Richard Warren
Practically Family
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Richard Warren said:
Richard Warren said:The real argument in favor of the notch is that on a contemporary person, it simply looks more natural. That is to say, the contemporary notch wearer looks exactly like what he is: someone who is obliged to wear clothing distinct from his normal attire, but has no desire to wear anything that could be considered a costume.
Marc Chevalier said:Absolutely right. I remember those no-nonsense, conservatively-dressed, downtown Los Angeles businessmen from the 1980s: their 'uniform' was the single-breasted, 2-button, notch lapel suit. (No double-breasteds! No pleats!) These fellows would have felt uncomfortable wearing peak lapels. They didn't particularly like wearing tuxedos, period.
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I believe that in Victorian times it was done. If you watch the 1939 version of The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Henry goes out putting a regular chequed wool overcoat on with a homburg which isn't even black. I realise this is a film but in the Strand magazine there are plenty of illustrations of this being done. It's like wearing black tie with a fedora. If the hat is just worn as outerwear (take it off inside) I think it would be acceptable, if not satorially correct. However I would say wear a scarf or something to cover your bowtie when wearing your overcoat to make it less obvious that you're in white tie with an incorrect hat.dhermann1 said:OK, here's a question: Can a homburg be worn with white tie and tails?
I've seen several old films on TCM lately where a guy goes out in a formal get up, but wears his regular overcoat or trenchcoat and fedora. One example was a Bette Davis flick (Deception, 1946) where her husband is a musician going to Carnegie Hall for a concert. But I think it was meant to show that he was dressed in white tie for the concert, but was still poor enough not to have a fancy coat or hat.
I ask because I want to wear white tie this weekend, but the elegant antique topper I recently acquired from a fellow Lounger is in delicate condition and wearing it might damage it badly. But I have a great black homburg, plus a nice black Inverness cape that would also look nice with the white tie outfit.
dhermann1 said:OK, here's a question: Can a homburg be worn with white tie and tails?
I've seen several old films on TCM lately where a guy goes out in a formal get up, but wears his regular overcoat or trenchcoat and fedora. One example was a Bette Davis flick (Deception, 1946) where her husband is a musician going to Carnegie Hall for a concert. But I think it was meant to show that he was dressed in white tie for the concert, but was still poor enough not to have a fancy coat or hat.
I ask because I want to wear white tie this weekend, but the elegant antique topper I recently acquired from a fellow Lounger is in delicate condition and wearing it might damage it badly. But I have a great black homburg, plus a nice black Inverness cape that would also look nice with the white tie outfit.
I think it is the cape that really makes the homburg less than desirable. As has already been suggested, an overcoat with a scarf that hides the white tie could be easily worn with the homburg. And the few seconds in which the white tie and homburg are both visible could probably go un-noticed. But the homburg and cape would be visible together for a long time and by (presumably) a number of people.dhermann1 said:...a nice black Inverness cape that would also look nice with the white tie outfit.
Unless it's a white tie event, I'd say go for black tie as that can be worn with an Inverness and homburg without a problem. Save the white tie for when your topper is servicable, unless you are very keen on wearing the white tie at all costs, in which case my vote goes for making an exception and wearing the homburg with a scarf as I suggested earlier.dhermann1 said:Egg-zackly. The places in England that do this sort of work charge as much as $350, so I'm just sitting on it for the moment. It's a very tall old fashioned looking topper, but the the edge of the crown is worn down, the binding on the brim has frayed completely apart, and the sweat band is shot. Just handling it is making it worse. So it's a project. But I have all the rest of the get up, and I'm planning on going to Club Wits DEnd's party this Saturday. So I'm betwixt and between wearing the white tie, or falling back on my more than serviceable vintage dinner suit.