Formal Wear Primer

[Charlie Huang]

My black tie

here's a picture that shows the fit a little better

here is the other waistcoat

Hang on, isn't the DB a day waistcoat?!?! The other one is fine. Other than that, beautiful as always!

 

[sproily]

Yep. Thought I've seen a DB being used somewhere though.. And black tie isn't as strict, so I think a DB could be allowed?

 

[Orgetorix]

Yep. Thought I've seen a DB being used somewhere though.. And black tie isn't as strict, so I think a DB could be allowed?

It's not the mere fact that it's DB that's the problem, it's the fact that it's cut with a high opening and a button stance that is typical of day waistcoats. If you had a black DB waistcoat cut like the white one Charlie made for himself and posted photos of earlier in the thread, it'd be great.

 

[Charlie Huang]

It's not the mere fact that it's DB that's the problem, it's the fact that it's cut with a high opening and a button stance that is typical of day waistcoats. If you had a black DB waistcoat cut like the white one Charlie made for himself and posted photos of earlier in the thread, it'd be great.

That's what I was getting at.

 

[David Conwill]

many people in the 30s and 40s disapproved of using the word “tuxedo”; the correct term is “dinner jacket”

I just encountered this disapproval in the novel Babbitt. The title character refers to his evening clothes as a tuxedo, and his wife rebukes him for it.

-Dave

 

[Hap Hapablap]

I just encountered this disapproval in the novel Babbitt. The title character refers to his evening clothes as a tuxedo, and his wife rebukes him for it.

-Dave

I just read this, myself! What a great book. The thing I love about Lewis, Tarkington, et al is the insight provided into what people really did, said, thought back then. I think the average man hated dressing up as much as he does now.

 

[David Conwill]

I just read this, myself! What a great book. The thing I love about Lewis, Tarkington, et al is the insight provided into what people really did, said, thought back then. I think the average man hated dressing up as much as he does now.

I think you’re probably right, but “dressing up” meant something to a higher standard than it does today. A business suit (especially one made in the ‘20s) is far more comfortable when compared with formalwear. And I’m sure George Babbitt would never have dreamed of leaving the house in his decade’s version of sweat pants and a snowmobile jacket (overalls and a chore coat?).

-Dave

 

[sproily]

Charlie, yes I understood it. Still I remember seeing one like that somewhere.. Oh well.

 

[dnjan]

Perhaps with higher-waisted pants you wouldn't be showing the button that appears in the first photograph.

 

[Charlie Huang]

I am now in the process of gathering together a pair of breeches and silk full hose. These will be used for my summer version of white tie.

 

[Dr Kilroy]

Sounds interesting. Won't the summer version be more formal than the regular one?

Best regards, Dr

 

[Charlie Huang]

In a way, yes.

 

[Big Daddy]

On the evening canes point: the reaon that Buchanan and Astaire use malacca canes in The Bandwagon is because ebony is far too heavy to dance that routine with. There used to be stage canes, made of sheared, ebonized malacca but, for some reason, in the film they used natural, whole, clouded malacca.

 

[ws1]

Really very nice. Just a curious question, why don´t you use a cane?

 

[ws1]

What I recently wore:

Sorry I am not used to this forum. The picture of you is really nice, why don´t you use a cane?

 

[Charlie Huang]

Sorry I am not used to this forum. The picture of you is really nice, why don´t you use a cane?

A. I didn't have one physically at the time.
B. I didn't own one then.
C. Wasn't into canes then.
D. This was a pose for a photo inside my house when about to leave (for my Facebook profile picture) so hardly would I have in the manner of things bothered to take a photo with one if I had one at the time at all, etc, since it was a quick photo.
E. I don't think it matters much in the whole scheme of things.
F. Now that I do have a cane I only use it when I feel like it is appropriate to do so.
G. If you see my other photos, I did have a cane in hand. e.g.

Hang on, you're not Mikael from Sweden by any chance are you (in which case you should know the answer to your question already through Facebook!)?

 

[Bugsy]

A. I didn't have one physically at the time.
B. I didn't own one then.
C. Wasn't into canes then.
D. This was a pose for a photo inside my house when about to leave (for my Facebook profile picture) so hardly would I have in the manner of things bothered to take a photo with one if I had one at the time at all, etc, since it was a quick photo.
E. I don't think it matters much in the whole scheme of things.
F. Now that I do have a cane I only use it when I feel like it is appropriate to do so.
G. If you see my other photos, I did have a cane in hand. e.g.

Hang on, you're not Mikael from Sweden by any chance are you (in which case you should know the answer to your question already through Facebook!)?

To say you are elegant, Mr. Huang, would be a massive understatement.

 

[ws1]

I agree indeed. Mr. Huang is even better and more elegant with the cane.
I´m sorry if you, Mr Huang thought my question about your cane was to personal, I didn´t mean to be intrusive.
I am from Sweden, but I´m not Mikael. I´m Peter and I´m not affiliated to and have only slightly knowledge about facebook.

 

[rlandrews3rd]

I have question about shirt studs that I will pose to the group. I am fairly tall and as the evening progresses my cummerbund starts to slide down, revealing my white shirt button. Should I spring for an extra set of studs so I can cover this, or just not worry about it? The cummerbund is not of a high-quality, and the elastic may be giving too much causing the droop. Or it's just me getting older and having a slight belly!

 

[Charlie Huang]

I agree indeed. Mr. Huang is even better and more elegant with the cane.
I´m sorry if you, Mr Huang thought my question about your cane was to personal, I didn´t mean to be intrusive.
I am from Sweden, but I´m not Mikael. I´m Peter and I´m not affiliated to and have only slightly knowledge about facebook.

Sorry I was a bit sarcastic in tone, and I didn't take it personally. Maybe lost in translation on my part as your statement was put forward as a presumptive question ('why aren't your holding a cane?') rather than an unassuming declaration ('you'll look better with a cane').