Groom's Week Day 7: The Elements of Black Tie

"Black Tie"
"What is it?" "When is appropriate to wear it" etc etc. etc...so lets start with...

THE ELEMENTS OF BLACK TIE:
Unlike white tie, which is very regulated (that blog coming soon!), black-tie ensembles can have more variation. The traditional components are usually:

• A dinner jacket with silk facings (grosgrain or satin) with shawl or peak lapels
• Trousers with silk braids down the side matching the lapels-no cuffs or belt loops
• A cummerbund or low cut waistcoat
• A white dress shirt stiff or pleated front
• A black silk bow tie
• Black socks, usually silk
• Black shoes (patent or highly polished)

The typical black tie jacket is single breasted, ventless Black or Midnight-Blue. Double breasted are not as popular but are acceptable as they are a little more modern and less formal. Lapels are faced in silk, either grosgrain or satin weave. Three Lapel styles are also acceptable. The traditional Shawl – derived from the smoking jacket, which is older: the Peak- derived from the tailcoat and considered more formal, and the Notched which has only recently gained popularity and is a less formal alternative.

The White dinner jacket: is often worn in warm climates (usually ivory rather than pure white), and does not have silk-faced lapels. Worn with the same clothing as the black tie.

Note: Wear either a waistcoat or a cummerbund but never both.

Black-Tie Social Occasions:
Black Tie is worn to private and public dinners, dances, and parties. At the formal end of the social spectrum, it has replaced white tie which was once standard evening dress. Black tie is worn only after six o'clock in the evening, or after sundown during winter months. Black tie's daytime equivalent is called the stroller. (But that is another story)

FYI – It is considered poor manners for a man to remove his jacket during a formal social event.