Black Tie Nights
From LoveToKnow Men's Fashion
Making black tie nights memorable is a matter of wearing the right apparel as well as treating your date in a courteous manner. These days, most men don't often get the chance to wear black tie attire. If you're invited to an event that requests this formal wear, you should first brush up on your dress codes to ensure you wear the right thing. For men, black tie means a tuxedo and nothing less. You can easily find out everything you need to complete your ensemble, but make sure your night spent in black tie is an affair to remember.
Events for Black Tie Nights
Traditionally, men only wore black tie for evening events after six o' clock and not during the day. Modern etiquette rules don't always adhere to tradition, but if you want to stick to proper black tie dress codes, then wearing a tuxedo at night is the only correct option. Some occasions that may require you to don your most formal clothing include:
- Opera: While all men don't wear tuxedos to the opera anymore, it's still acceptable, especially for an opening night or other special event. You'll probably see more men dress this way in major metropolitan areas, both in the United States and abroad. It's not just the conductor and the musicians who can wear their tuxedos – opera goers are usually encouraged to dress their best.
- Gala dinner: An invitation to this fancy party will usually ask that men and women dress formally. Women will likely be in long gowns and their escorts in black tie. Galas and balls are held for various organizations, from the charitable to political. If you're in a field such as politics or government and attend black tie events on a regular basis, you may want to buy a tuxedo instead of renting them. This way, you always have your perfect size on hand.
- Wedding: A formal evening wedding might require male attendants and guests to don tuxedos. If you're the groom, it's more important for you to dress in black tie than it is for anyone else. Consult with the formalwear retailer where you rent or purchase your tux to make sure you have all the accoutrements you need for a proper black tie ensemble.
- Cruise dinner: If you ever go on a cruise, particularly the longer ones, there may be one night where you attend a formal dinner. This is the dinner where everyone is expected to adhere to a formal dress code. Even if black tie isn't required, you can still don a tux and feel like you're dressed just right.
Making Memories
When wearing a tuxedo on these special black tie nights, you may feel awkward at first (especially if you're not used to wearing one), but you should behave in a manner befitting your attire. This means act like a gentleman. You can pull out a lady's chair and hold the door open for any approaching women.
If you're escorting a date to a black tie affair, you can make the evening more memorable by presenting your partner with a small gift or with flowers. You don't have to wait for a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary – anytime you get a chance to wear black tie is a special occasion, so treat it as such to make the night wonderful for you and your date.
Although many guys don't want to spend an undue amount of time getting dressed and groomed, you can still enjoy the preparation for the evening. A fresh shave and haircut will probably make you more comfortable. Take your time getting ready so that you don't have to rush out the door and if you're waiting on a female companion, try to be patient if she takes a long time. This is a special occasion and whether you're celebrating a personal event or are attending a once-in-a-lifetime party, you can help make the night memorable for everyone involved.
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This page has been accessed 1,237 times. This page was last modified 21:43, 22 October 2008.
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