Tuesday 20 January 2009

White tie? - formal wear for men


I was asked to make a white tie set in time for the inaugural ball - but what is 'white tie' etiquette? I thought I better do some research before I started and this is what I found out.

Formal evening dress is strictly regulated, and properly comprising:
Black tailcoat with silk (ribbed or satin) facings, sharply cut-away at the front Black trousers with a single stripe of satin or braid in the US White stiff-fronted cotton piqué shirt White stiff-winged collar White bow tieWhite low-cut waistcoat (vest) (usually cotton piqué, matching the bow tie and shirt)
'Your jacket should be a tailcoat - it must have a cut front that reaches to your waist and there should not be any part of the white vest underneath showing below the front. These coats have a split in the tail and often buttons on either side. The tails at the rear should not fall below your knees. The lapels (peaked) of the jacket should be covered with silk, or even better with grosgrain'

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