The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[Andy57]

Just received: double breasted dinner jacket in black London Lounge mohair (plus matching trousers) and the burgundy black watch tartan trousers I plan to take with me to Scotland for NYE. So I has a little fun this afternoon, mixing and matching...



First, the jacket and trousers:

Then the jacket with the burgundy black watch trousers:

And then the jacket with ivory trousers:

I also tried the tartan trousers with my gold velvet jacket, which I liked a lot, too. And they went well with midnight blue, which brought out the blue in the trousers.

 

[Duke Santos]

Not crazy about the cream. Can't go wrong with the matching trousers. But the Burgundy Black Watch is absolutely pimptacular.

 

[ericgereghty]

Those tartans bring all the funk.

 

[classicalthunde]

Just received: double breasted dinner jacket in black London Lounge mohair (plus matching trousers) and the burgundy black watch tartan trousers I plan to take with me to Scotland for NYE. So I has a little fun this afternoon, mixing and matching...



First, the jacket and trousers:
View attachment 1709478 View attachment 1709480

Then the jacket with the burgundy black watch trousers:
View attachment 1709482 View attachment 1709483

And then the jacket with ivory trousers:
View attachment 1709488 View attachment 1709489

I also tried the tartan trousers with my gold velvet jacket, which I liked a lot, too. And they went well with midnight blue, which brought out the blue in the trousers.

what’s the wool-mohair blend of the LL cloth

 

[Andy57]

Not crazy about the cream. Can't go wrong with the matching trousers. But the Burgundy Black Watch is absolutely pimptacular.

Thanks! This is the inspiration for the black double-breasted jacket with ivory trousers:

 

[Andy57]

what’s the wool-mohair blend of the LL cloth

Michael Alden keeps that a closely guarded secret.

 

[Concordia]

For cream trousers, I'd dial it back a notch in 'correctness' and go for a midnight blue jacket. It is more about dressing up a blazer than pushing a black one outdoors.

Otherwise, a very successful rig. Boring in all the useful ways, elegant and assertive in all the difficult ones. You will cut a fine figure.

 

[Andy57]

For cream trousers, I'd dial it back a notch in 'correctness' and go for a midnight blue jacket. It is more about dressing up a blazer than pushing a black one outdoors.

Otherwise, a very successful rig. Boring in all the useful ways, elegant and assertive in all the difficult ones. You will cut a fine figure.

Thanks! I've actually worn the ivory trousers with my midnight blue jacket and it is a pleasing combination. As the midnight blue jacket is single breasted, I used my midnight blue cummerbund, which wasn't quite right. As it was a strong contrast between both the trousers and my shirt, it didn't work very well. Perhaps I'll see if Budd has an ivory cummerbund.

 

[Concordia]

Perhaps have a London maker use either the cream wool from the trousers or a white cotton to match the shirt. Or go back to the Indian Raj days of kamarband, and use a brightly-colored cotton or silk paisley. Sam Hober could doubtless make one of those happen.

 

[ld111134]

Just received: double breasted dinner jacket in black London Lounge mohair (plus matching trousers) and the burgundy black watch tartan trousers I plan to take with me to Scotland for NYE. So I has a little fun this afternoon, mixing and matching...



First, the jacket and trousers:
View attachment 1709478 View attachment 1709480

Then the jacket with the burgundy black watch trousers:
View attachment 1709482 View attachment 1709483

And then the jacket with ivory trousers:
View attachment 1709488 View attachment 1709489

I also tried the tartan trousers with my gold velvet jacket, which I liked a lot, too. And they went well with midnight blue, which brought out the blue in the trousers.

The return of the 4-to-1 double breasted jacket! I used to own a PRL blazer with that set-up and I miss it dearly.

 

[Andy57]

Perhaps have a London maker use either the cream wool from the trousers or a white cotton to match the shirt. Or go back to the Indian Raj days of kamarband, and use a brightly-colored cotton or silk paisley. Sam Hober could doubtless make one of those happen.

I like the idea of a brightly colored and patterned version. A silk paisley would be worth exploring.

 

[Andy57]

The return of the 4-to-1 double breasted jacket! I used to own a PRL blazer with that set-up and I miss it dearly.

Thanks! I specifically wanted 4x1. My ivory jacket is 4x1 and I think it makes for a great line for a dinner jacket.

 

[Concordia]

Did you find that you had to do some juggling to get the button line correct (i.e., that you could sit at dinner without unbuttoning)?

 

[Mark from Plano]

Perhaps have a London maker use either the cream wool from the trousers or a white cotton to match the shirt. Or go back to the Indian Raj days of kamarband, and use a brightly-colored cotton or silk paisley. Sam Hober could doubtless make one of those happen.

I like the idea of a brightly colored and patterned version. A silk paisley would be worth exploring.

I have this one that I love. I picked it up off the Ben Silver website several years ago. Not sure they carry it anymore however.

 

[Andy57]

I have this one that I love. I picked it up off the Ben Silver website several years ago. Not sure they carry it anymore however.
View attachment 1710260

Nice! I think if I got a colored one, it would need to be fairly light. The issue with my blue one is that it sort of cuts me in half by being too much of a contrast.