What is The Best Way to Rock Your Black Tie?

You Can Honour A Black Tie Event Even Without A Tux

Black-tie events don’t happen all the time, and you may not always be in attendance. Normally, a tuxedo is the attire for this kind of ceremony. This is because it is considered very formal attire.

Men of this age have a few to several suits, but it is not common when it comes to owning a tux. The concern here is using what you already have to grace a black-tie event since you don’t have a tux. Luckily, Bespoke Suit is here to expose some tips that can help you look stylish while going for that black-tie event without the traditional tuxedo.

But is a suit and tux not the same thing?

As far as black-tie events are concerned, it is important to know how a suit differs from a tuxedo. For persons who are not used to these apparels, they are the same thing. However, they are different in the following ways:

A tuxedo

It is typically tailored to have satin facing the lapels, a stripe of satin running the entire length of a side of the trouser, pocket trims and buttons
It is accessorised with a waistcoat, cummerbunds, cufflinks and a bowtie
It has buttons made from satin

A suit

It is typically tailored without saying
Accessorised with a waistcoat, tie, cufflinks and pocket square
It has buttons made from plastic or the same suit fabric

These are the differences. And if you are looking for a tailored tuxedo in London, feel free to come to us at Bespoke Suit.

Terms related to suit making

As a respected attire worldwide, a suit has different components called by unique names that you may not be familiar with. It may not be easy to grasp the terms used in making this fantastic attire. Still, we have put together some everyday terms you may hear when walking into a suit and tux designer’s shop.

This is not the fancy little chest coverings used when feeding babies. Bib in tailoring is that panel that is located on the front of a dress shirt to make sure it keeps looking whiter and non-pellucid.
Double-breasted. This describes a jacket or coat that has a double row of buttons that closes on each other, forming a wide overlap
Butterfly bow tie. This is a very common elegant style of bowtie for a tux. Officially, what we know as a standard bow tie is called a butterfly bow tie because of the shape the tie makes when done.
Wing collar. When a shirt collar is starched and the tips become erect, it is a wing collar. Again, they are like horizontal wings.
A fine piece of adornment that can be installed in the buttonholes of formal shirts such that you look beautifully unique.
Describes shoes for men designed to have low heels, closed laces, and revealed ankle.

Interpreting the dress code from an invite to a black-tie event

Okay, you’ve been invited to a black-tie event, fantastic! Now there may be a sentence describing what the invited guest should wear. This is what we want to help you understand. It will make no sense if you dressed up wrongly for the occasion.

An event saying black tie. Please dress up in the complete tuxedo: dinner jacket, bow tie, matching pair of trousers, pleated dress shirt, formal black shoes; you may or may not wear a waistcoat.
An event saying black tie preferred or requested. Here, you need to put on a black tie, but you can still attend the event if it’s not possible. The couple needs the event to look formal without disallowing people from attending.
An event saying black tie is optional. When you see this in your invite description, you need to calm down a bit. Following this rule, not so many will turn up in tuxes. Please ensure your choice of suit is darker, so guests don’t take you for a waiter at the event.
An event saying creative black tie. You have the freedom to decide how to dress.

How to dress up for a black-tie event where you have no tuxedo

Be it a suit arrangement, casual outfit or something personal, Bespoke Suit is here to help deliver the best using our expert knowledge of men’s attire for a wedding. Here are a few options you can switch a tux for and still smash that black-tie event.

Choose a dark coloured suit

As mentioned earlier, you don’t want to be winked at or signalled to get a drink from the kitchen, so make sure your suit has a darker colour, especially when you have no tuxedo. It’s possible you may already have a navy or blue suit in your wardrobe. However, check that the shade of navy or blue you have is darker; this way, you’re on course. Consider owning a dark navy blue in your collection so that when the black-tie event comes knocking, you won’t hesitate to answer.

A stylish dinner jacket

You can distinguish yourself by turning up with a colourful dinner jacket. There are many designer dinner jackets you can adorn yourself with and stand out. Just so you know, it’s not compulsory to wear a jacket with a white shirt and tie; you can get more creative and choose a turtleneck. This chic choice of dressing is exquisite for events that say “black tie is optional”. After you must have switched up the dressing for this occasion, you can always redefine it for other events without failing to add colour to the black-tie event.

Bespoke Suits offers

That you don’t have a tuxedo doesn’t mean you can’t attend a black-tie event. We advise in such cases where you don’t own a tuxedo to pay more attention to accessories that will accentuate your attire and present you as a gentleman of style. Don’t forget that we are your bespoke suit makers in London, and you can check out our collection so that the next time you get invited to a black-tie event, you’re going to look your best.