Is it too early for a White Dinner Jacket?

[David Conwill]

I had never realized “black tie” was so rigid a term.

I’m going to throw a party and specify “soup and fish” on the invitations.

-Dave

 

[dnjan]

I’m going to throw a party and specify “soup and fish” on the invitations.

-Dave

But will you permit fish soup?

 

[David Conwill]

But will you permit fish soup?

Chowder, maybe. "Soup" sounds too thin.

-Dave

 

[dhermann1]

Don't get any on your dinner jacket!

 

[Feraud]

No soup for you!

 

[dnjan]

No soup for you!

and now we're back to frivolous rules.

 

[GBR]

White dinner jacket fine thereabouts but stick with normal shoes for evening wear - the others look costume.

 

[bolly]

definitely no for the shoes

 

[Tenorclef]

I tried the white jacket, black trousers and black&white brogues at a wedding once and to be honest when i saw the photos I just looked like a penguin! So now i only wear the black&white brogues with all black tuxedo and that seems to work fine. If I'm wearing my white tuxedo jacket and black lined trousers I wear only black shoes now either oxfords or brogues with black dress socks.

 

[dhermann1]

Hmmm . . . two tone shoes with an all black dinner suit. All I can say is brace yourself for an avalanche of negative feedback.

 

[Feraud]

I reserve my two-tones for informal wear.

 

[dhermann1]

Well, not to sidetrack this thread, but one of the innumerable things I have learned from the Lounge is that Spectators, or Co-respondants, as they're called in Britain, are sartotially equivalent to white shoes, and should only be worn with suits that you'd wear white shoes with, such as white bucks. So that would mean light linen or seersucker, for example. Startled the heck out of me when I first read it, but now it makes perfect sense to me.

 

[Edward]

I rarely wear anything other than two tones throughout the Summer months, but anything more formal than a lounge suit requires plain black shoes (patent for evening).

 

[PADDY]

It was very popular in the Thirties, though specifically the cummerbund. A matching tie (although no doubt it was done by some at the time) would be inappropriate for black tie, though.

White SB (Single breasted) Tuxedo (not DB - or you'll be thrown out of the mess, you blaggard) with cumberbund is fine. Dark maroon (think British Airborne maroon) is fine, and with a matching Fez looks very fetching (out in the tropical reaches of the Empire).
#
Govt. Health Warning..!! DO NOT match a coloured bow tie with the cumberbund - or you'll look like a cheap-rate electronic keyboard player at the Cabaret dance of an Irish wedding in Dungannon (I know..!! I was there!!).

A carnation or small rose bud (deep red) always looks great against the off white of the Dinner Jacket.

Footwear = 'black' patent leather, or well Kiwi'd and bulled Oxfords'.

Otherwise, ' George' won't let you into my Club - okay?

 

[dnjan]

Govt. Health Warning..!! DO NOT match a coloured bow tie with the cumberbund - or you'll look like a cheap-rate electronic keyboard player at the Cabaret dance of an Irish wedding in Dungannon (I know..!! I was there!!).

you have such a way with words!:eusa_clap

 

[dhermann1]

So the DB white DJ is de trop??? Even with shawl collar?

 

[Tenorclef]

Hmmm . . . two tone shoes with an all black dinner suit. All I can say is brace yourself for an avalanche of negative feedback.

Hmmm? Sir I quote from the Chap magazine 'one must take liberties with tradition in the name of cutting a dash......' (Winter Warmers edition p.36).

 

[dhermann1]

Not judging, just saying. It's all a question of pulling it off.

 

[Tomasso]

Spectators, or Co-respondants, as they're called in Britain, are sartotially equivalent to white shoes, and should only be worn with suits that you'd wear white shoes with, such as white bucks. So that would mean light linen or seersucker, for example.

But...but....what would be so wrong about wearing these specs with grey flannel in winter?

And on a certain Boardwalk you might see......

.....worn with a camelhair overcoat.......

 

[avedwards]

Well, not to sidetrack this thread, but one of the innumerable things I have learned from the Lounge is that Spectators, or Co-respondants, as they're called in Britain, are sartotially equivalent to white shoes, and should only be worn with suits that you'd wear white shoes with, such as white bucks. So that would mean light linen or seersucker, for example. Startled the heck out of me when I first read it, but now it makes perfect sense to me.

Also not meaning to go off topic, but I have to disagree. I think spectators can be worn with a lounge suit of any colour (even more conservative dark colours) in summer. They are only inappropriate for semi-formal or formal dress (black lounge/black tie or morning dress/white tie) where black patent leather shoes must be worn or very well shined oxfords for those who cannot afford patent leather shoes.