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Black Tie Dress Code - Interpretations

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Bobby Giovanni

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So, anyways, I have a wedding this weekend, and the invite says 'Black Tie', and I was wondering what your interpretation of this was...

My take on it is:
Make a red hot effort to look good, and basically as long as you look good, it shouldn't matter what colour your tie is. Basically, it's to weed out the tools who would normally wear Looney Tunes ties.
I CAN UNDERSTAND that some guys definitely need to be told what to wear, as most would usually go for a Roger David $100 suit with 8y.o boat shoes, but I am not like that.

I do not accept that it means tuxedo and/or bow tie. I refuse to believe that some crappy $180 rental suit is better than my black suit which I paid $1800 for.

Thus, I had planned to wear my:
- Black suit
- White shirt
- White tie
(going for the Kyan QE4SG look ;))

But now I have been told this is not kosher, and to not bother turning up if I don't wear a tux. How crap is that? Girls can wear what they like, but a guy must look like a monkey?

My friends take on it is:
Ok, sure, we agree with you Bobby, but they are going to a lot of expense to get married, and it's only for one day, so hire the bloody suit. Hence, they have all hired the SAME tuxedo's, which incidentally is the most gayest thing I have ever heard.
Okay, now do I get to take the money for the hire outfit off their wedding present? Would a CD voucher cover it?
Why do we all have to look the same?



So, I ask you, is Black Tie definitely a tux with bow tie?

Or should I stick to my guns, and go the original look, and throw in white shoes just to show my displeasure at being told what to wear?
 
So I take it the Tuxedo themed T-Shirt is unavailable?

If someone said "Black Tie" to me then obviously it would mean all are supposed to look as spiffy as possible. However, this does not mean you should actuall wear the black tie. Nosireebob!

By all means wear your suit, with the classy tie (may I suggest a silver instead of the white). You may not be adhering technically to the invite however you'll still look smart. There's no way everyone there's going to be looking like a penguin, plus a bit of originality never hurt anyone.

Unless of course the bride decides that she now hates your guts for ruining her special day all because YOU wore a white tie.

I wouldn't go if I were you, it's obviously a trap.
 
Change the shirt to black, and get an ultra stark white tie, and the white shoes and socks sounds perfect.
 
For me if my man is ask to dress "Black Tie" looks really great in a White Shirt, open neck...no tie, and black pants.
;)......thats classy. Well in my eyes anyway:) . Suits look great, if they are fitted right, ties always come in handy;) lol
 

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No way should you wear a tux and a black tie for this one. I've always thought "Black Tie" meant wear a suit that looks good on you, and isn't at all tacky. By tacky, it also covers a bright outlandish tie that draws attention away from the bride's dress. But why the hell should you HAVE to go dressed as a penguin, amongst a whole host of other penguins.

Obviously your $1800 suit looks pretty spiffy, and with a white shirt, perhaps a silver tie instead of a white one (just to save you getting a possible kick in the groin), and some nice clean shoes (black preferable, white if you wake up feeling invincible), then no one will complain. And if they do, just trash the place, hoping to ruin their big day.

As a guy, I've always thought a plain suit, with a nice tie, or nice shirt, looks heaps better than a tuxedo anyway. And I agree with PortProud, if you can pull it off, an open neck shirt would look better than all of them, but perhaps not for a wedding?
 
I would be extemely surprised that you would be expected to wear a tux to a wedding even though black tie is usually a tux. I think the invite should have read formal or lounge suit which is the norm these days.
 

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Originally posted by Bobby Giovanni
My friends take on it is:
Ok, sure, we agree with you Bobby, but they are going to a lot of expense to get married, and it's only for one day, so hire the bloody suit. Hence, they have all hired the SAME tuxedo's, which incidentally is the most gayest thing I have ever heard.
Okay, now do I get to take the money for the hire outfit off their wedding present? Would a CD voucher cover it?
Why do we all have to look the same?
Click to expand...

When dress is specified as black or white tie, there is usally an expectation by the bridal party of the expense entailed, and that is often counteracted by the lower priced items being placed on the bridal gift register (unless they are being greedy buggers and want you to spend money on the clothes you wear AND buy expensive gifts too).
 
Originally posted by Bobby Giovanni
Perhaps in 1980
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So you really weren't looking for the meaning of "black tie", you just wanted to have a whinge about being told what to wear, fair enough.
 
Re: Re: Black Tie Dress Code - Interpretations

Originally posted by Danni
When dress is specified as black or white tie, there is usally an expectation by the bridal party of the expense entailed, and that is often counteracted by the lower priced items being placed on the bridal gift register (unless they are being greedy buggers and want you to spend money on the clothes you wear AND buy expensive gifts too).
Click to expand...

Gifts start at $100, go to $900.
 
Black Tie means what it has always meant - Tux with a BLACK Bow Tie.

Clearly you know exactly what your hosts intend and merely don't want to go along with it.

That's fine.

Some people wont even notice you're dressed differently, some will notice and wont care, some will assume you didn't read the invitation properly, some will assume you don't know what Black Tie means and some will assume you're desparately trying to look a little different, perhaps to be noticed.
 
Re: Re: Re: Black Tie Dress Code - Interpretations

Originally posted by Bobby Giovanni
Gifts start at $100, go to $900.
Click to expand...

With further evidence such as this, sounds like your best bet is to plan a sickie for that day, and just go down the pub instead.
 
Originally posted by mantis
So you really weren't looking for the meaning of "black tie", you just wanted to have a whinge about being told what to wear, fair enough.
Click to expand...

I know the definition of what it means, I wasn't asking that.

I'm sure back in 1980 when you had a perm and a partner, you'd make him wear a tux, but in the present day and age, don't you think that fashion has come far enough to allow an ancient rule to be interpreted? Most of the attendees wear a suit during the week, and would relish the opportunity to dress up nicely in their good suits. I am one of those.

Knowing what all the girls are wearing, it borders on ridiculous that I have to look like a penguin. One is wearing a white dress with multi-coloured coloured polka dots, and that will be marked down as a fashion statement.

My point is, surely we have progressed past the days where you can trust guys to dress apporpriately, rather than making them wear what is essentially a costume.
 

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Originally posted by Wicked Lester
Black Tie means what it has always meant - Tux with a BLACK Bow Tie.

Clearly you know exactly what your hosts intend and merely don't want to go along with it.

That's fine.

Some people wont even notice you're dressed differently, some will notice and wont care, some will assume you didn't read the invitation properly, some will assume you don't know what Black Tie means and some will assume you're desparately trying to look a little different, perhaps to be noticed.
Click to expand...

When the groom himself isn't wearing a bow tie, I assumed it was open to interpretation. Shouldn't he be setting an example?

And I assume when you go to a party, you're happy being a boring old wallflower, who looks noticably uncomfortable in your rental suit because it makes you itch, and shakes their head at people who want to have fun and look good. Maybe you and my grandmother should hook up?
 
Originally posted by Bobby Giovanni
When the groom himself isn't wearing a bow tie, I assumed it was open to interpretation. Shouldn't he be setting an example?

And I assume when you go to a party, you're happy being a boring old wallflower, who looks noticably uncomfortable in your rental suit because it makes you itch, and shakes their head at people who want to have fun and look good. Maybe you and my grandmother should hook up?
Click to expand...

Perhaps the best thing to do, a course you seem determined to chart, is to interpret the dress code according to how well you know your hosts.

As you say, if the groom has a liberal interpretation of BLack Tie, then chances are the happy couple aren't going to give a toss what you're wearing.

As for me, I have my own Tux and its rather a nice one, thanks very much. No itchy rentals for this black duck.

I proudly interpret Black Tie in the traditional sense, but that's just me. At least no-one can look back at the photos of me in twenty years time and laugh at an ill-concieved fashion faux pas. A good quality classic Tux never dates. Works for Bond, doesn't it?

And surprising enough I even have fun. I'd best give your Grand Ma a call!
 
Originally posted by Bobby Giovanni
The toaster was $500. For that I'd expect it to cook eggs, make a latte and wash my car.
Click to expand...

lol a $500 toaster!?!! wtf!!

like harry_hawka suggested, i also recommend the sickie on this day!
 

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