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Tuxedo Park Autumn Ball 2014: The Ball
Tuxedo Park was the epicentre of New York’s social calendar each fall, the highlight of which was the Tuxedo Club’s Autumn Ball. This prestigious affair marked the beginning of debutante season and the very first occurrence in 1886 is also said to have witnessed the American debut of the dinner jacket. While the date of […]
Posted in: Miscellanea
Tuxedo Park Autumn Ball 2014: The Park
October 31, 2014
After so many years of writing about the fabled American debut of the dinner jacket at the exclusive Tuxedo Park Autumn Ball it felt surreal to actually participate in the latest incarnation of this historic event this past weekend. My visit to “the Park” (as many residents call it) was a fascinating peek into the […]
Posted in: Miscellanea
Straight Laced
October 22, 2014
A long time ago I came across a reference to the fact that few men know how to properly lace dress shoes but I just rolled my eyes figuring “how big a difference does it really make”? Well, when it comes to formal shoes and flat silk laces, quite a bit of difference actually. In my defence, […]
Posted in: Wear and Care
Suit Yourself: Panther vs. Lobster
October 18, 2014
Readers of my red-carpet reviews are well aware of my disdain for the short and skinny suit styling (formal or otherwise) that’s been so popular recently. Today’s National Post has a pithy debate on the subject by advocates of the three different fits: tight, loose, and somewhere in between. The best comment is from the moderate who describes the effect of low-waisted […]
Posted in: Formal Fashion
A Tom Ford Tribute
October 7, 2014
Next to the James Bond franchise, menswear designer Tom Ford has been the most influential promoter of classic formal wear in the new millennium. Ford began his career in 1986 and just four years later joined the faltering luxury goods company Gucci which was then on the verge of bankruptcy. His early success in the fashion house’s womenswear line led to […]
Posted in: Classic Black Tie, Formal Fashion
White Tie in Vanity Fair
October 1, 2014
This month’s issue of Vanity Fair features Robert Downey Jr. in full dress on the cover and in one of the photos for the accompanying article. There is no reference to the outfit other than to say it is supplied by Giorgio Armani. However, it’s nice to see it done correctly in light of the turndown collar […]
Posted in: White Tie
White Tie & Tails: Men’s Formal Wear for 1936
September 30, 2014
Originally posted on witness2fashion:
Correct Formal Dress for Men, from 1936 Delineator Magazine If you’re wondering why a site devoted to everyday fashion is featuring “white tie, top hat and tails,” it’s not just because I love old Fred Astaire movies. The 20th century was often a more formal place than the 21st century.…
2014 GQ Men of the Year Red Carpet
September 23, 2014
Part of an ongoing series spotlighting the (in)ability of the men on the red carpet to capture the timeless elegance and sophisticated equivalence of black tie, whether through careful adherence to its conventions or skilful manipulation of them. (Readers unfamiliar with the standards of successful black tie may want to first check out A Field Guide to Tuxedos.) The […]
Posted in: Red Carpet
Closeout Sale at Toronto’s Walter Beauchamp Tailors
September 22, 2014
Comments Off on Closeout Sale at Toronto’s Walter Beauchamp Tailors
The closing of Walter Beauchamp Tailors is a real loss for Toronto sartorialists. The company began in 1908 by making military dress uniforms and came to count many of Toronto’s social elite as its customers. I had a bespoke suit made there by their master tailor a few years back and it’s a work of art. Sadly, […]
Posted in: Miscellanea
New Direction for The Black Tie Blog
August 28, 2014
As I approach my 5oth birthday and The Black Tie Blog’s third anniversary, I’ve decided to shift gears and spend more time on living life and less on reporting it. Even with a modest output of six or seven posts per month, the blog still requires a significant amount of research and writing time. Once that’s combined […]
Posted in: Updates
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November 1, 2014
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