The State of Black Tie: Your Observations

[Andy57]

Awesome pictures from an awesome event. Any chance you’d get a pair of slippers with a “A57” monogram? That would be next level stuff! Please, please, please.

That's an excellent idea!

 

[Jazzthief]

hpreston: In the earlier couple hundred pages of this thread, people heavily recommended the black tie guide. At some point it got purchased and filled with ads. I am not sure if the content has changed other than that.

The guide is still 90% brilliant, as the original content has not been altered much by the GG people. They do have inserted examples of the main guy wearing ill-fitting white- and black-tie ensembles with plastic boutons, and removed many great vintage illustrations, but the guide is still for the most part intact. I would still recommend it as the best evening dress guide and history lesson.

 

[BlairW]

Question around tuxedo bib shirts - is it a faux pas to have the bottom part of the bib showing? I assume the 'correct' way is to wear with a cummerbund, but is it acceptable to wear a bib style shirt with trousers where you can see where the bib ends?

 

[gimpwiz]

To my understanding, one wants to have the bib end just above the trousers, meaning just above your natural waistline, so that when you sit, you don't "fold" the bib with your trouser waistband; however, this creates visual ugliness with a visible end to the bib, but one that is easily and obviously covered by cummerbund or waistcoat. One might even go as far as to say that that's part of the reason many forum members repeat every time: "wear the bloody waist covering."

So - shirt, jacket, trousers, waist covering, they all work together when it comes to seeing the bib and only the bib.

A no-bib shirt (like a fly front / covered placket button shirt, or just one with a placket designed to be interchangeable for studs / button-strip), you wouldn't have this particular issue, because the placket would just go down to under your trousers and it wouldn't billow when folded because it's not starched or in any way naturally stiff.

 

[brax]

Question around tuxedo bib shirts - is it a faux pas to have the bottom part of the bib showing? I assume the 'correct' way is to wear with a cummerbund, but is it acceptable to wear a bib style shirt with trousers where you can see where the bib ends?

That would be a terrible idea. The bottom of the bib should never be seen.

 

[BlairW]

Understood. I wasn’t suggesting it was a good idea more asking how bad it would actually be if some was exposed.

 

[gimpwiz]

I guess it depends.

If I should happen to notice that there is a two millimeter gap between a fellow's trousers and bib, I'd probably just remind myself that poor light covers up minor flaws and life happens, and that it'd be nice to see a waist covering but honestly let's just enjoy the party and not pick nits.

If my friend asked my opinion I would mention that a waist covering may be unfashionable in 2023 (ugh I keep writing 2022) amongst some, but that it solves this problem neatly.

If I should happen to notice that there is a two centimeter gap between a fellow's trousers and bib, I'd internally roll my eyes, and possibly post a slightly snarky message on the styleforum about how a gent should look in the mirror before heading out for the evening, because it's just ugly and obviously so, but hey maybe the man traveled far and realized last minute that they forgot a waist covering and what can you do?, life goes on.

If my friend asked my opinion, I'd ask him if he had eyeballs merely for show, and heckle him otherwise until he fixed the situation.

 

[The Dirty Pigeon]

Cover the gap with a cummerbund or waistcoat.

 

[brax]

I guess it depends.

If I should happen to notice that there is a two millimeter gap between a fellow's trousers and bib, I'd probably just remind myself that poor light covers up minor flaws and life happens, and that it'd be nice to see a waist covering but honestly let's just enjoy the party and not pick nits.

If my friend asked my opinion I would mention that a waist covering may be unfashionable in 2023 (ugh I keep writing 2022) amongst some, but that it solves this problem neatly.

If I should happen to notice that there is a two centimeter gap between a fellow's trousers and bib, I'd internally roll my eyes, and possibly post a slightly snarky message on the styleforum about how a gent should look in the mirror before heading out for the evening, because it's just ugly and obviously so, but hey maybe the man traveled far and realized last minute that they forgot a waist covering and what can you do?, life goes on.

If my friend asked my opinion, I'd ask him if he had eyeballs merely for show, and heckle him otherwise until he fixed the situation.

Well, only one of these scenarios approximates the context of the question as asked. Thus I stand by my answer.

 

[gimpwiz]

Gentlemen, I am pleased to inform you that I have read every post in this thread. It took at least two months of occasional perusing. It has been informational, inspirational, and in fact aspirational. A huge thank-you especially to the figurative giants of this thread.

 

[Texasmade]

Gentlemen, I am pleased to inform you that I have read every post in this thread. It took at least two months of occasional perusing. It has been informational, inspirational, and in fact aspirational. A huge thank-you especially to the figurative giants of this thread.

Please summarize what you learned in 3 sentences or less in an adequate sarcastic tone

 

[gimpwiz]

StyleForum hivemind 2011: "Here are thirty-six rules for proper Black Tie. If you do not follow them, you shall be immediately seen as a man of poor means and worse repute, for these rules are as unbreakable as the chains that bind society itself, before we figured out nuclear weapons and facebook-run disinformation campaigns."

Andy57: "Hold my Negroni."

StyleForum hivemind 2023: "Okay, honestly, just do whatever Andy tells you. He looks better going to dinner than I did at my wedding. He's gonna tell you to wear a waist covering, I can tell you that right now, and he's right about it."

 

[Texasmade]

StyleForum hivemind 2011: "Here are thirty-six rules for proper Black Tie. If you do not follow them, you shall be immediately seen as a man of poor means and worse repute, for these rules are as unbreakable as the chains that bind society itself, before we figured out nuclear weapons and facebook-run disinformation campaigns."

Andy57: "Hold my Negroni."

StyleForum hivemind 2023: "Okay, honestly, just do whatever Andy tells you. He looks better going to dinner than I did at my wedding. He's gonna tell you to wear a waist covering, I can tell you that right now, and he's right about it."

 

[Andy57]

Question around tuxedo bib shirts - is it a faux pas to have the bottom part of the bib showing? I assume the 'correct' way is to wear with a cummerbund, but is it acceptable to wear a bib style shirt with trousers where you can see where the bib ends?

I'm pretty sure you already knew the answer to this question.

Gentlemen, I am pleased to inform you that I have read every post in this thread. It took at least two months of occasional perusing. It has been informational, inspirational, and in fact aspirational. A huge thank-you especially to the figurative giants of this thread.

That is...inspiring

StyleForum hivemind 2011: "Here are thirty-six rules for proper Black Tie. If you do not follow them, you shall be immediately seen as a man of poor means and worse repute, for these rules are as unbreakable as the chains that bind society itself, before we figured out nuclear weapons and facebook-run disinformation campaigns."

Andy57: "Hold my Negroni."

StyleForum hivemind 2023: "Okay, honestly, just do whatever Andy tells you. He looks better going to dinner than I did at my wedding. He's gonna tell you to wear a waist covering, I can tell you that right now, and he's right about it."

Thank you! And, yes, @BlairW, a waist covering solves that problem. So, not only should the bottom of the bib not be seen, the waistband of your trousers should not be seen, either.

 

[Andy57]

And speaking of holding a Negroni, this is a white Negroni. Last year, while in Florence, we had dinner at an excellent restaurant and bar called Locale. My wife had a white Negroni, which she declared to be the best she had ever had. Upon our return home, I spent quite some time attempting to recreate it for her. I got close, with a combination of Luxardo white bitter and Dolin vermouth blanc, but it was not quite there same. So a couple of weeks ago we were back at Locale and she interrogated the bar staff and learned that they make their own bitter. Somehow, she persuaded them to sell her a small bottle of this secret ingredient. And we are holding the first white Negronis made with the Locale bitter. I'm also wearing my midnight blue dinner jacket for the first time in quite a while. Note the waist covering!