One of the nicest aspects of the Bespoke Tailors Benevolent Association dinner every year is the evening wear.
Although most cutters and tailors aren’t actually into clothes and style, they are all wearing something bespoke – so the fit is good – and there are enough with style to make for good people watching.
Here are five that we particularly liked this year.
There was a lot of velvet – on everyone, not just these guys – and others that were interesting were often so because of their cloth, as with Francis and Michael.
1. (above): Matthew Crocker, the military manager at Gieves & Hawkes. Navy velvet with a lovely line to the lapel.
2. (below): William Skinner, of Dege & Skinner. Black velvet with green silk waistcoat. Note the BTBA medal (on the left, as with all non-military medals).
3. Francis Paley of Chittleborough & Morgan (below). The big shoulders and lapels of a Chittleborough & Morgan suit always look very striking on Francis, given his tiny waist.
The cloth is a blue-and-black herringbone from Loro Piana, the silk boutonniere something C&M regularly makes to match its ties or facings.
The double button is something Francis made when the jacket got a little snug (I don’t think he’ll mind me saying that…), and he now likes as a look. Feels a touch dressier as well.
4. Simon Cundey of Henry Poole.
Double-breasted black velvet with some nice frogging going on. Has also earned his MTBA medal (the old version of the BTBA – it was merged recently).
5. And last but by no means least, big bad Michael Browne of Chittleborough & Morgan.
It’s a suit in a black wool/cashmere flannel from Yorkshire Textiles.
And what was I wearing, I hear you ask? My Timothy Everest brown-velvet jacket (we all got the memo).
Ageing pretty nicely, particularly with Claire of Hawthorne & Heaney’s beautiful embroidery on the lapel (gold oak leaves). And a vintage embroidered/lace handkerchief.
By this point in the evening the shoot had got a little silly….
Simon, would some of the jackets shown above be classed as smoking jackets? Notably, your own, Matthews & Simons. Would there ever be a black tie occasion where a velvet jacket would not be “correct”? Thanks
Yes. And and a particularly formal black tie event, yes. How formal it is will be something you have to judge of course. It helps if you’ve been before!
Disappointing that there’s no conventional Dinner Jackets there. I’m a big fan of smoking jackets, but when half the men are wearing them, surely it’s time to go back to a classic three piece?
To be fair, there were plenty of dinner jackets as well – more than velvet. They just tended to be not quite as well worn or just not as interesting
I know you addressed this at the top slightly “not everyone is into clothes and style” but I find it quite amusing that the best dressed here , and seeing other pictures I on social media etc are 2 of the youngest and least experienced (not that either Francis or Mike are inexperienced but compared to the experience of some) this bodes well for the future of row/ London tailoring surely
Simon, have you notice differences in the reasons for choosing a career as a cutter, jacket maker between the old guard and the younger generation? I’m thinking of your comment about many there not being interested in clothes and style, is this changing? Is the current menswear scene attracted a more style contentious generation into the profession?
Yes, absolutely. Certainly on the Row, and in other countries too.
Great examples all around, although Paley’s is a little extreme for my taste. I’m surprised that everyone didn’t button his jacket when standing up (of course, you did it Simon). No matter the cut or style, in my mind, it looks better that way.
But wearing a cummerbund or waistcoat you need not button your jacket, need you? Those without vest/cummerbund seem to have buttoned their jackets.
Simon
Im not sure if I like this… Is it your taste that leaves out traditional attire, or the lack of people wearing it well? I know you say these are more interesting but all your clothes are pretty traditional, is that to say not interesting?
It’s an interesting question. If you want to pick out well-dressed men at a black tie event, where everyone is wearing bespoke so everything fits perfectly, you inevitably look for unusual things – materials, accessories, details. Otherwise how do you select 5 people out of 300?
Perhaps half of those you can discount because they don’t have some elements of black tie you think should be worn – eg a shirt with a covered placket or studs, not just plain buttons; or either a waistcoat, cummerbund or DB to cover the waist. But that still leaves 150 or so.
Perhaps ‘best dressed’ is not the best phrase in that case. It’s certainly the more interesting men, however, given the context. I think most readers know the basic rules of black tie and how to wear it well. But fewer would think a black flannel could work as well as it does on Mike, for example.
A fair point, well spoken. What would be interesting to take away is how mere laymen can make black tie interesting without going so Ar as any of these, whilst being fairly formal and traditional?
Simon, as the BTBA can be considered as a Club , wearing smoking jackets at the annual dinner of this Association seems to me very appropriate . According to the ” classical dress code” the wearing of a smoking Jacket at own Club is one of the few , if not the only , correct use of this garnment in a “public context”.
All the pictured smoking jackets, including Yours, are splendid and superbly worn.
Nice variety of styles and cloths, and thankfully everybody wearing the correct collar on their shirts.
Any dreadful wing collars to be seen. White tie only please…
I disagree, as you may know. Wing collars can be worn at more formal events with black tie, and even if it were a ‘rule’ it would be there to be understood, not slavishly followed. In this case, the understanding of it being that it is a much more formal collar and requires a more formal event and tux
Simon
I think this is one area in which you are wrong, for two reasons. Firstly the wing collar creates an unnecessary break in colour, going collar, bowtie, collar, jacket there is just too much going on! Secondly wing collars need to be starched to not look floppy and scrappy, and when a starched (and therefore inevitably high) wing collar is worn the height is not offset by the length of a jacket (as it is with morning dress or tails). So not only is it against the rules, but breaking said rule (which I am not against at all, brown in town etc is fine by me!) only serves to look worse. It looks confused about formality and unsure of itself.
Thanks. I like your examples but I don’t think they necessarily apply. The breaking up of the collar into bands is a purely subjective area as to whether it looks good or not. It is not necessarily out of keeping with anything else in the outfit. Equally, I can see the logic of having a high collar matched to longer proportions elsewhere, but on a tall man such as myself the jacket itself is pretty long. Whereas on a short man (maybe with a long neck!) the proportions would be entirely different.
The only consistent guide in this area is formality. What looks smarter. And a stiff wing collar is uncontroversially smarter than softer turn-down one. Everything else must be just as formal to work with it.
Ahh, we’ll agree to disagree! On another, unrelated note, how many pairs of spectacles are too many? I wear glasses daily and have one pair. Is it better to have a staple ‘look’ as it were, or to have two or three pairs and vary them?
Generally, a staple look. I tend to wear one style, and have the same in a lighter colour that is nice in the summer, for example
Well I suppose that rules are there so that they can be broken.
Who would wear a turn down collar with white tie?
Hi Simon,
Thanks for posting this report! Unfortunately short, but very insteresting!The pic where you stand beside Graham Browne could easily be used as an ad! Before reading it, I instantly loved Francis Paley’s jacket with its two buttons! Only taylors with a genuine sense of style and creativity could improvise such a trick that can stand for a defining feature of a special jacket!
John
I think you mean Michael Browne!
Yes! Sorry!
“most cutters and tailors aren’t actually into clothes and style”. Excuse my rather off topic comment, but this captures a concern I have about going bespoke. I’ll be putting my investment in the hands of someone who is a technical expert but not necessarily an aesthete. So unless I have the tremendous depth of knowledge that Simon does, the chances of it going wrong are quite high, it seems to me…
Not necessarily. In bigger houses, the front of house (the salesman) is often far more of a dandy and into style. They are the ones who help you pick cloth and style. And among the smaller ones, some definitely do have style – but they’re not the kind of people that necessarily have tables at events like these.
It is a good reason to be conservative with your first suit though (another good one being that you want to get a lot of wear out of it)
Off-topic post. Dear Simon, what’s your opinion on lined linen and cotton jackets? I wonder whether the advantages of linen and cotton would be lost once temperatures reached the mid-twenties.
Hey Roy. Would you mind leaving the question on a vaguely related post? (Linen, summer, cotton etc)
It means that in the future readers are more likely to find similar subjects together.
Most of the traffic on this site is people reading the 1500+ posts in the archive, rather than the latest one.
Simon,
I don’t suppose you know the name of the bunch used in Francis’ suit?
It’s just called Jackets and Trousers. Number 127
One of the reasons I so enjoy this site is the occasional “whilst.” It’s up there with “quite” as a single-word response.
Any interesting footwear, Simon? Opera pumps? Anyone pair embroidered slippers with a smoking jacket?
Some, yes, though not many
Dear Simon,
great post (again)! One question regarding Michael Browne’s cuffs: it seems they are a kind of double cuff but without cufflinks? Can you comment on these, please?
Regards,
Steven
Looks like a cocktail cuff.
Hi Simon,
A quick question on black tie etiquette and style if I may. I have been invited to my first (proper) black tie event (It’s a legal event and I am the plus 1). I would like to buy rather than rent the necessary attire but do not have a huge balance for this unexpected but pleasant occasion. I was think of the Anthony Sinclair midnight blue shawl collar dinner suit with a slim fit dress shirt by T&A. Other than any general comments or suggestions on alternative sources of a dinner suit for a similar budget (£700-8£00) my question is this; should the bow tie also be a matching midnight blue (also from AS), or black?
As a follow-on question, to what formal events could a Ecru Dinner Jacket with Black Trousers be worn as it’s a good look (just re-watched Spectre and Casablanca!)
Many thanks as ever,
Hey
The bow tie should really match the facings (the lapel) which will normally be satin or grosgrain.
An ecru dinner jacket is really for sunnier countries, but you could get away with it at most black tie events. Given how few you seem to go to, though, I wouldn’t risk it.
And one money-saving tip: try to get a normal white shirt, but with a covered placket so you can’t see the buttons. This will look smart enough for black tie, but also be fine to use normally.
Simon
Many thanks Simon.
Best wishes,
Think I’ll go buy a smoking jacket now!
Simon, first of all thanks for those precious advices.
I am at the moment preparing my wedding which should take place in the second half of next year, and I was considering getting either a bespoke tuxedo or morning suit, as the time of the wedding hasn’t been set yet (or MTM if the budget doesn’t allow it, but I’d really prefer to go for bespoke). And as bespoke takes time, I think it’s never too early to gather information.
Now here’s a few issues I have: I live in Switzerland, so having to go to London might sometimes be a bit tricky.
I will only be able to afford one of the two style (Black Tie or Morning), and I have no clue which taylor to pick in London, let aside Switzerland.
So here are my questions:
1) Any advice on which style between Black tie and Mornning coat I will use more in my life ?
2) Any advice on a taylor in Switzerland ?
3) How to pick between let’s say Henry Pool and Gieves & Hawkes ? Any one of those you would specifically advise regarding the mentioned styles ?
4) How many fitting session should I plan (in other words, how many trips to London)?
Thanks a lot for your time and patience
Kind regards,
Joël
Hey
1 – Black tie. You’ll use it far more. Though I generally dislike it for weddings – they are really day events most of the time.
2 – No, sorry, though a few like Cifonelli visit.
3 – I wouldn’t advise one or the other on these styles of clothing, though generally it’s worth going to a bigger, more experienced tailor (which both of these are) for complicated things like a morning coat. Have a look around the site for details about the big tailors and see what you think of their styles
4 – At least three trips, ideally four….
Thanks for the prompt answer. I will have a more in depth look on your website regarding a morning coat then.
About a black tie, any specific advice? Because to be honest, I’m so uneducated in the matter I have trouble to see style difference between some tailors.
It’s a long (but pleasant) process understanding the differences. Most of the posts here on tailors (dozens of them!) will help with that. So come back if you have specific questions
Hi Simon I attend black tie sometimes twice a year and sometimes once in 2 years or so. Would it still be alright to leave the tux unworn over a few years in storage?
Absolutely, just make sure it is put away clean and pressed
Hi Simon,
What would be your choice of braces for black tie, both in terms of material, colour (/pattern) and straps?
Best,
Mads
I usually wear plain-grey silk with white leather ends
Hi Simon,
What weight cloth is your RA dinner suit? Do you know which issue of The Rake the original article was in?
11oz, and no sorry
Hi,
Does a formal dinner jacket have to have silk (grosgain or satin) facings? I have seen images particularly from the old Bond movies of Connery and Moore where they are wearing white/ivory dinner jackets without silk facings?
White dinner jackets can go without facings, yes
Simon,
Another year – another black tie question if I may? I have been requested to buy a peak lapel black dinner suit. Happily this can be special order rather than RTW. Do you have any recommendations on pockets for both the jacket and trousers. The jacket template has straight jetted side pockets and a breast welt pocket. Would you support this? For the trousers, would you suggest no pockets, horizontal or straight side pockets? I suspect a hip pocket may be poor form as too casual/functional and breaking the clean lines but I may well be wrong!
Very many thanks in advance ,
Yes, fine on the jacket, and I’d have normal slanted side pockets, no back pockets. No one will really see the trouser pockets, but good to have them right anyway
Many thanks as ever Simon.
Best wishes
Love the photos and the variations of dinner suits.
If you don’t mind my asking, where did you get the gold oak leaf ornament? It is most exquisite and subtle.
It is embroidery. Done by Hawthorne & Heaney, look them up on the site
Dear Simon,
In another post you mentioned opera pumps as one of the three preferred shoes options for black tie.
Do you have any recommendations for shoemakers to consider?
Also, I wear orthotics, so I am unsure if going bespoke would be a good approach for my other shoes. I am not certain I would want to go bespoke on shoes for black tie because I would wear them maybe two or three times a year.
Yes, I think it might be hard to justify that price. Foster’s do some nice pumps as I recall, and I also like wearing Baudoin & Lange black-suede Sagans.
Simon,
Thank you for your quick response. I’m intrigued by the Sagans but unsure if I’ll look too out of place with black suede loafers at a black tie event. I have patent oxfords from Brooks Brothers already – I just don’t like them that much.
Would getting a wholecut oxford bespoke also be a good compromise – better chance of fitting, plus more use of it outside of formal events? Or are the Sagans both something people would not blink at (because it is somewhat similar to an opera pump) plus versatile outside of formal events?
I usually wear jeans and a dress shirt for work, and chinos or wool trousers on weekends, if that tilts the recommendation one way or another.
My thanks!
Unfortunately I don’t think back sagans or Oxfords would be much use with that daily outfit.
Hi Simon,
I think I will then go with either the pumps or the black-suede Sagans, and base it solely off black tie.
I still have an eye on having a wholecut shoe, but will choose another color than black and may decide to deviate by adding a medallion. I don’t mind the risk of it looking a tad too formal.
My thanks for the advice!
Simon,
It seems like all your dinner suits/smoking jackets are from British tailors. Do you have anything from an Italian tailor and if you don’t would consider it? If not, is there a particular reason why?
Thanks
In general, my more formal things are from British tailors, yes, as they tend to be sharper and smarter. That’s the main reason – though a smoking jacket in a more relaxed style might be nice
hey simon,
i’ve got prom coming up
in two months and i’d like some advice on what to wear. ideally, i’d like to go full black tie (midnight blue tux with a big shawl collar and just one button, bow tie, deep cut waistcoat and suspenders, patent leather shoes) but the issue is that all the rental places nearby don’t carry that style. i work at a suit shop, but the closest rental i can find to what i want is just a notch lapel, two button jacket and the vest is regular, not deep cut. i was wondering how strict your definitions are for black tie, and if i should just compromise and go for the rentals at my work or if i should search harder elsewhere to get what i want.
best regards,
omoh
Hi.
I think it’s unlikely youre ever going to find exactly what you want, particularly the shape of the waistcoat, but’s probably worth searching a little harder, at least to avoid a notch lapel on the jacket.
Hi Simon
A quick question in regard to tailoring of a tuxedo.
I have become used to getting my jackets made by the likes of Elia Caliendo, appreciating the softer Neapolitan tailoring of the shoulders etc.
However, I feel a tuxedo should have a sharper look – slightly stronger shoulder etc. Would you agree? What elements of a three piece tuxedo would/should differ from a normal three piece suit, in your opinion?
And who would you recommend for the making of a really nice tuxedo? Or do you think it’s simply a case of explaining the look required to somebody like Elia and him being able to adjust accordingly?
Many thanks in advance.
Jason
In general I would have a tux cut sharper and more structured, yes. Although a Neapolitan tux can be a nice way to introduce something different but subtle to the outfit.
Don’t ask Elia to make something more structured. Instead, choose between a simple English structured look (eg Dege or Richard Anderson) something with drape and extended shoulders (eg A&S) or more dramatic like Sexton, Chittleborough & Morgan, or Michael Browne
I have seen various pictures of men ‘dressing up’ evening wear with a velvet jacket, often a coloured one, and I was wondering if these are worn with the ‘normal’ tuxedo trousers? It’s difficult to tell from the pictures online. Many thanks!
Yes, often, though a plain black trouser is also fine
I would very much appreciate some of your exceptionally knowledgable feedback on a three piece evening suit/tuxedo. The jacket is to be one-button, single breasted peaked lapel with grosgrain lapels. I am thinking of a double-breasted waistcoat to go with it – any style aspects that I should seek out and or avoid? In particular: in terms of classic style and etiquette what style lapels would be best on the waistcoat with this type of suit (shawl collar – in grosgrain to match the lapels of the suit perhaps?) And how many buttons do you favour? Many thanks Simon.
Hi Jason,
Personally I like a single-breasted waistcoat under such a jacket, without lapels. But if you want a DB, then a shawl lapel should be fine (though I’d still personally go without anything – it’s less fussy and over the top) and cut it nice and low, with four buttons (two either side)
Many thanks Simon. If I went with a single-breasted waist coat, as you prefer, would that be four button too, horse shoe shape?
Four or five, see which you prefer with the tailor. And no, I don’t like horseshoe-shape SB waistcoats generally.
I have a wedding three days before Christmas.
It’s not black tie, but I thought of wearing black velvet sport coat white shirt and traditional black watch plaid tartan. Then I found a terrific pair of purple tartan trousers. Are they sufficiently “Christmasy” enough? Or should I stick with the traditional green?
I’d avoid trying to look Christmassy at all to be honest. It could look quite tacky very easily
Simon, I have quite a cheap RTW dinner suit that I originally bought for company christmas parties almost a decade ago. Over the years, the number of invites to events that require black tie has slowly creep up towards 6 or 7 a year. I tend to say no because I don’t really like this tux I have. I’ve been thinking about replacing it. GIven the limited use, I wondered if a velvet dinner jacket like the ones shown here wouldn’t be slightly more flexible? It might perhaps be wearable at an event where both black tie and lounge suits are allowed? Would it work if it didn’t have grossgrain / silk facings (so just velvet) as a dinner jacket?
Yes Noel, I think that’s a good idea. I’ll actually be featuring a new black velvet one of mine in a post soon, which I intend to wear as black tie, or with a roll neck to a party, or even open-necked to evening functions
Hi Simon, thanks for the answer. I look forward to seeing your black velvet one! Would you say it’s a more versatile colour than brown or navy?
And just to clarify, you think it’s fine with it not having different facings (grossgrain, silk) on the lapels? Does your black velvet jacket have any facings ?
Yes black’s probably more versatile. And yes it doesn’t have different facings. That would make it much narrower in application
Hi Simon,
I am in the process of ordering a green velvet smoking jacket. I want a shawl collar. I am undecided about whether to go for SB or DB and whether to have matching facings or grosgrain. I would be grateful for your advice? On a separate note, do you think frogging is to dandified to have on a jacket nowadays?
Many thanks
A DB will be more dandy, as will frogging. But then again, a green velvet smoking jacket is already rather dandy. I think you’ve crossed that line.
So I would say just pick whichever of those styles you find the most visually appealing.
Hello, I would like to know your opinion about how much should a DB dinner jacket be “opened” on the front. Should it show two or three shirt buttons/studs ? I guess it’s more a matter of individual preference, but I believe a sort of “alchemy” is there since come jackets get the correct proportions and look good, other ones not that good. Regards
I do think it’s very much a question of personal preference. Although there’s an argument the jacket should be more closed, to frame the bow tie better, I like it more open as my velvet jacket above demonstrates. And I think that looks good too.
Thank you for your reply. I’m currently thinking about a white dinner jacket, maybe in ivory/white silk dupioni. Unfortunately I’ve never seen (even online) a dinner jacket made with that material to have a better understanding of the final result. I was also thinking that if the jacket is DB 4×1 or 6×1, with no vents and besom pocket (no flaps) it could be used both as a dinner jacket and a morning DB suit with matching trousers. Would be glad to her your opinion.
I’m afraid I haven’t seen that made up either. I’d also be rather unsure about that ability for it to fulfil both roles. It could be a little showy
Hey Simon,
Hope it’s okay to write on an old post.
I’m getting married in Italy next month. I’m wearing an off white tux jacket and black trousers made at Anglo-Italian — it looks great.
I’m stuck on the shirt though. Would you go for a just a plain white dress shirt with covered placket (think it’s called fly front) or a dress shirt with a pique bib?
I like the idea of the nice and simple shirt without bib — the jacket is a relatively bold move for me, but then I’ve always worn a dress shirt with a bib when wearing black tie in the past. It’s also my wedding, so not sure I should be going for understated. My groomsmen will have black dinner jackets and dress shirts with pique bibs — and I don’t want them to look more stressed up than me should I remove my jacket.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Hey John,
Congratulations, and the outfit sounds really lovely. Never a problem to comment on old posts – other readers follow them, and I’m always happy to add to the knowledge an article provides.
Either shirt would be great, look very elegant, and the difference is unlikely to be noticed by anyone. However, your point about the other groomsmen makes me think that perhaps you’d be more comfortable in a bib front. If that’s the case then I’d go with that.
Also I should say, for the sake of traditionalism, that you shouldn’t really be taking your jacket off with a bib front underneath. That’s why it’s a bib front. Maybe leave it for pretty late in the evening when you could be said to be ‘off duty’? Anyway, just something to keep in mind.
It hope it goes wonderfully well
Very good point on the bib front and keeping the jacket on. I’ll sweat it out till the end!
Many thanks for the response – super helpful.
No worries John, always happy to help. Feel free to ask again on an article whenever you have a question
Hi Simon,
I was considering having dinner suit made for the occasional black tie event. Would a ventless DB suit made with a midnight blue wool/mohair blend but without the contrasting facings on lapel and seem on pants be totally inappropriate? I just thought I could get a little more use out of it with a regular shirt and tie for other dressy but not black tie occasions. Thank you.
I think the truth is that for the vast majority of black tie occasions today, it would be fine. There will be the odd purist who will dislike it, but if it means you can use the suit in both situations, and wouldn’t be able to buy both otherwise for several years, then I’d say go for it. You may find in a few years time that you want a proper black tie though, so maybe bear that in mind
Thank you.