Black tie and beyond
Evening dress, done properly
Tuxedos and dinner jackets cut to the proper black tie conventions.
Black tie has a few rules, and a tuxedo that ignores them just looks like a black suit with a bow tie. Silk-faced lapels, no belt loops, a covered waist and matte cloth against shiny trim. Get those right and a simple dinner suit looks far more expensive than it was.
Matte against lustre
A matte barathea or fine worsted body with silk satin or grosgrain facings. The contrast between dull cloth and shining trim is the whole effect.
Cover the waist
Use a cummerbund, an evening waistcoat or a double-breasted front. Black tie never shows a belt or a bare waistband.
Consider midnight blue
Under artificial light midnight blue looks richer and deeper than black. It photographs beautifully and most people never pick why it looks better.
What we usually recommend
- Midnight blue or black barathea
- Shawl or peak lapel in silk
- Side adjusters, never belt loops
- Hand-tied bow tie
- Patent or highly polished shoes
None of this is fixed. It is where we start the conversation, not where it ends.
Gallery
Formal tailoring
Speak to us
Commission evening dress
Call the workshop and we will talk through the cloth, the cut and the timing.
02 9635 8552