Black tie seems to make men nervous. On one hand, it’s understandable, since black tie occasions are increasingly rare in our hyper casual times. The mere prospect of wearing anything that doesn’t stretch, come with a hood or repel water (and pretty girls) is a great unknown for a whole generation of men. On the other hand, it shouldn’t baffle, since black tie is essentially very basic, with a few modifications that set it apart from regular suit and tie.
It’s official: the Oscars are possibly the worst occasion on which to observe well-executed black tie, with very few exceptions. Not only are simple tailoring cues missed by a mile, but there is also that unnecessary urge for some men to make a statement.
Few things make me cringe more than a man who gets “experimental” with black tie. It’s doubly disappointing when it’s a movie star, who has unfettered access to more resources than we average mortals could touch in four lifetimes. But when a man – movie star or mortal – gets it right, it’s thrilling.
Amidst last night's usual parade of misfires dictated by ill-informed and overpaid stylists or stars themselves who either don't know better or don't care... the growing number of men who opted for a necktie instead of a bow tie, really…
How to go casual is not a problem with men. I never feel a compulsion to write about hoodies, jeans, sweatpants and sneakers because “As-Casually-As-Humanly-Possible” is a powerful and overwhelming chorus that doesn’t need another voice, no matter how many respected designers and luxury brands send them down the runway. As Bill Maher inimitably put it, our country won’t stop until we can hit the mall in Crocs and a diaper.
Put a guy in a situation like a beach, a gym or a JAY Z concert, and he can demonstrate uncanny sartorial appropriateness – even if he’s nowhere near a beach, a gym or a JAY Z concert. But send a guy an invitation to a black tie event and it’s like watching a dog walk on its hind legs.
As I've said in previous editions of this piece, Hollywood stars command bigger paychecks and higher profiles than their Broadway counterparts. The money and visibility gives Hollywood more access to designers and well-paid (and often overpaid) stylists to help them…
While Alec Baldwin gives up on New York, I’m giving up on Hollywood. Movie stars are among the richest and most privileged people on the planet – with more money and resources at their disposal than almost anyone – and yet an alarming number of them still can’t get black tie right. Between the notch lapels, the neckties and other tragic experiments, Tinseltown’s prom night looked like a cross between a funeral, a chauffeur convention and a prom night in Hollywood, Florida.
In a few weeks, I have a work-related fundraising dinner to attend. It's "formal" but I'm about 90% certain I'll be in the company of men in suits, which is fine. I do have a tuxedo which rarely gets any…
Jake Gyllenhaal. J-Gyl went vintage 007 in a beautifully-tailored, midnight blue dinner jacket with a shawl lapel and turn-back cuffs.
Over the last several modern decades, men's style has established a handful of easy-to-follow standards for executing perfect black tie. Awards season red carpets invariably bring some unfortunate choices made by stars or their stylists, yielding images and footage that…