Fun with black tie
Source: Ralph Lauren
Years ago at my last job, I decided to get my second tuxedo. Why another one? Because I tore the trousers of my first one partying in a forest after getting tangled up in a patch of thorny bushes that left it shredded while trying to find my dropped phone in the middle of the night. I eventually found my iPhone, but lost my only black-tie rig.
Eventually, my tuxedo arrived and I really loved it. And then I proceeded to not wear it for five years. I had no reason to do so. I went nowhere where a traditional tuxedo would’ve been appropriate or needed. And while I’m pretty comfortable enough wearing clothing that stands out, I know enough that being “that guy” who wears a full tuxedo isn’t exactly a good reputation to have labelled upon you.
The tuxedo can be rather up tight; it’s formalwear, after all. I still believe for most guys a tuxedo is worth owning. And pretty much anyone can look great in this no-brainer outfit. It’s perfect for all the situations where a black-tie dress code is on the invite.
But what if you want to dress up without the stuffiness? Maybe the dress code isn’t as rigid, the music isn’t classical, and you don’t want to simply wear black and white?
I think most guys, like myself, think of the tuxedo as a formal garment that should only be worn during a handful of occasions. And this is really a shame! I’ve come to find that if you restyle the tuxedo with a bit of creativity, then you can find new opportunities to take it out of the garment bag and enjoy wearing it.
At a summer fundraiser at the Art Institute’s modern wing, I wore my cream dinner jacket and formal trousers, but swapped in a black aloha shirt (collar over the lapels, naturally) instead of a pique formal shirt. It added a louche vibe that seemed to match the White Claw liquor sponsorship at the event.
One of my favorite twists on black tie is wearing blue jeans with a black tuxedo jacket. I’ve done it a few times and even recommended it to a coworker who asked what he should wear for his surprise engagement proposal. Plus, Ralph Lauren’s done it — and was the best to ever do it paired with cowboy boots. A sleek pair of loafers works, too, alongside a simple white French cuffed shirt.
In the winter for holiday parties, the more trad approach might be to wear tartan trousers with a dinner jacket. Stewart, Blackwatch, etc. tartans in a heavy flannel feels festive. You might be shy and just do a tartan bowtie or cummerbund, but I say live a little and go for broke!
Being “fun” can be a risk. Not every event or occasion calls for it. And it shouldn’t be the norm. But in the right circumstances you can breathe new life into your tuxedo and maybe wear it more often.