The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[sftiger]

Thanks for your feedback. I’ll soon give y’all some insight into how I’m weighing the variables but headed off to a concert (English Beat) momentarily. To add a little color to Andy57’s inquiry, it is a fancy-pants wedding at Villa Balbiano. We received the invitation from Italy yesterday. Here’s the envelope (top) and invitation …

You going to a Indian industrialist's wedding? Some Ambani wedding invitation vibes there.

 

[Andy57]

Andy, since I didn't show up with several cases of grand cru champagne myself, I can just about guarantee that they sourced california bubbly. It was fine, but nothing super good. Just fine. Truthfully, none of my guests seem to care much, especially at a wedding (though I do host tastings for friends sometimes) -- If you had attended, I am sure I would have made sure the good stuff was allocated.

You are too kind!

Living close to Napa, I have had the good fortune to try quite a few California sparkling wines and there are some good ones. Frank Family makes some good bottles, as do many of the big French houses in their Napa incarnations. Also, Goldschmidt, in Sonoma, makes a very passable blanc de noir at a very approachable price point. But when it's time to go big or go home, for me, it's gotta be Krug, (or Billecart-Salmon, or Pol Roger).

 

[gimpwiz]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been working my way off the beaten path of the champagnes, especially the grand cru champagnes - the growers with no real name or marketing. Especially as due to poor yields, the old houses have started buying from other growers; may as well find out what the growers themselves are doing. Some are quite good, some are only so-so, so far. Certainly I'll grab some of the suggestions you've listed, as I do like 'passable at a very approachable price point' quite a lot

 

[juggzz]

I’m no expert but I think that looks very good. I think it was worth the effort to get to where you are now.

I think you mentioned that this is for a wedding, right? If so, do me a favor and don’t let them pin a little tree branch on your lapel like so many wedding florists do, especially in the US. Get yourself a proper boutonnière that threads through the button hole on your lapel. It can even coordinate with your wedding flower colors and, if applicable, your partners bouquet.

View attachment 1937703

You think an artificial boutonnière or a real flower through the button hole would look better?

 

[The Dirty Pigeon]

You think an artificial boutonnière or a real flower through the button hole would look better?

Hard to say. Of course, a real flower will look more real but it’s difficult to get a real flower to sit properly with the steam and all. And, a real flower might start to look droopy by the end of the night. If you get a very real looking silk boutonnière, it might be the best of all options. I think the best thing you could do is make sure whatever you do, it isn’t a big ol out of place thing that distracts from your face.

 

[MattyS]

Living close to Napa, I have had the good fortune to try quite a few California sparkling wines and there are some good ones. Frank Family makes some good bottles, as do many of the big French houses in their Napa incarnations. Also, Goldschmidt, in Sonoma, makes a very passable blanc de noir at a very approachable price point. But when it's time to go big or go home, for me, it's gotta be Krug, (or Billecart-Salmon, or Pol Roger).

Funny that you should mention those. We're celebrating a friend's 50th birthday tonight, and we're trying to decide which to open:

 

[Andy57]

Funny that you should mention those. We're celebrating a friend's 50th birthday tonight, and we're trying to decide which to open:
View attachment 1939867

Both are good, I think. Pol Roger.

 

[Duke Santos]

You are too kind!

Living close to Napa, I have had the good fortune to try quite a few California sparkling wines and there are some good ones. Frank Family makes some good bottles, as do many of the big French houses in their Napa incarnations. Also, Goldschmidt, in Sonoma, makes a very passable blanc de noir at a very approachable price point. But when it's time to go big or go home, for me, it's gotta be Krug, (or Billecart-Salmon, or Pol Roger).

Not much of a fan of California wine (and I was a cellar rat out there for 18 months, but that's another story), so when it comes to sparkling, you can't go wrong with Champagne. Stay away from the big houses though. The medium sized ones that you recommend are great. Grower Champagne is even better. And English! English sparkling wine is the future: same exact soil as Champagne (literally), and climate change is starting to shift the climate in its favor.

 

[Werther Hartmann]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been working my way off the beaten path of the champagnes, especially the grand cru champagnes - the growers with no real name or marketing. Especially as due to poor yields, the old houses have started buying from other growers; may as well find out what the growers themselves are doing. Some are quite good, some are only so-so, so far. Certainly I'll grab some of the suggestions you've listed, as I do like 'passable at a very approachable price point' quite a lot

Best thing to do if you are only getting into champange (or any alcoholic beverage) is to go to a specialised store and do some tastings. That way you'll be able to taste a lot of different champanges without breaking the bank

 

[brax]

I hate to be the fuddy dud here but if you have two very nice options, assuming you like them, bust one of them out and enjoy the wedding.

If you have a perfectly good tuxedo but aren’t compelled to wear it when an event arises, then you should commission a new tuxedo before venturing into ivory dinner jacket territory.

Thanks but I disagree with this advice because this boils down to always wearing the Despos tuxedo. I ”like” the Despos but don’t feel compelled to wear it every time an event arises. As many others have suggested, an ivory tuxedo may be a better option under these specific circumstances.

 

[brax]

You going to an Indian industrialist's wedding? Some Ambani wedding invitation vibes there.

Ha. That’s quite a video!

But this wedding will be attended by almost exclusively red-blooded Americans. Maybe too American (as explained below).

 

[brax]

Thanks for the advice fellas. Here are my thoughts:

Option 2 (Zegna OTR): It’s a good rig that fits well and has one big advantage over the two other options. Almost all of the guests will be in their late 20s or early 30s. Most are not married. All party very hard. It’s the kind of group where I will likely hear at 2:00 am “Hey, let’s jump in the lake.” If I lose my moorings, whatever I’m wearing could get trashed.

Option 1 (Despos rig): It looks great and fits great. It is a formal midnight blue 1BPL. I could wear it to any black tie event but a few things militate against wearing it on this occasion. This is a summer wedding where it’s first 3.5 hours will be before dusk in warm weather.

Option 3 (ivory DB shawl lapel): This is the raison d’être for this rig. Summer, warm weather, not the most formal of events. If not now when? One problem may be that I’m certain that all male guests will be wearing black and fashion-forward (Tom Ford, skinny) tuxedos. Do I want to be the only dude not wearing a dark jacket?

Is the consensus still option 3?

 

[lordsuperb]

Thanks for the advice fellas. Here are my thoughts:

Option 2 (Zegna OTR): It’s a good rig that fits well and has one big advantage over the two other options. Almost all of the guests will be in their late 20s or early 30s. Most are not married. All party very hard. It’s the kind of group where I will likely hear at 2:00 am “Hey, let’s jump in the lake.” If I lose my moorings, whatever I’m wearing could get trashed.

Option 1 (Despos rig): It looks great and fits great. It is a formal midnight blue 1BPL. I could wear it to any black tie event but a few things militate against wearing it on this occasion. This is a summer wedding where it’s first 3.5 hours will be before dusk in warm weather.

Option 3 (ivory DB shawl lapel): This is the raison d’être for this rig. Summer, warm weather, not the most formal of events. If not now when? One problem may be that I’m certain that all male guests will be wearing black and fashion-forward (Tom Ford, skinny) tuxedos. Do I want to be the only dude not wearing a dark jacket?

Is the consensus still option 3?

option 3

 

[ericgereghty]

Thanks for the advice fellas. Here are my thoughts:

Option 2 (Zegna OTR): It’s a good rig that fits well and has one big advantage over the two other options. Almost all of the guests will be in their late 20s or early 30s. Most are not married. All party very hard. It’s the kind of group where I will likely hear at 2:00 am “Hey, let’s jump in the lake.” If I lose my moorings, whatever I’m wearing could get trashed.

Option 1 (Despos rig): It looks great and fits great. It is a formal midnight blue 1BPL. I could wear it to any black tie event but a few things militate against wearing it on this occasion. This is a summer wedding where it’s first 3.5 hours will be before dusk in warm weather.

Option 3 (ivory DB shawl lapel): This is the raison d’être for this rig. Summer, warm weather, not the most formal of events. If not now when? One problem may be that I’m certain that all male guests will be wearing black and fashion-forward (Tom Ford, skinny) tuxedos. Do I want to be the only dude not wearing a dark jacket?

Is the consensus still option 3?

100% yes. Obviously you’ll never feel as though you drew the short straw (unless you’re insane) with your Despos get up, but 1) new bespoke is awesome and 2) the setting does justify it.

Get creamy

 

[jrdadbod]

Hi all, I am a lurker on this thread, and firstly want to thank you all for posting and commenting over the years. It has been informative and a fun reprieve from work...

Anyway like many others in the black tie thread, I am getting married and have ordered a MTM tuxedo from atelier munro. I went with midnight blue (almost black) jacket and trousers in Loro piana wool, with midnight blue satin peaked lapels. I mostly like classic styling, and thought the midnight blue offers a bit of flair without breaking tradition.

I do not yet have a shirt, and I am seeking some advice around styling.
1) bib vs. pleated vs. pique vs. plain with studs vs. hidden button placket... I am not really sure where to start here. I am interested in pique or hidden buttons because I feel they look cleaner
2) color... white is the obvious choice here, but would ivory come off as too casual or unusual?

And for shoes, I am planning on sticking with black leather, although I am intrigued by velvet. Would love any recommendations in the $500 ish price range.

Thank you! I'll make sure to post a picture of the full outfit

Bow tie has not arrived yet (grrr), but here's the jacket and pants in midnight blue. Went with a nicer loro piana fabric. Very excited!