Formal Wear Primer

[dhermann1]

Very curious how he stacked up against his peers. Was there a lot of rampant awfulness there, or do kids nowadays do it better than they did in the 70s and 80s?

 

[chanteuseCarey]

from last night; my bf Tom is wearing his vintage 1937 DB tuxedo, son Daniel in his vintage white tie and tails:

 

[Tomasso]

Very nice indeed. Though personally I prefer a turndown collar with semi-formal wear.

 

[SteveAS]

Poor quality photo at a high quality event: the Art Deco Society of California's Art Deco Preservation Ball. That's me on the left. I'd have liked to have gotten a carnation, but I couldn't find a boutonnière in anything other than a rose, so I did without.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

SteveAS, you need to tell a florist you want a single white carnation with the long stem ONLY. Tell them that IS what you want, not a boutonnière. Out here, a single carnation is $2.00. Then you cut the stem shorter yourself after, maybe an inch and a quarter long.

Oh, you also need a white cotton handkerchief for your pocket square, try J.C. Penney.

I'd have liked to have gotten a carnation, but I couldn't find a boutonnière in anything other than a rose, so I did without.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

Interesting. What makes this semi-formal?

My vintage dealer told us to wear a wing collar with this peak lapel DB tuxedo, and the turn down collar with the shawl lapel DB tuxedo.

Very nice indeed. Though personally I prefer a turndown collar with semi-formal wear.

 

[Tomasso]

Interesting. What makes this semi-formal?

White Tie=Formal and Black Tie=Semi-Formal. Just a matter of terminology.

My vintage dealer told us to wear a wing collar with this peak lapel DB tuxedo, and the turn down collar with the shawl lapel DB tuxedo.

There are no rules per se concerning choice of shirt collar for Semi-Formal but my thought is that as a casual version of Formal wear a wing collar is a touch too dressy. Again, just a matter of personal preferance

 

[SteveAS]

SteveAS, you need to tell a florist you want a single white carnation with the long stem ONLY. Tell them that IS what you want, not a boutonnière. Out here, a single carnation is $2.00. Then you cut the stem shorter yourself after, maybe an inch and a quarter long.

Oh, you also need a white cotton handkerchief for your pocket square, try J.C. Penney.

Thanks for the tip on the carnation. I'm aware that convention calls for a pocket square, but I don't like pocket squares, so I don't wear them.

 

[dhermann1]

This whole idea that black tie is semi formal . . . That was true a hundred years ago. I think it's a wee bit of an affectation to cling to it religiously these days. Unless you're getting a Nobel Prize, there's hardly an event left in the world where black tie is not considered pretty damned dressy. Fashion and style evolve, standards change (I know! I know! "But not here in the Lounge!")
Just sayin'. This whole thing of black tie being semi formal . . . It's vestigial.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

I think my two guys have no pocket squares either for other jackets, but apparently the folded white cotton handkerchief in the pocket is de rigueur for formalwear...

Thanks for the tip on the carnation. I'm aware that convention calls for a pocket square, but I don't like pocket squares, so I don't wear them.

 

[HadleyH]

Thanks for the tip on the carnation. I'm aware that convention calls for a pocket square, but I don't like pocket squares, so I don't wear them.

tip on gardenia too

 

[Tomasso]

This whole idea that black tie is semi formal . . . That was true a hundred years ago. I think it's a wee bit of an affectation to cling to it religiously these days. Unless you're getting a Nobel Prize, there's hardly an event left in the world where black tie is not considered pretty damned dressy. Fashion and style evolve, standards change (I know! I know! "But not here in the Lounge!")
Just sayin'. This whole thing of black tie being semi formal . . . It's vestigial.

I really don't know how to respond to this.

 

[dhermann1]

Just did it to rattle yer cage, A.C.

 

[Tomasso]

ba***rd!

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

dhermann1 I would rather argue to save the correct description because if we lose it nobody would understand the difference between black and white tie anymore. I mean less than they already do today.
It doesn't degrade the "tux" or will hurt his feelings. We don't have to be "pc" with the tux. He is quite allright as the little bro of tails.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

One of my favourite bits about the tuxedo, as opposed to tails came from an episode of "Downton Abbey". Its the 20s now, and Lord Grantham shows up for dinner in the "new'' fashion- a tuxedo instead of the requisite tails. Dowager Countess Maggie Smith makes the snide remark, "I'm so sorry, I thought you were a waiter."

 

[Tommy]

After Six Rudofker's jacket by Valente. What do I wear with this, and on what occasion is it worn?

 

[dhermann1]

If you're a member of a Doo Wop group, at a PBS fund raising concert.

 

[Cody Pendant]

After Six Rudofker's jacket by Valente. What do I wear with this, and on what occasion is it worn?

It's a Summer / warm weather rig. The narrow shawl collar, black piping late 50's-early 60's 'sh styled. Quite in style now again I see, If you look at Dancing with the Stars and other shows now. I like it. It has some POP!
You wear a black tie, a thin (light weight) turn down or wing collar shirt (formal or otherwise today), a cummerbund (black or burgundy),tux pants, calfskin or patent formal shoes. Ages ago there were rules for what latitudes it was allowed - originally hot climates. Wear it to a summer event , the jacket was to be lighter weight and therefore cooler to wear during the summer heat. Make a dress up date (maybe a double date) to a show , movie (Gatsby?) or Theater,or just out for drinks if you have no "TUX" events on your summer calender and enjoy!

 

[dhermann1]

All snarkiness aside, that's about right. Perfectly decent black tie summer or tropic wear.