So, you have a black-tie event coming up. Excited? Nervous? Wondering what ‘rules’ you should follow so you don’t make the dreaded, ‘faux pas?’
Or, you already know the ‘rules’ but want to know the latest tips?
I have you covered.
But first, shall we take a look at the fashions of black-tie events of the past?
‘Black-tie’ essentially means, ‘semi-formal’ attire.
Let’s go back a bit to the 17th century where it all began in France. Fashion and evening wear was taken very seriously back then but it wasn’t until Louis XIII got the idea of the ‘tie’ that the whole ‘black tie uniform’ got started. He had admired the Croatians wearing a material tied around their necks. He loved ‘the look’ so much that he made it compulsory for everyone in his court to wear them!
One hundred or so years later, the ‘cravat’ (which comes from the word ‘cravate’ which was a mispronunciation of the word ‘croate’) got paired with the tailcoat, which really was ‘the thing’ at the time. There were, of course, closely followed etiquette guidelines to follow. One must also be very careful to dress to their status and there was a clear line between the rich and the aristocrats, and their dress code.
Now, our men are forced to wear the tie and formal jacket if they wish to attend a black-tie event. Thanks to (or not thanks to! Louis X111).
Sometime later, for a little less formality, the ‘tail’ of the coat was dropped (like a lizard?!) and the dinner jacket was adopted. We can thank Edward the V11 for that, who was tired of formal wear. We do see the odd ‘tail’ though at very very special events, such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markles’ wedding, complete with top hats, etc. Hats…very interesting, but that’s a topic we can really go into in a future post.
These days men have a lot more opportunities to express their personality. And about time. We love to see our men show a bit of color, varying materials, individual style, or quirk. It is still seen as gentlemanly, however, for men to stick to black so their female partners can take all of the spotlight with their glitter and glitz.
There are a few little ‘rules’ to follow such as:
Dinner jacket (preferably black, navy).
Crisp white shirt.
Bow-tie – black is generally best but there’s no rule saying you can’t wear a bow-tie of any color. But make sure it’s appropriate for the event and make sure it’s a tie you actually ‘tie.’ Very important guys!
White handkerchief in breast pocket.
Optional – cumberbunds/waistcoats – if wearing a waistcoat – make sure it sits below your pants’ seam. A too-high waistcoat is not a good look.
Matching black trousers.
Black formal shoes (depending on the occasions you might even be able to get away with designer sneakers if you’re feeling brave!)
Braces – no belt.
Cuffs – don’t mix gold and silver with the rest of your accessories – wedding rings/watches, etc.
And what did our ladies have to suffer, I mean, ‘wear’ a few hundred years back?
For women, it’s always been a bit trickier – such is our fate! They did however look stunning and how regal must they have felt? Back then, France was the place to look to for fashion trends. Dresses and hairstyles were very lavish. Think large hoops, under skirts, corsets, puffed sleeves, lace, and ruffles, and the higher the hair, the better.
In the 1800s the overall look softened quite a bit, and especially those hard corsets, and by the 20th century, full-length gowns were still mostly required and but styles were heavily influenced by the glamour of Hollywood. Backless, or figure-hugging – accentuating the hourglass figure. Which we still see today on the red carpet. Now, however, for black tie events, almost anything goes!
There are still a few little ‘rules’ for our ladies too, but I’m happy to say, they are a lot freer now, and the options are endless! Good luck deciding, ladies:
For very formal black tie events full-length gowns are still required.
For more casual black tie events – you can get away with a 3/4 cocktail dress – just below the knee.
Figure-hugging dresses and side splits are okay, but depending on the dress, may not be comfortable/appropriate for sit-down dinners. I’d steer clear.
Skip the tiara or too much bling – which is usually reserved for white tie events.
Something timeless is always safe, and gorgeous!
Rich luxurious colors are best (not too loud or patterned) and you can’t go wrong with black.
Avoid plunging necklines.
Balance – detailed colorful dress – keep the makeup and accessories simple. Classic simple dress – have a bit of fun with hair, makeup, accessories, and shoes.
Professionally applied makeup is a must, as is professionally style hair.
Comfort – you’ll feel a lot more at ease if you are comfortable and not worried about your dress all night!