The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[The Chai]

New shawl lapel
Otw

 

[dan'l]

^with a seam in the back?

 

[The Chai]

^with a seam in the back?

Heh u remembered? Nah no seam. ‘No seam is the way it should be made’ - Chai tailor 2019

Satin lapels with grosgrain buttons (I dislike satin buttons) and a braid with dark navy dormeuil super Brio mohair

 

[dan'l]

Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

I wonder how your tailor will manage w/o the seam, since there seems to be less adjustment possibilities.

 

[philosophe]

Looking great, Crusty! Wear it in good health.

 

[BlairW]

Advice please:

Have an event next week - I have a blue velvet dinner jacket but I don't have tux trousers. Can I wear charcoal? So blue dinner jacket, white shirt, black bowtie and charcoal trousers??

 

[Oshare]

Advice please:

Have an event next week - I have a blue velvet dinner jacket but I don't have tux trousers. Can I wear charcoal? So blue dinner jacket, white shirt, black bowtie and charcoal trousers??

What's the event? Does the invitation specifically say Black Tie or Formal?
Personally, I think that black trousers would be better, but if it's not a brightly lit venue then you could probably get away with charcoal as long as they are very dark and don't have a noticeable pattern or texturing on them.

If it's not a strictly black tie / (semi) formal event, but rather a dress up social gathering where people are not expecting best-effort conformance to black tie standards, maybe no one will notice or care much?

Out of curiosity, what kind of shoes do you have? I find non-dress shoes to be a bit more noticeable than trousers.

 

[BlairW]

It's Black Tie optional and is a dealer awards night. I've got some plain black oxfords so figured thats pretty standard. Agree black trousers definitely better however I just don't have any..

 

[Oshare]

It's Black Tie optional and is a dealer awards night. I've got some plain black oxfords so figured thats pretty standard. Agree black trousers definitely better however I just don't have any..

If it's black tie optional and a crowd not accustomed to wearing traditional black tie, then I'd guess the charcoal trousers would be fine and you'd likely not have many people critiquing your outfit anyway. Have fun!

 

[BlairW]

Yes I half thought the same. Cheers @Oshare !

 

[am55]

I'd personally avoid going "butchered black tie" and, if the event says optional, pick a conservative suit, white shirt and sober tie instead. My experience in the region (admittedly not NZ, but definitely across the Tasman Sea, and in ASEAN) is that those who "experimented" with black tie looked substantially worse than those who put on their best suit. Your suggestion - blue odd jacket and charcoal trousers - may even look more casual than a suit.

 

[BlairW]

Yes, you may well be right. I think I’m actually just looking for a reason to wear the jacket to be honest. Guess I should probably just buy some black trousers huh?

 

[The Chai]

I usually wear a navy/midnight suit with a midnight bow tie. No one is the wiser

Yes, you may well be right. I think I’m actually just looking for a reason to wear the jacket to be honest. Guess I should probably just buy some black trousers huh?

 

[am55]

Yes, you may well be right. I think I’m actually just looking for a reason to wear the jacket to be honest. Guess I should probably just buy some black trousers huh?

I suspect black tie trousers are inexpensive and worth it although finding them quickly in NZ might be an issue. You need that stripe on the side to mark your fit as black tie, though. But it probably doesn't matter given how casual the entire region is. More for your own satisfaction... and given how neat your fits generally are here, am I incorrect in guessing you do care?

Don't forget a waist covering, easiest and cheapest to find a black cummerbund somewhere.

 

[BlairW]

I do care, and it’s kind of frustrating! Opportunities to attend a black tie (optional or not) event are few and far between and then when you do it properly you’re often overdressed in comparison.

Will end up wearing a boring old suit