Black Tie?

[squirrel_hunter]

Right org I need a bit of help...

I'm going to a Black Tie event in London in a couple of weeks. Its a works thing but theres a free bar so thats why I'm going. I've never been to one of these things before so need a Dinner Suit or a Tuxedo. I've decided to buy one cause I'll probably use it again some time.

My problem is this: I went out to day to look at some suites and is it just me or are they all dull? All the suites I looked at were plain black the only difference between them appears to be the collar, you have a choice of 3; either a round collar, or the choice of lapels up or down. I want something with a little style, with a little flair just something with life! So what are my options???

[Richie]

I'd go with this look, from the UFO series, Cool as IMHO.

Originally Posted by Richie

I'd go with this look, from the UFO series, Cool as IMHO.

I am sure that looked way cool in the 60s/70s ... in 2007 you would just look like a 'lord!!

Just get a smart standard suit of reasonable quality. If you intend to have it for some years and only drag it out on special occasions then you might as well get something generic .. something too 'trendy' will date real quick ...

Besides, I think the way to jazz up a suit is all in the shirt and tie you choose to wear with it ...

I think the classy thing to do is to have a tie with piano keys on it!!

Either that or hire a really hot date with massive 'hooters', get her to wear a really low cut and revealing dress and you could turn up in a pair of jeans and no one would notice/care!!!

how about this. Ithink its just your colour

Squirrel, just get a normal tux and get a big fat 70's style bow tie. I think that always looks cool

Originally Posted by Vickster

Squirrel, just get a normal tux and get a big fat 70's style bow tie. I think that always looks cool

and a frill-fronted shirt!

seriously, a classic single-breasted plain black with proper pointy satin lapels always looks sharp and you'l get loads of wear out of it. Think 'James Bond'.

I used to do a lot of this stuff SH and you may find there are now quite a lot of variations to the standard, but you'll pay hefty for it.

I just had standard DJ with trousers with the shiny bit down the side. Most people will. Black tie is just used to decribe formality. I've used bright blue dickies before which sets off quite nice. Mate of mine had a collection of coloured dickies and hundreds of different cuff links (always go for double cuff shirts!). Shirts are quite important. You can get plain or pleated fronts, standard collars or wing type. The wing type seem to go all floppy when washed so I guess they would need to be starched or summat. You can wear a cummerbund (spell?) coloured satin waist band thing - not my style though.

I always hired mine (cos the Co. paid) and the shirts came free which you then kept, was about £60 all in but about 2 years ago now.

We went to a "Black Tie" do once - annual dinner and dance where I worked. My other half hired the dinner jacket, shirt, trousers and the bow tie etc, from a local gentlemans outfitters. I cant remember how much it cost, was quite a few years ago but better than forking out buying one or turning up in the wrong gear! have fun!

[squirrel_hunter]

We have some comedians on this site don't we , that said while you might laugh but they all have a bit of flare, quite liking Hovis' suggestion in the white.

But realistically I'm not after something trendy I don't even know what fashion is, I just want something I like and am having trouble finding it. I just don't want to end up looking like everyone else, but I don't want to stand out by wearing the wrong thing. Having said all that I do like the look of James Bond, An Officer And A Gentleman or even Rocket Man (I really think the 30's had the style) but even in the dinner suite scenes you can still spot the main character, but then again I think that just shows I watch to many films.

Ok back on track Triumphumphumph I think your right a nice dickie bow and cummerbund thingy would be what I'm after as well. Shirt wise I like the vampire wing ones, but does it have to be white?

As for the suite I don't understand the stripe on the trouser and most of the ones with shiny bits look cheap. To be honest all of the ones I've seen look cheap. But CoolGirl your right it has to be single-breasted and I'm liking the idea of the pointy lapels now.

Right I'm off out to have another look around but keep the ideas coming.