I buy all my black tie clothes at charity shops. If you are patient, you can find the best quality for next to nothing. I haven't bought online because I prefer to examine and try on the garments. Everything aways needs tailoring, but I don't like paying the tailor a lot of money and I want it to look like it was bespoke. I did make an exception for a pair of patent leather oxfords made by a well known Italian company. I bought these in an online charity auction. I got very lucky. They fit beautifully, had almost no wear and are of excellent build quality, with Blake stitched leather soles and full leather lining. You are giving good advise!
Another excellent video, I always think of James Bond when it comes to the White dinner jacket. I live in Southeast Texas, where it is hot and humid most of the year.
As always a nice balance of history, opinion and advice. Here in Gibraltar the White is a popular option as many evening events are partially out of doors and very practical as usually lighter in weight than the black variety.
Amazing how much we think alike, having just pulled the trigger on an ivory colored dinner jacket ala Ebay and took delivery yesterday. The garment is absolutely stunning and was a bargain of a purchase. Much if not exactly as the one being sported in this video, ivory in color trimmed with a shawl collar 100% wool and made in Canada by a reputable maker Jack Victor with a Saks 5th Avenue badge. In my case a 40R fits me right off the rack and like you cannot wait to wear it to the next formal outing. With the help of the internet and knowing your size/measurements can take you a long through your sartorial journey on a budget. Being a recent subscriber very much enjoying the content, keep up the good work and stay in good health. All the best. -P
Good score sir. Sadly they are a challenge to wear in many situations, due to their overt nature, but I love mine and await an opportunity to cut a dash in it soon. Good luck with yours!
I went on a Bahamas cruise and wanted dress like James Bond and wear a white tuxedo/dinner jacket - so I got all dressed up, my wife looked spectacular, we casually walked into the dining room and the only other guys wearing white tuxedo/dinner jackets were all the waiters. I actually left my table to use the restroom and as I was walking back to my table, I was asked by another passenger for a clean fork and more water for their table.
Another way I have bought my Tuxedos is to go to a local outlet that sales rental return stock from the last year or so. You can get nice gently worn tuxedos, shirts, Shoes and other items to round out your outfit. For example they have used shoes for $25.
I own my own white dinner jacket, and I have had nothing but positive experiences when wearing it. My first wear after buying it was to the Seattle Opera. Seattle is a very wealthy city, but it's pretty casual and easy-going, so there aren't a lot of hard and fast rules for formal wear. At intermission, I got myself a drink and surfed my phone while my wife went off to the ladies room. A stunning woman came up to me and told me: "You're beautiful!" I'm not the most good-looking guy in the world, so she was no doubt referring to my outfit, including white dinner jacket. We passed a few pleasant words before parting, and my wife and I had a nice laugh about it later. It was a wonderful experience. Being well-dressed definitely has its plusses.
You certainly have some lucky finds on eBay... been meaning to add a white dinner jacket to my wardrobe for a while... I’ll have to keep an eye out on there...
I think it s a case of taking your time and waiting until the perfect item comes up. I've spent years amassing my kit and its cost a fraction of the original price. Keeps the wife happy!
I wanted to wear my white tuxedo jacket with my black tuxedo trousers and wasn't sure of the rules or if it was allowed. I will be dancing the tango, and it is supposed to be warm this weekend. Also, the comment on not outshining the bride on her wedding day convinced me not to wear my medals to my niece's formal wedding in August. Thanks for the guidance.
I have been thinking for quite a while for maybe like three years yes I do want to purchase my own white tuxedo jacket for the summer months here in California. And I don’t mind turning heads
Thanks for the explanation! As a musician I was wondering why do U.S. orchestras wear white in Summer. Allow me to remark: I live in Curitiba, latitude 25˚, far below the 49th parallel -criterion pro wearing white from January to December. I am precisely now, 10 A.M. wearing black and sitting outside to catch some sunshine as the temperature is only 13˚C.
I think that a white DJ will be most at home on a cruise ship regardless where it takes place. As long as you wear it with confidence, it will look great.
Good point about the 'Lock Down' reducing the opportunities to use ones kit. No doubt we all have it immaculately cleaned and pressed, with footwear highly polished. But its maybe as well in the lovely summer weather, to take the time to hang garments up outside in the sun, and make a minute inspection with the aim of defeating the Moth menace before gaping holes appear :)
You make a very valid point. But the autumn will soon be here, with all those layering opportunities. It certainly feels like we have skipped a year somehow!
Good advice. Lol... I love my white dinner jacket, but I have been mistaken as a waiter at some parties, 2 in particular one in Istanbul and the other in Cairo. I was at The American Consul Generals garden party (Istanbul) wearing my white dinner jacket by Pier Cardan, when I noticed that all the wait staff was wearing white dinner jackets with black pants. Of course my black pants were the tuxedo black pants. It was funny because I couldn't get any service and when I began to dance with a cute girl on the dance floor the waiters tried to pull me away. I like to wear my white dinner jacket to my very traditional British styled country club especially at the club's garden events and at dinner in the formal dining hall. Other places I like to wear my dinner jacket to is embassy parties.
I agree, I always play the long game with auctions, decide what you want and research thoroughly until you can purchase (or at least bid) with confidence. Half of my kit is sourced from ebay - but its the only way I could afford it, so I have no hang-ups over the methods.
I wonder what happens in environments that are explicitly tropical, where temperatures almost never goes below 20°C at its coldest. Where I live, even during the most formal events you don't necessarily see people wearing a suit at all. The black tie equivalent is instead a long sleeve shirt with traditional patterns called batik.
Just got one from eBay for £16 made by moss bros. I go away to Egypt every year so this one is taking over from my linen coat as my evening wear when abroad
Greetings from Germany. My question: is the length of the sleeves of the jacket and of the french cuffs of the shirt correct? The sleeves of your white Dinner jacket are longer than the cuffs of the shirt! On the other photografic examples some cuffs of the shirt are longer, some are shorter than the sleefs of the jacket. Which way is correct?
A quick note: "black tie" refers to any evening semi-formal attire, from the black dinner suit to the ivory dinner jacket to the smoking jacket. It's in reference to the color of the bow tie, not the color of the jacket. I assume you already know this, but it read that you were saying black tie refers only to the black dinner suit to me. Cheers!
@@themoderndandy713 I'm asking if a white dinner jacket is ever appropriate for white tie or is it just too informal for that and ok for black tie only?
@@jesusthroughmary Ah, fair question. White tie is a very old, rigid dress code, and any occasion in which it's actually the dress code will require the rules be followed precisely. This means black tailcoat and matching trousers, white marcella waistcoat, etc. These events are rather few and far between, though - mostly state dinners and the Vienna Opera Ball. If you were to wear a white dinner jacket there, you'd probably be quite out of place, and maybe even not allowed entry! Besides, how often are you able to wear a tailed coat as a dress code? The white dinner jacket is best left to black tie, both in the rules and my opinion.
Would it be alright to wear a white tuxedo for prom? Or would that just be overdressing 😅 Also, would white or black pants (and shoes)be better for it?
