have done this the last couple of years were I not attending a black tie charity party the day before New Year's Eve (didn't want to wear the dinner jacket two days in a row).

In all seriousness, I get that it can be tough to find black tie events. If you don't mind being in the well-dressed minority (depending on the event), you can probably start by looking at black tie optional events. I probably get to 5 or so events per year and that's in a major city with a decent charity circuit.

 

[TimelesStyle]



I probably get to 5 or so events per year and that's in a major city with a decent charity circuit.

My problem is I spent too much on the tux, now don't have anything left to donate to charity... Darn.

 

[Tried and True]

I think that the type of event can dictate how straight you play it with your Black Tie rig. At an event for, say, the Council on Foreign Relations, you'd probably want to stick to the 'classic' look. But for an event at the Museum of Modern Art you might trot out the ruffles.

 

[TimelesStyle]



I think that the type of event can dictate how straight you play it with your Black Tie rig. At an event for, say, the Council on Foreign Relations, you'd probably want to stick to the 'classic' look. But for an event at the Museum of Modern Art you might trot out the ruffles.

Yes, if you'd prefer to be an exhibit, rather than a patron.

 

[chobochobo]



Dreamt of rocking a standard get-up but with a very light colored lilac shirt with covered buttons. Skip the pocket square altogether.

Even a faint paisley pattern to the shirt. I spend too much time on SF.

I got a shirt made up with a pique bib but the sleeves and body were a white on white paisley that was covered up otherwise. I like it and wore it for my wedding.

 

[archibaldleach]



Yes, if you'd prefer to be an exhibit, rather than a patron.

+1.

 

[Tried and True]



Yes, if you'd prefer to be an exhibit, rather than a patron.

A ruffled shirt wouldn't garner a single glance on the art circuit where the likes of Eva and Adele are fixtures.

Having attended myriad Black Tie events (over fifty in one year alone), spanning the spectrum of formality, I may have a different perspective than others here. I suppose if you attended just one or two events a year you might want everything to be 'correct.'

 

[TimelesStyle]



I got a shirt made up with a pique bib but the sleeves and body were a white on white paisley that was covered up otherwise. I like it and wore it for my wedding.

I like that actually. To me that's the same as going with really loud/fun braces or jacket lining; you know it's there, you did it to make your garment "different" but outwardly it appears completely traditional.

 

[NeedForTweed123]

Is a wing collar shirt with a bibbed front incorrect?

 

[Mariokartfever]

Is a wing collar shirt with a bibbed front incorrect?

I think turndown collar for Tux has been the norm since WW2

I heard somewhere that winged collars should be worn with white dinner jackets, but don't quote me on that