The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[recondite]

oops

 

[johnvw]

The bottom one is just about right wrong - a bow tie should be the same width as that of your eyes face to be correct!

FTFY.

No matter how narrow the ribbon, the bow of the knot must be as wide as your face, or it will look wrong. The end. The only exception to this rule is a bolo tie, which does not create a bow at all.

A bulky face, looks best with a bulky bow, but a narrow ribbon will be acceptable if the bow is wide enough to match the face, regardless of lapel width or any other factor.This is why the lapels in the example upon which you commented are actually outstandingly good, where the bowtie is horrible.

The lapels are best matched to the width of the space between face and the edge of the shoulder; fashion be damned. This is doubly true with peak lapels compared to shawl lapels.

Stop being fashionable and start being stylish or dressing to look your best, and you will never again worry about looking like any of the above disasters.

It would be better to dress in costume such as 1930's white tie or 1970's tuxedo regalia if the fashion suits your style, then to try fit yourself to any contemporary fashion.

Well-said. This seems to explain why I find the tie in the bottom picture too small. Thank you for this post.

 

[Kaplan]



I ask, however, all wide bowtie wearers to try, at least experimentally, making their bows no wider than their eyes.

 

[unbelragazzo]

Is it just me or is Cooper's bow less wide than his eyes? The left (his right) seems to be about aligned with his right eye, on the other side it doesn't reach the outside of his eye (at least the front bow)

 

[TimelesStyle]

The more I look at it the more I think that the issue with Cooper's bow isn't the width, rather the shape. A bow of that shape, regardless of size, looks like it would be more at home with a smoking jacket or at the very least a shawl lapel, while Cooper's peak jacket is better suited to the more angular bows we usually see. Put a bow with sharp, triangular sides on him, even at that width, and the whole look changes, IMO.

I also think he may need to adjust the length in back a bit. Notice that the back parts seem to be narrower than the front, so he either needs to pull the whole thing tighter or else give himself a little more length to work with.

 

[Persephone]



Yes, the ones I've been to in DC have usually been white tie optional, and even where the invite only says "White Tie" an overwhelming majority turns up in black tie (me included). I've been debating getting a set of white tie attire for the longest time, but have not had the courage to take the plunge. Maybe if i keep going to these balls, I should get one after all.

Also, as someone who enjoys Viennese waltz, the ultimate dream would be to go to Vienna during the ball season, and THAT would undoubtedly justify getting white tie attire (but that's presumably another thread).

Well, then I shall dance a waltz in your honour at the Ball der Offiziere in Vienna's Hofburg this coming Friday, 18 January. I am leaving in a few hours to depart for Vienna via Istanbul.

Btw, my husband's formal gloves are made of kid leather and lined with silk, as are mine. Although I have both lined and unlined opera gloves. A lady's dress should never be completely backless, and even with a strapless dress, which I wear frequently, your right hand will be well below her shoulder blade, and not come into direct contact with her skin, but rather with the fabric of her gown.

 

[Van Veen]



The more I look at it the more I think that the issue with Cooper's bow isn't the width, rather the shape. A bow of that shape, regardless of size, looks like it would be more at home with a smoking jacket or at the very least a shawl lapel, while Cooper's peak jacket is better suited to the more angular bows we usually see. Put a bow with sharp, triangular sides on him, even at that width, and the whole look changes, IMO.

Here's a similar look with a bow tie that works, is barely wider than the outside of the eyes, and isn't clownish like the ties Tom Ford seems to prefer.

 

[sugarbutch]

Who is that?

 

[sftiger]



Who is that?

Judging by the image filename it is Henry Cavill, who I guess is the new Superman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Cavill

 

[sugarbutch]

Thnx.

 

[Persephone]

Accidental double post, while waiting at the airport for delayed aeroplane to Vienna.

 

[Persephone]



Is one of those a Hefeweizen?

Sorry to deviate from the thread topic, but the beer glasses (not your spectacles) are all wrong. My mum is from Bavaria, the origin of Hefe- and Kristallweißbier, which also comes in "hell" versus "dunkel", and it is supposed to be served in tall glasses:

 

[MrDaniels]



Here's a similar look with a bow tie that works, is barely wider than the outside of the eyes, and isn't clownish like the ties Tom Ford seems to prefer.

OK proportions on the bow tie, but now I have to say that the lapels are a bit big for his torso.


Where is Cary Grant when you need him?

 

[Van Veen]



Where is Cary Grant when you need him?

CG loved him some large lapels, too....

 

[TimelesStyle]



CG loved him some large lapels, too....

Are those penny loafers in the first shot?