Is it appropriate to wear a morning coat at night?

[xenoxols]

Hello forum. I only have a few outfits and I'm hoping to keep it to a minimum. I already have a morning coat, and I was wondering if you guys would think it's ok to wear in place of a tuxedo. I have a black bow tie and an old black silk vest I sometime wear with it. I already know that most people I meet won't care or notice, but of people who are interested in formal clothing would anyone care? Thank guys, and have a nice day!

 

[Nobert]

If you're attempting to abide by The Rules that govern formal wear, then, technically, no. It's called a morning coat because it's not evening wear. (And it's hypothetically supposed to take the place of white tie and tails, rather than a tux.)

But, as you point out, this isn't 1910, most people wouldn't even know, and I expect even most tux fanciers would give it a pass. I personally can think of about three thousand things that are more worth getting worked up over.

 

[Wolf99]

Hello forum. I only have a few outfits and I'm hoping to keep it to a minimum. I already have a morning coat, and I was wondering if you guys would think it's ok to wear in place of a tuxedo. I have a black bow tie and an old black silk vest I sometime wear with it. I already know that most people I meet won't care or notice, but of people who are interested in formal clothing would anyone care? Thank guys, and have a nice day!

I think the answer is largely governed by how you feel about it and how much you care. People who are interested in formal clothing will notice that you are wearing a morning coat and that clearly is not part of the black tie dress code. Chances are your waistcoat is for day wear too (though the use of such waistcoats with black tie isn’t unusual). Overall, those that care will notice.

Personally, I wouldn’t wear it, especially if going to an event with a specified dress code. I think a dark suit and a tie (or bow tie) would be more likely to find favour, if you can’t actually run to a dinner jacket.

 

[Bjorn240]

Call me a stick in the mud, but I think if you're going somewhere that requires evening wear, you should wear evening wear. To me, wearing a morning coat in the evening is like wearing a dinner suit during the day. Sure, you can do it, but my assumption would be you don't know better.

 

[GHT]

As Nobert points out, there's hardly anyone who would notice these days. Wear what you are comfortable with is good advice. The only time that you should pay attention to dress codes is when you have been asked to. My wife and I went to the funeral of a young man who had passed away aged just forty. His widow had asked mourners not to wear black, so colourful clothing was the orderof the day.

 

[Edward]

Personally, I wouldn't. At best, it will look like you're trying to be "the qwerky guy" who does "creative black tie". If white tie is appropriate at the event, chances are you'll get mistaken for the waiter (it would take you into 'grey tie', i.e. white tie worn with a black waistcoat and tie, specifically designed to distinguish the staff from guests at an event). If it's a black tie event, I'd try and rustle up an e-Bay special dinner jacket instead.

 

[Mathematicus]

As Nobert points out, there's hardly anyone who would notice these days. Wear what you are comfortable with is good advice.

I think this kind of reasoning is the same that makes people eating in downtown restaurants in shorts and shapeless t-shirts without even feeling a bit embarassed. So for me is no, you should not wear a morning coat except when it is appropriate (and even in that case, there are rules to follow).

"It's not 1910 anymore" makes even less sense. In 1910 morning dress was so common among a wide stratum of society (middle-class bankers, for example) that nobody would have cared too much for occasional improper use (for example, someone going home late from the office). Nowadays morning dress' use is so circumscribed that wearing it outside the few occasions in which it has become appropriate would be considered a total lack of bon-ton.