I'm really enjoying seeing The Gentleman's Gazette go back to its roots of formalwear and more formal styles! Sometimes, with all the jeans and casualwear videos, it seems those roots have been drifted away from, but I'm glad to see this isn't the case! In terms of loud black tie, I have a red velvet smoking jacket with black lapels and frog closures I like to wear in the colder months. It's not nearly so cheap as other bright Amazon dinner suits, but it's also a little less sedate than a regular dinner suit. I like pairing it with a black velvet bow tie.
The “sedate character of black tie.” Nicely worded. In a nutshell, when tempted to get creative with black tie, don’t. Simplicity is the essence of elegance.
You definetly can be creative with black tie. However, you shouldn't be to loud or go overboard with trendy styles. Heck, there's even a dress code called "creative black tie".
The point about owning vs renting is so true. It's amazing the number of black tie events & affairs that are open to you once you own such attire. Thank you gentlemen for such great content!
If you like wearing black tie then once you own an outfit you can find reasons to wear it. I wear mine to orchestra concerts, holiday parties, and sometimes just out to dinner.
@@Lensmaster1I agree with you, when I had a tailor make my formal wear, I felt more confident to meet like minded individuals. I wear mine to the opera, ballet, and to dinner parties. When I holiday, I always use it, as well as my dinner jacket and appropriate accessories. I always learn so much from these videos. Reggie., best wishes.
A point that I think is important for black tie is metallic accessory matching. The accents of your attire should all be of the same metal hue, if you are wearing yellow gold cufflinks, a silver watch is out and your cufflinks and studs should be made of the same metal, though they do not have to match exactly.
I do agree that the metals should be the same. I've found some incredible gem-set cufflinks and stud sets in antique shops. (Antique dealers are more willing to negotiate on price to turn inventory into cash.)
I agree, and if you don't want to overdo it with the gold you can always wear a gold dress watch on a black band with some black silk knot cufflinks to avoid going too flashy with the metals, as long as you're not clashing gold and silver metals apart from perhaps a ring then you should be fine.
Dutch:bij een smoking met piekrevers draag je geen horloge (vestzak horloge kan wel) Bij een sjaalkraag kan dat wel en wordt gedragen door obers,croupiers,goochelaars,quizmasters,presentatoren en musici.
I bought a midnight blue tux with all the bells and whistles listed from this video and you will look sooo much better than what those other guys are wearing.
In my opinion there’s simply nothing more elegant than classic black tie (especially black tie seen in the Golden Age of Menswear). I was watching The Crown and there was a scene with a black tie event in the 40s; it was simply magical. So different from the “black tie” that most men wear these days
I've only worn black tie twice in my adult life. The first was for a wedding, when I was less fashion savvy, with a charcoal grey dinner jacket. The second was recently for a tribute concert for my uncle in which I was performing in and hosting. I wore a midnight blue smoking jacket with a custom made white shirt with cocktail cuffs. I'm sure I will attend a few more black tie events over the rest of my life, and though I have some black tie appropriate wear, I will eventually get a traditional tuxedo. But being a musician and frontman, it's always expected of me to catch people's attention, so I'm content with what I have to wear for now.
As a frontman, at very least black tie is all but obligatory, I would think. Although then again, in the classical music world, soloists and even orchestra musicians often wear white tie...
I find it also depends on the watch itself. A Rolex submariner looks great with black tie as long as it has a black dial. An omega Seamaster 300 could also work depending on the model. But a Seiko SKX, no
@@warrenrhinerson6373 We all have our tastes, and I'm not going to judge other people (too much), but I don't consider my stainless steel Seamaster to be a dress watch. My vintage gold-filled one with a leather band is. And there is my line when it comes to dress watches. They should have a leather band (which ought to match the shoes and belt), and it should have a subdued face.
@@warrenrhinerson6373 I might at a pinch consider my Seiko Alpinist, not with black tie, but I would consider it if I was going black tie optional, paired with a green tie to match the dial it has just enough class to it to work imho. Definitely wouldn't wear my Seiko Turtle.
@@G1NZOU do you have a psycho turtle I definitely would not wear with a tuxedo either. I would consider wearing omega Seamaster 300 professional, if I was in a pinch and I have seen some people do it and pull it off fairly well. But if I am going to wear Diwash with a tux, I am most likely going to choose a Rolex submariner as I think it looks probably the best
I will say that while a datejust or oyster perpetual is supposed to be a sports watch, I'd say taking an older model datejust or OP at 36mm or under with white, silver, grey, or black dial and sticking it on a nice black calf strap would make it pretty black tie friendly in my book.
I'm a watch nerd and I agree. However... if James Bond can wear an Omega seamaster or Rolex Submariner, we can do so too. When I wear black or white tie, I wear the watch my wife gave me as an engagement gift in lieue of a ring. Even though its not a dress watch, her gifted watch bears a higher importance to me that have the perfect style watch.
I think the color correction was perhaps influenced by the scene on the island when Bond is shown in daylight - less "midnight" blue and more "mid-day" blue! 🍸
I've got a friend who just released his wedding pics with tuxedo. Everything went well until I saw the brown oxford on his feet.... Yet I have to admit I had a single vent dinner jacket though....
Hello, I have a question, I am not really in a situation where I can invest in a new tuxedo and in local thrift stores, there is almost no chance to get a full tuxedo, however I can get separate trousers and jacket, but then, it wouldn't be from the same fabric, other option is to get odd dinner jacket, off white is most probably the one I would be able to get, but what is more acceptable? To wear not totally matching black trousers and black jacket, or off white jacket even though I am not in warm climate? Thanks
A good question! If you have two items that don't match, it's better to lean into that than by trying to pass off a separate black jacket and trousers as a full tuxedo. There are alternative jacket choices to the off-white dinner jacket, which you can explore in our guide: www.gentlemansgazette.com/dinner-jacket-black-tie-guide/?
preston just confirmed the multiverse! thank you for this video! my girlfriends family goes on cruises where they have a lot of black tie nights. you've saved me and I know i'l make a good impression with the future in-laws😁
When I first started attending formal dinners in the 1960s, a velvet smoking jacket was acceptable with dress shirt and dress trousers, but that quickly went out of fashion in the 70s. I still have a dress shirt that I bought in 1965, and because of the quality, and despite wearing and washing many times, it is still in good condition. One feature of formal dinners that, in my experience, has been missing for more than 50 years is a string quartet playing in an alcove during the meal. For most of my adult life, I probably wore my dinner jacket at least half a dozen times a year, but having not worn it for more than 10 years, I recently gave it to a young friend who happens to be the same size. After laughing at our bosses wearing pre-war dinner jackets in the 1960s, I realise that mine was about 50 years old when I gave it away, but still fashionable, and still in excellent condition. I often still owear a smoking jacket at home quite often, with a bow tie, to help maintain manual dexterity, and to develop eccentricity, now that I no longer need care about the opinions of others, and that seems to be expected of me by children and grandchildren.
I have a Raffinati tuxedo that I found in a Good Well boutique some years ago for under fifty dollars. While it is not the most stylish of cuts it has served me well over the years. I think the shirt, studs & other additions have cost equal to the original cost of the suit. However, it works & I'm pleased with the results.
I’m glad I found this channel-thank you, Gentleman’s Gazette-I am gender-nonconforming (in terms of identity) and I’m planning out an ensemble that does have a tuxedo element to it, and I want to be accurate so I can properly turn some heads when I do wear it, thank you! If anyone’s curious, I’m pre-planning for a potential school prom-the ensemble is a fusion of a Ming Dynasty women’s hanfu as a callback to my heritage and parts of my family history, with some elements of a tuxedo thrown in to break the feminine silhouette that hanfu would normally give on my body.
I have 1 black tuxedo (Jacket, Trousers, BowTie, Cummerbund, Braces) that I bought 10 years ago, by luck it fit perfectly, one of the few purchases I have ever made that fit just right off the peg. I may compliment it with a separate suede dinner jacket in dark blue or red or go full on Bond with a white one.
No they didn't. They don't even know how to text. I still have a message on my answering machine asking me if I've seen their wing collared paisley silk dress shirt.
@@youraveragepasser-by7367 Okay, I actually know people that have a powder blue tuxedo 😱🥺😳🤦🏻♀️, and I have so much fun with that,🙄😜😁🤣😂 or anyone who wears gold chains with an open shirt. I grew up in the 70's 🤦🏻♀️ so embarrassing.
James Bond defines the zeitgeist of different era. Take Sean Connery and Tim Dalton. Former nailed the look and fit and was most classic and almost revived the Tuxedo wave into menswear and Dalton's tuxedos were off the rack and were sloppy. Craig's Bond went with the trend of the age with more flexible rules of these days still keeping the core element intact. Personally I love the Tux from Dr. No, Goldfinger white dinner jacket, Tomorrow never dies whole black tie ensemble, and Quantum of Solace tux. Great video btw. Love from India.
Hey Preston, could you do a video on quality OTR and second hand menswear options for exceptionally skinny men. As a guy who wears a size 36 suit and 27x29 pants I have little hope in most all thrift stores. I know that you of all people will understand
Maybe the renting business in USA is that bad but I can assure you there are a lot of places (at least in Europe) where you can rent a very good tuxedo or day suit and it will be fitted for you. Also, owners usually know a lot about dress code and style, so is a great place to ask and learn! There's hope on renting!
I agree with all the points made. There seems to have been a focus on the pleated front shirt but many formal shirts are acceptable for black tie including plain front, pleated of course, pique bib, all are good to go as long as they take studs or have a hidden placket to cover regular buttons. Also low rise trousers, which are all too common are even more terrible for black tie. Yet another reason to avoid a rentals like the plague. Finally one additional item, vents or no vents. No vents is 100% correct, as Preston's dinner jacket shows. I believe if someone is getting a black tie for something like orchestra performer where mostly sitting is anticipated you could at least justify side vents, not correct but could be justified. However never center vents.
Stroller is already used as thectrrm for the daytime equivalent of black tie. It is wearing the morning coat outfit but replacing the tail coat with a black jacket cut like a suit jacket. It's true that morning wear is rarely worn today, and so the stroller even less, but that is what the term means.
My thing with tuxedos is the lack of executive/portly cut. I would have to wear something I'm swimming in, in order for it to not be too tight in the upper arms. I ran into this issue with getting a new day suit jacket, but was able to find a portly fit instead of a classic fit, so I'm not swimming as much. I can't seem to find the same for a tuxedo jacket.
I enjoy wearing the classic black-tie look, but I diverge, thoughtfully, if the spirit moves me. And even if I'm dressed in classic attire, I like observing variety in others, as an expression of personality, something you seem to discourage..........but thank you for your video and your gentlemanly sense of humor and point of view, always informative to hear about someone's general guidelines..........I did feel that the section on shoe choices for black-tie was a bit muddled. Perhaps a future youtube could be entirely focused on formal wear, and shoe choices for certain types of formal events? Day weddings, night weddings, galas, anniversaries, openings, formal parties in someone's home, etc. Perhaps, also, you could go into a rigorous analysis of different shoe brands and different sock brands, and how to shop for them and care for them, etc.
What most people do wrong. 1. Low-middle rise trousers 2.Visible shirt between trouser and vest. Due to the first mistake. Having a longer vest is not a good solution. 3. Pre-tied bow tie 4. Wing tip collar. 5. Black shirt studs 6. Crazy bow tie red etc.
Black shirt studs? Those are pretty standard and traditional for black tie. Wing-tip collars are also alright with traditional white tie shirts, just not when attached or with pleats.
@@h.s.w.5760 Pleated wing-tip shirts aren't accepted with black tie, nor have they been for the past hundred and fifty years. The turn-down collar is the acceptable one with pleats.
Can you also wear a white tuxedo with the base material white and keep everything like your bowtie, lapels, waistcoat, buttons, silk stripes on trowsers and pockets black?
I am truly fascinated by this channel, and the reason is, I value and find differences among us interesting and valuable. It also makes me question my life. I have never worn a tuxedo and I don't see an occasion to do so coming any time soon. I am either at the rock bottom of social strata, or my informal, careless style is too extreme. Who dresses like this? How many evenings a year do people that dress like this get invitations that call for this dress code? Someone who can shed some light on a plebeian like me? Genuine curiosity.
Love the video and I have two questions about potential mistakes. First, when wearing a midnight blue jacket and slacks, do you need a matching fabric waistcoat and matching color socks? Second, when wearing an off-white dinner jacket, must your slacks be black or can you wear midnight blue?
If you are doing black tie and you use a waistcoat, well, I've seen them in either matching fabric or in white pique (as is typical of white tie). Socks should be black. A true midnight blue trouser ought to be OK with an off-white dinner jacket, since the point of the white dinner jacket is to swap out the dark dinner jacket for warm weather wear. And since a midnight blue jacket and trousers are acceptable for black tie...
I'd say Bond gets a pass for wearing a dive watch with black tie, considering he's military intelligence and timekeeping the mission is the priority over just looking suave and enjoying the evening. Now that my watch collection has grown I have a nice Seiko grand quartz in gold from the 70's, very slim with needle hands and no date window or clutter on the dial, very good condition too since the back engraving in Japanese suggests it was a business gift for one of the higher ups in a Chiba based corporation. Would love to own a vintage Cartier tank one day.
The zoot suit is a classic time tested look that befits being mentioned on GG. While more cultural it has certainly stood the test of time and is still worn today.
I used to have expensive watches until my house was robbed while at work. No I have a Timex t80 digital bracelet 😂. I got it for nostalgia. I got an expanda band when I was 10 for my bday. When I saw that they were still around, I had to buy one.
Its been 8 years since the last time I went to a black tie event and there are 0 vintage shops having men's formal where within 500km of me , my size in that time has changed 3 times . I would say buying would be an extremely uneconomical idea
I love this guide and I'm a big fan of the GG but, at least in Europe, I don't think cummerbunds or double-breasted dinner jackets are acceptable for strict, classic black-tie.
Cummerbunds aren't acceptable? A waistcoat, then? Something must be covering the waistband in classic black tie! Europe is the more traditional place of the two.
Father Dougal: I read an article about priest's socks, that priest's socks are blacker than any other socks. Father Ted: That's right. Sometimes you see lay people wearing apparently black socks, but if you look closely, they are really very, very, very very dark blue. Father Dougal: That's true. I thought my Uncle Tommy was wearing black socks but when i look at them closely, they were just very, very, very, very, very, very dark blue. Father Ted: Never buy black socks in a normal shop. They will shaft you every time.
The entire concept of "celebrity black tie" makes one want to weep. That being said, in a nod to my naval background, I make a few alterations such as the wearing of mess Wellingtons, a white waistcoat, and boat cloak as outer wear.
What if I reverse the colors of my tuxedo? jacket, dress pants, waistcoat, and bowtie all in ivory color matched with inner pleated shirt, pocket square, and patented leather shoes all in black. of course I will wear this at a formal lunch party instead of dinner.
It's probably looked down upon to shop at men's wearhouse, but it's all I've got within a hundred miles. Anyway, i bought a pair of shoes there for about $150 that are the greatest investment I've made in formal wear. They look great, mahogany/leather souls, and they're the most comfortable shoe I own. Only problem I'm only now being made aware of is they are more of a mat black than they are shiny. I prefer that look, it's just my under educated tasste and opinion that the overly polished mirror finish look tacky and cheap. The traditions leading to our modern tuxedo are absurd! It's fun to dress up a few times a year though and play the roll 😊. Your channel is encouraging me to get a new tux. Mine was only $600 and I've worn it probably 70 evenings so at less than $9 a night i guess i can justify expensing a new one!
I love the monochromatic black style but not for black tie, I like it for more casual formal situations. A monochromatic black smoking suit for example. Not everyone agrees with this but imo when you're trying to relax (ergo not be the center of attention) a monochromatic black helps you to not stand out as much amongst people who may not be dressed as formally.
I do slightly disagree on the watches. I believe that if you’re wearing a sports watch with a tux, you have to wear the right kind or right models. Vincent, I don’t think Woodward with the tuxedo because it’s more bulky and obviously a diving watch. However, thinner watches with more classic designs like the Rolex explorer, Rolex, oyster, perpetual, Rolex of mariner, Omega, aqua, terra, etc. work perfectly fine with the tux as long as the dial is black and it’s on a leather or steel bracelet.
One problem with buying a tuxedo when you rarely use it, while the tuxedo doesn't change, our bodies tend to do so a lot over the decades, more than a tailor can fix.
You did not mention suspenders. If one is from the Military one wears suspenders in the color of their branch. For example from the Infantry, one would wear light blue, Engineers Scarlett. If you are going to mention a military heritage please discuss suspenders and maybe a small section on proper wear of decorations.
While I do understand that the intention behind the uniformity in traditional Black Tie is to help gentlemen keep their minds on their company and entertainment rather than their sartorial expression, I do think that if you're not at least somewhat self-conscious of what you're wearing you're not really going the distance.
I grew up in South Florida in the 1950S and 60s. In pre-air-conditioning times a gentleman would always have both a white and black Dinner Jacket in the closet. My mother remembered when men would wear White Tie to the dinner table. She contended that civilization ended with the acceptance of the Tuxedo.
Personally I think it's fine to be more free with the hat and coat colours, considering you'd hand them over to the cloakroom staff when you enter an event. Last time I wore white tie I had a black overcoat and black top hat.
i always wear a pre-tied bow tie BUT only because i have severe arthritis in my left wrist, elbow and shoulder which makes it impossible to tie a proper one
having literally never - not once - attended a black tie event in 35 years, i'm gonna continue to not spend my money on this stuff, no matter how cool it looks.
What would be your opinion be on a dress shirt which hides the buttons, when I was getting my evening suit my tailor suggested that this would be more kosher, any thoughts on this?
It's definitely an option, but only if you like the look, if you're not a fan of it and your tailor suggests it then by all means decline, but if you like the look then go for it.
If you are not going with studs, it's even obligatory to conceal the buttons. I happen to own a very unusually styled shirt with a pin-tucked bib in front that covers even the concealing placket, so that the tucks extend without interruption all the way across the bib. I absolutely adore this solution and would not be seen in any other type of formal shirt. Problem is, I got the one I currently own at a thrift shop, and it's not really the right size. So if I wanted to wear a full black tie ensemble, I'd no doubt have to have such a shirt made bespoke to get the size right.
