Where to wear a White tie outside of state banquets? Russian White tie summer ball

[marcodalondra]

This was held yesterday in London:
http://www.russiansummerball.com/index.php?page=2

Looking at the pictures someone still went in black tie....

 

[Geezer]

State dinners, as you have said.

Mansion House dinners.

Some May Balls (Cambridge)/Commemoration Balls (Oxford): Peterhouse and Magdelene (Cambridge) were white tie when I was there. Christ Church (Oxford) I am sure was white tie, but got banned for 15 years after an "incident" so may be shorts and flip-flops now for all I know.

Some Hunt Balls (including the hunt tails white tie variant for the MFH/MH).

And, for all I know, some military dinners, probably by the Brigade of Guards or the Household Cavalry.

Vienna Opera ball.

 

[VelvetGreen]

Originally Posted by Geezer

Christ Church (Oxford) I am sure was white tie, but got banned for 15 years after an "incident" so may be shorts and flip-flops now for all I know.

Most definitely white tie - I have a ticket....

 

[Testudo_Aubreii]

Originally Posted by Geezer

State dinners, as you have said.

Mansion House dinners.

Some May Balls (Cambridge)/Commemoration Balls (Oxford): Peterhouse and Magdelene (Cambridge) were white tie when I was there. Christ Church (Oxford) I am sure was white tie, but got banned for 15 years after an "incident" so may be shorts and flip-flops now for all I know.

Some Hunt Balls (including the hunt tails white tie variant for the MFH/MH).

And, for all I know, some military dinners, probably by the Brigade of Guards or the Household Cavalry.

Vienna Opera ball.

Sounds right. Also perfectly acceptable at:

Opening night of the season at any world-class opera company with a history;

Galas at the same;

Various debutante balls in the USA;

There's some mid-winter ball in Boston, or maybe more than one: I think it's actually expected there;

Same for New Orleans (at New Year's?).

Is the Vienna Opera Ball the only event in Vienna? I'd have thought there were more.

Anybody have info on Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan?

 

[Testudo_Aubreii]

Forgot that the Finns seem to wear white tie more frequently than other societies.

 

[Lucky Strike]

Originally Posted by Testudo_Aubreii

Forgot that the Finns seem to wear white tie more frequently than other societies.
Finnish and Swedish students, balls etc.

 

[Manton]

The Gridiron and Alphalpha dinners in DC; the Al Smith and Friendly Sons dinners in New York.

 

[Daseinflaw]

I usually wear one to P Diddy's annual White Party.

 

[Persephone]

Originally Posted by Geezer

State dinners, as you have said.

Mansion House dinners.

Some May Balls (Cambridge)/Commemoration Balls (Oxford): Peterhouse and Magdelene (Cambridge) were white tie when I was there. Christ Church (Oxford) I am sure was white tie, but got banned for 15 years after an "incident" so may be shorts and flip-flops now for all I know.

Some Hunt Balls (including the hunt tails white tie variant for the MFH/MH).

And, for all I know, some military dinners, probably by the Brigade of Guards or the Household Cavalry.

Vienna Opera ball.

Sounds right. Also perfectly acceptable at:

Opening night of the season at any world-class opera company with a history;

Galas at the same;

Various debutante balls in the USA;

There's some mid-winter ball in Boston, or maybe more than one: I think it's actually expected there;

Same for New Orleans (at New Year's?).

Is the Vienna Opera Ball the only event in Vienna? I'd have thought there were more.

Anybody have info on Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan?

It's an old thread, but I can actually contribute valuable information - hopefully

The Vienna Opera Ball is the only one that requires white tie and will deny entry to those who are incorrectly attired. However, there are several other balls that strongly encourage white tie including The Officers' Ball (always in January at the Imperial Hofburg Palace), the Philharmoniker Ball in the Musikverein, and the Juristenball (lawyers' ball). The Rudolfina Redoute and the Doctors' Ball are a good mix of white and black tie. I am sure that full evening dress can be worn at other balls as well, but these are the ones I know.

As far as Germany is concerned, the situation is bleak - compared to their Austrian neighbours, Germans are horrible dressers, and guilty of many sartorial sins. The only events I can think of are the Chrysanthemenball in Munich and the Semper Opernball in Dresden. Unfortunately, the Semper Opernball even did away with white tie for debutante escorts, so while it can be done, one will stick out a bit.

Northern Italy has a few Viennese-style debutante balls where white tie is worn. They are limited to Bolzano, Brixen, Milano and Modena. Rome has an annual Victorian ball, where white tie is encouraged.

France: Le Bal de Crillon in Paris, although this has degenerated into a "high fashion" show and not much else. For more serious dancing and elegant dressing, I'd recommend "Carnet de Bals", a society, which organises several historical balls in Paris. Their dress standards are very high. They put on a rather splendid 1912-style Easter Ball with ladies in Edwardian dresses and gentlemen in white tie. It was held on a Parisian canal boat in honour of the old ocean liners' floating ballrooms.

Spain: Spanish Royal Court?

Japan: Imperial Court?