What To Wear To A Black Tie Event
Navigating the intricacies of dress codes can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to formal occasions like black tie events. Whether you’re attending a wedding, gala, or sophisticated soirée, making the right sartorial choices is essential to not only look your best but also to feel confident and at ease.
At WasafiBlog Lifestyle, we understand that every detail counts when it comes to personal style, and for men, black tie attire can feel particularly tricky.
In this post, we’ll guide you through the eight best tips on what to wear to a black tie event, ensuring you don’t just comply with the dress code, but also showcase your unique sense of style.
While black-tie events can seem restrictive to the choice of your fashion styling, they are not as intimidating as they may appear.
Therefore, we present our black tie guide, which includes all the necessary information you need to know about attire for a black tie event.
It is common to think that a black tie dress is the most formal attire one can wear. However, this is a misconception as a white-tie dress code is the most formal.
Luckily, the white-tie dress code is not commonly followed these days, which means that black tie has become the standard dress code for formal social events.
Wearing a black tie can be a fun and stylish option, but it can also be expensive.
Read on to discover some useful tips to get it right on what to wear to a black tie event.
How to dress for a BLACK TIE EVENT
- What is a Black Tie Event
A black tie event is a formal evening occasion that takes place after 7 pm, where attendees are expected to adhere to a specific dress code.
Such events are generally more formal than ordinary business or social engagements, and it is not appropriate to wear regular work attire.
Examples of black-tie events include balls and corporate functions. While black tie events may not be a common occurrence, it is important to understand the dress code requirements and how to dress accordingly.
Being prepared with a bow tie and other appropriate attire will enable one to feel comfortable and confident at these events.
- The Black Tie Event Dress Code
The black tie event dress code, also known as cravat noir in France, is a semi-formal evening dress code that originates from the western, British, men’s evening wear of the 19th century.
If you’re wondering what a tuxedo is, it is the American term for a dinner jacket.
You would usually wear a black tie dress code at events that take place after 7 pm. It is less formal than a white tie dress code that involves a man wearing a tailcoat jacket with a starched shirt, waistcoat, and white bow tie.
However, it is more formal than business wear. The black-tie dress code usually involves a man wearing a white dress shirt, a black bow tie, an evening waistcoat, a dinner jacket with lapels of a different shade from the rest of the jacket, and a pair of black oxford shoes.
Initially, when men started wearing dinner jackets in the Victorian era, it was a less formal alternative to a tailcoat. However, it was deemed inappropriate to wear in mixed company, and not many men wore black tie dresses.
It wasn’t until after the First World War that the dinner jacket became the principal form of evening wear for men.
Although the black tie dress code is currently considered very formal, it was originally a much less formal item of clothing compared to what upper-class men wore every day.
What to Wear to a Black Tie Event: Styling Tips For Men
#1. The Dinner Jacket
Otherwise known as the tuxedo (or tux if you’re a little lazier), this is where a bit of investment is needed.
The main thing that makes this different from your usual suit jacket is the contrasting material to the lapel (the long collar of the jacket), with a silk material or similar, so you won’t be able to wear your suit jacket to these events.
The buttons will also usually be a different material to your average suit jacket and it’s these details you need to be looking out for.
In terms of color, you should only be opting for black or a midnight navy, no whites, pinks, or greys here I’m afraid.
#2. Double-Breasted Dinner Jacket
The double-breasted dinner jacket generally isn’t the norm when it comes to knowing what black tie attire is for men. More commonly seen in casual suiting, the double-breasted dinner jacket is a rare sight.
However, a double-breasted jacket only suits a very slim amount of people as the two buttons can make you appear wider than you actually are.
#3. The Dress Shirt
I’d stick to white here, no pastel colors or prints it’s all about being understated rather than adding in too many vibrant details.
If you’re working on a tight budget, I wouldn’t go spending a load on your shirt, it’s one of the main areas you could cut back on the spending.
If you’re not working on such a tight budget, then you can go for shirts with a little more premium materials and finer details like smaller collars.
Typically, when you’re wearing a black tie dress code with a bow tie, you should wear a dress shirt with a wing-tip collar.
A wing tip collar is a very small and unique shirt collar that lets the majority of the bow tie be visible around the back of your neck, with just a couple of small wings at the front to cover it.
However, the downside of buying a wing-tipped shirt is the fact that you will only really be able to wear it when you go to a black tie event.
If you go to a lot of black tie events, or you invest in a shirt with a detachable collar, then this shouldn’t be an issue for you. However, for the standard man, this may seem like an unworthy and extravagant purchase.
Fortunately, in the 21st Century, we don’t have such strict rules of dress etiquette. This means that it is now perfectly acceptable for a man to wear a normal collared dress shirt and bow tie. It can sometimes even look more stylish.
#4. Black Tie Waistcoat
Probably not something you own already but a great addition to this dress code. This is where it’s possible to add a little more subtle detailing and, again, just work to your budget.
If you’re working to a tight one, stick to more common materials, if you’ve got quite a lot to spend then go for silks or similar fabrics.
Waistcoats are a great way to add some extra detail to an outfit that, on its own can start to come a bit plain. If you want to wear a classic black tie outfit then you can just wear a black waistcoat and this will still be very stylish.
However, if you want to play around with your look a bit, then you can find some waistcoats with some very exciting details or textures.
The waistcoat is the only part of a black tie outfit where it’s acceptable to wear something that isn’t black or white. Therefore, it’s a great opportunity to experiment and bring a bit of your personality to your look.
#5. The Cummerbund
A funny word to some, but the cummerbund is a piece of material, usually made from satin or silk, that sits around the top of the trousers and the bottom of the shirt.
Knowing how to wear a cummerbund is simple as all you’ll need to do is tie around the bottom half of your waist and fasten it at the back. If you’ve opted for a bow tie in a different color to black then your cummerbund should match.
#6. The Bow Tie
This is another piece that makes this dress code what it is. Don’t worry, if you don’t know how to tie a bow tie, you can just buy ready-tied ones.
It does mean you can’t hang it round your neck at the end of the night though – a pretty cool image made famous by many an actor over the years – particularly in Bond movies.
If you’re still finding bow ties confusing, then check out the video below for a step-by-step tutorial on how to tie one. Although it’s tricky in the first instance, once you get the hang of it, it’s not that hard.
How To Tie a Bow Tie
- To tie a bow tie, put a bow tie around your neck with one side longer than the other,
- Now wrap the longer side over the shorter side, placing the longer end over your shoulder,
- Then fold the shorter side in half and hold it at your neck,
- Once you have done this take the longer side and wrap it around the non-folded short end,
- Pass this long end through the hold now created at the back of the bow. Pull both sides to tighten and neaten your bow tie.
#7. The Shoes
Now, if you want to go really classic and traditional, you should check out our coming guide on what shoes to wear with a tuxedo. If you’re not looking to invest in a pair of tuxedo shoes then just make sure whatever you opt for has a high shine finish.
It just looks more premium and suits this dress code a lot more than rugged-looking brogues or derby shoes.
When you’re wearing normal or high-shine black leather shoes, you must know how to maintain and polish them.
Black leather shoes are some of the most formal shoes a man can wear. However, if they get scuffed or aren’t looked after, they quickly won’t be.
To polish a pair of leather shoes you will need:
- Shoe Polish.
- A brush for applying polish.
- A clean brush to buff the shoes.
- A clean cloth to give the shoes a high shine.
Once you have properly polished your shoes, it’s important to make sure you maintain them. Purchase some crepe protection spray to give a layer of protective film over your shoes.
This spray will protect the leather from any water or harsh weather conditions.
#8. Black Tie Outfit
Now you’ve thought about how to wear all of these different pieces of formal men’s wear, it’s time to put them all together in an outfit.
If you spend a bit of time and attention on getting your look right you will look stylish in no time. Try combining this black dinner jacket with a pair of black suit trousers of the same shade.
Add your white dress shirt underneath for a slick and stylish contrast between black and white. To finish the outfit off, add a pair of black high-shine leather shoes and a black bow tie.
If you want to add some accessories then think about adding a white pocket square in your jacket pocket.
Black Tie Dress Code Styling Tips For Men
- Think about the event(s) you’re going to. If you’ve received an invite to a function and you’re not sure if it’s black tie, think about when it is, who’s organizing it, and the type of event it is. Or, even easier, just ask.
- Get a jacket and trousers to match. If possible, buy your dinner jacket and trousers as a set as they’ll match better.
- Invest in a wing-tipped shirt. Although you won’t be blamed for wearing a normal collared shirt, a wing-tip collar is the proper etiquette.
- Learn how to tie a bow tie. It can be tricky in the first place but it isn’t hard once you’ve got the hang of it. If not, buy a ready-tied one.
- Get a waistcoat. The waistcoat is the perfect opportunity to bring a bit of extra detail to your black tie dress code.
- Polish and maintain your shoes. Black leather shoes can be extremely formal, but you have to look after them. Give them a good polish and spray them with crepe protection.
In the modern day, we don’t often get many opportunities to dress up formally. It can be a very fun experience and is therefore worth spending some time and effort over. Although you want to be careful not to break the bank when buying black-tie clothing, it can be worth setting a budget and sticking to it. Ultimately, it’s not that hard to wear a black tie dress code. Just follow the tips and tricks in this style guide and you’ll be red carpet ready in no time.
