The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[Faux Brummell]

Cruise formal night #1

 

[Thin White Duke]

We’ve been kicking around the idea of doing a cruise for a while now. I’m sorta ambivalent but have to admit that part of the ‘plus’ side for me is the chance to dust off the black tie rig.
I’ll be interested to learn if you were standouts in formal wear or if there were other like-minded folks who also dressed up appropriately.

 

[Faux Brummell]

We’ve been on a few cruises and hardly anybody bothers to dress up. Last night I saw one other guy in black tie and a couple of others in sports jackets.

We’ve been kicking around the idea of doing a cruise for a while now. I’m sorta ambivalent but have to admit that part of the ‘plus’ side for me is the chance to dust off the black tie rig.
I’ll be interested to learn if you were standouts in formal wear or if there were other like-minded folks who also dressed up appropriately.

 

[Mark from Plano]

Depends on the cruise line and the itinerary. On lines at the very top and bottom of the scale(think either Crystal or Carnival) they’ve pretty well done away with formal nights.
In the mid-upper range (Celebrity) it still exists, but not to the degree it did.

Also, the shorter the cruise (say 3-5 days) the less likely there’ll be a “formal” night. Most 7+ day cruises will have them, usually on the first and last sea day.

The last cruise I did was a pre-COVID Celebrity 7-day cruise. They no longer called them formal nights. They had a new name (I forget what) to stress the optional nature of it. I’d guess about 1/3rd of men were in some form of black tie.

All of that may be completely different post-COVID.

 

[Andy57]

When we cruise, either on Crystal or Oceania, we dress formally every night.

 

[Andy57]

Does the lapels (peak and shawl) matter on a tuxedo if I want gauntlet cuffs? I'm asking because I see gauntlet cuffs are usually on shawl lapel jackets.

I don't think it matters. Especially if you are having the jacket made. It's your jacket, have it made how you want. My ivory flannel jacket by Edward Sexton has peaked lapels and gauntlet cuffs. It's not a dinner jacket, but it could pass as one. Have it your way!

 

[Thin White Duke]

When we cruise, either on Crystal or Oceania, we dress formally every night.

Haha I expect nothing less from you.
Thanks Mark and Feaux for the other interesting if rather sad data points.

 

[jiredell]

@Andy57 how do you manage to pack a different dinner jacket for each night on a cruise? Do you have an army of valets to bring on board your army of dinner jackets? We ought to have a SF themed cruise. At least then everyone--or most--would be appropriately dressed.

 

[Andy57]

@Andy57 how do you manage to pack a different dinner jacket for each night on a cruise? Do you have an army of valets to bring on board your army of dinner jackets? We ought to have a SF themed cruise. At least then everyone--or most--would be appropriately dressed.

Just one valet would be plenty!

For a week-to-ten-day cruise I usually bring three dinner jackets, so there does come a point where I'm merely repeating myself, although I can usually mix-and-match enough that I don't repeat the exact same outfit. My wife, however, will usually bring enough cocktail dresses and gowns that she does not repeat.

 

[Faux Brummell]

Cruise formal night #2. I’m happy to say that I spotted a few more guys in black tie this time.

 

[Concordia]

Cunard probably gets a few on their transatlantic cruises. But I am guessing. Between Covid, scheduling, and inconsistency of available dates, I haven’t got around to trying that.

 

[The Chai]

80s armani inspired tux sc hybrid

 

[MattyS]

I noticed that the Duke of Cambridge once again eschewed a waist covering at the UK premiere of the new Top Gun film.

 

[Concordia]

Wearing a watch, too. I think this is (a) the Brits not finding black tie as formal as Americans make it out to be and (b) William being on his work day, and not trying to impress chicks or society belles.

Also, FWIW, we've had some really humid evenings in the UK recently.

 

[Faux Brummell]

Great jet-adorned Albert slippers though!

I noticed that the Duke of Cambridge once again eschewed a waist covering at the UK premiere of the new Top Gun film.

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