While a black necktie is certainly a black tie in the most literal sense, the black tie dress code strictly calls for a black bow tie – made from the same silk-satin materials as the lapels of one’s tuxedo, that is.
This is arguably the most egregious fashion sin on this rather long list of other fashion sins, but it cannot be understated enough – do not do this under any circumstances! We have your best interests at heart here, truly. So, you got an invite to a black tie event, but you don’t own a tux. Ah well, you think to yourself, my plain black suit should work just fine.
According to the black tie dress code, the waistline of one’s pants should never be exposed. Traditionally, men don an additional low-cut waistcoat or vest, or, more commonly, a silk-satin waist sash known as a cummerbund. In recent years, more and more men have been neglecting this rule, and the results are somewhat unappealing.
Some men have the privilege of designing for themselves a custom tuxedo, and while this presents many exciting possibilities and will likely ensure a great fit, it’s important to be aware of what kind of details you ought to leave off the tux. A good tailor will suggest otherwise if you ask for them, but there do exist custom tuxedos that for some reason, have belt loops on the waistband of the pants.
While you certainly have options to choose from regarding proper black tie footwear, don’t just settle for any old black shoe. Often, men will just assume that their existing pair of black “dress” shoes are good enough to go with their tux, but sometimes, they’re a bit misinformed. As a rule, try to avoid black derbies. While you’ve got the color right, a derby style shoe is considered relatively casual and contrasts too strongly with the formality of a tuxedo.
When selecting the right shirt to go with your outfit, don’t assume that any old white dress shirt will do. In fact, traditional, proper tuxedo dress shirts differ in a few ways, and even come in a few variations. For one, they will typically feature either a pique bib or pleated front, and the top few buttons are ideally fastened with a set of shirt studs (also known as tuxedo studs).
Look, we get it. Tying a bow tie isn’t the easiest for some people, especially if you haven’t done it before. And the plethora of perfectly nice-looking pre-tied options you can find online might look tempting! But that’s just the thing. They might be a bit too perfect.