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musings on men's formal wear from the creator of The Black Tie Guide
Browsing All posts tagged under »classic alternatives«
Tartan Trousers
Having reviewed plaid accessories and plaid dinner jackets I would be remiss if I did not mention the final and rarest plaid alternative: trousers. Or, more specifically, trews which are close-fitting tartan trousers that form part of Scottish Lowland Dress along with a Prince Charlie jacket or a dinner jacket. Sartorially adventurous Americans have been […]
The Tartan Dinner Jacket
June 21, 2012
Tartan dinner jackets hit the spotlight in 1949 when Tailor and Cutter, the bible of London’s menswear industry, blasted Americans for starting the “deplorable” fad. “Not even Scots would dare to follow this trend” it proclaimed. Imagine the editors’ mortification when it was reported the following year that King George VI owned two of the […]
All the Trimmings
June 18, 2012
Most people are familiar with the use of lapel facings to add flair to a tuxedo but likely few are aware that the jacket’s collar and cuffs can be used for this purpose as well. The history of formalwear trimmings can be traced back to the first evening tailcoats produced during the English Regency. They […]
Sale: Jos. A. Bank Formal Wear 50-70% Off
February 29, 2012
Jos. A. Bank is offering 50% off all merchandise purchased online until March 4. Even better, selected items are discounted by up to 70% including numerous styles of tuxedos and formal accessories. I’m taking advantage of this opportunity to finally purchase a white dinner jacket. (Even with shipping to Canada and duty and taxes, the […]
2012 Golden Globes Red Carpet
January 24, 2012
Awards season is upon us again and the premiere ceremony, the Golden Globes, suggests that conservative interpretations of black tie will dominate the red carpet once more this year. (Hallelujah.) Among tuxedos, there was an overwhelming preference for the slightly modern two-button jacket. Lapels seemed to be split between the similarly modern notch or the […]
Plaid Tidings: Holiday Black Tie
December 5, 2011
The holiday season is upon us which means it’s time for dressing up. Not only do black-tie charity galas peak around this time of year but it’s also become the last bastion of private black-tie parties. This became apparent as I was researching historical menswear magazines and noticed that as the century progressed formalwear articles […]
June 24, 2012
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