subject: How You Can Appreciate Using Your Black Tie [print this page] Black tie is the rule in the manner of dressing-up in a formal evening affair. The main component that the man wears is a jacket. It is called a dinner jacket in British and tuxedo in the US, Canada and Ireland. Usually, it is black in color but sometimes, midnight blue is worn, too. Meanwhile, women can wear conservative evening dresses or long gowns, depending on the time of the occasion, the current fashion and the local custom.
History
In 1860, the Prince of Wales was made a new jacket by Henry Poole & Co. As a substitute to the standard formal attire, the white tie, they made the Prince a short smoking jacket to be worn to informal dinner parties. At that time, men started wearing lounge suits in the country, and the new dress code was for men to wear evening lounge suits that are comfortable to be worn out of town. Then, in 1886, when James Potter, a New Yorker, came back to America from the Prince's Norfolk Hunting Estate as a guest, he wore the new suit that the Prince recommended for him to wear. It became famous at the Tuxedo Park Club, which other men in the club copied. It became known as a tuxedo after the Tuxedo Park, where it was said to be where the first tuxedo was worn in the US. It eventually became a popular formal dress in the US. And after two years, it was known as a dinner jacket in Britain.
Traditional Components
Traditionally, black tie consists of a jacket, either single or double breasted with satin on the lapels. And then, a formal dress shirt which is white in color with double cuffs which may have black studs or pearl buttons and with pleats. Another component is either a low waistcoat or a cummerbund worn over the shirt and underneath the jacket. Still another is the trousers that has silk braids to cover the outer seams. Then, the rest are a black silk bow tie that matches the lapel facings; socks in black color and made of either fine wool or silk; and well-polished black leather shoes.
Untraditional Component
Since black tie events are formal, most men opt to wear ties that are either white, silver, gray or black just so to be on the safe side. But for those who want to stand-out and look fashionable, choose ties in a different but single color such as burgundy red, cream or a lighter shade of pink. But, even more fashionable are the skinny ties, which have been around since the 70's. They are mostly worn by younger men as they exude a younger appearance as well as a sporty look. A classy and fabulous choice would be a skinny black tie made of silk or polyester.
