Smoking/ Tuxedo Guide- Black Tie Dress Code

The idea of a black-tie dress code article came along with my sister’s wedding, and that’s because my brother-in-law assigned me the role of his personal stylist. My opinion is that as a groom, there are only two options: black tie dress code or white tie dress code. That’s it!

Of course, the location of the wedding plays an important role in this. Exceptions to the rule are beach weddings and rustic weddings. But, since I currently live in Romania where most weddings are posh, I would stick to a formal dress code.

Common Sense

There’s no such thing as:

X “I want to feel relaxed.”

X “I want a suit that I can wear on other occasions.”

X “I want a jacket to wear with jeans too.”

X “I am a nonconformist.”

A wedding day is a truly special and, in most cases, unique event, and dressing for the occasion is an integral part of the wedding day experience.
Neither do we wear the wedding dress anymore, so why should you turn your wedding suit into a daily uniform?!

We all need to learn how to build a basic wardrobe that will contain special pieces for special occasions and everyday pieces. At the same time, we should consider some simple rules, especially when it comes to black-tie or white-tie.

Nonconformist = originality! Nobody is a nonconformist. The majority of you are wearing the same uniform. You are all too lazy to get out of it because it would require little effort and it would mean leaving the comfort zone, where it is so “warm and good”.

Tuxedo Guide

Black-tie does not mean wearing a tie of black colour because the expression does not translate literally. On the contrary, when the current appeared in 1885, it signaled the relinquishment of the tie.

The events where black-tie is suitable are award ceremonies, weddings, proms, or big milestone anniversaries. Unfortunately, there is no such culture in Romania. In countries like Switzerland, Austria, France, etc., people wear tuxedos on New Year’s Eve even if they are in a mountain hut. As for us, we still wear sweaters and jumpers so that we can be comfortable — and that comfort seems to define us, generally speaking.

Tuxedo ELEMENTS

Silk lapel jacket

When referring to lapels, there are three different types: the notch lapel, the peak lapel, and the shawl lapel. The last-mentioned one is the most common among the tuxedo suits and the most traditional.

Silk stripe trousers

The trousers should be black with a silk stripe on the sides, necessarily matching the jacket.

Pleated shirt with wing collar

A pleated shirt with a wing collar and the wristbands must have holes for cufflinks. If you opt for the cummerbund, the cufflinks should be black, but if you opt for the vest instead, the cufflinks could be white.

The Shoes

Only black, patent leather shoes and necessarily with lace.

The Socks

Socks obviously should be black, to the knee. No one dreams to see a man’s leg uncovered.

The Cummerbund

The cummerbund is not compulsory, however, it shows that you put some extra effort and done your homework, at the same time it will flatter your figure. Another detail to mention about cummerbund is that will suit better on trousers who have high waisted cut.

The Waistcoat

The waistcoat is an alternative to the cummerbund. Choose one with a deep U-neckline to give the outfit a posh look.

The Bow Tie

The bow tie must be a REAL one! Not that nonsense of bows elastic band. If you do not know how to make the knot I recommend this article or check Youtube with confidence. Regarding colours, it is recommended to avoid white, as this is part of another dress code that I will talk about in a future article.