Black tie is a dress code for evening events and social functions. For a man, the main component is a usually black jacket, known as a dinner jacket (in the Commonwealth) or tuxedo (mainly in the United States).

When the tuxedo jacket (“dinner jacket” in British English) was first invented in the Victorian era it was intended as an informal replacement for the tailcoat which men of the upper classes wore every evening. Thus it was worn with the standard accompaniments for the evening tailcoat at the time: matching trousers, white or black waistcoat, white bow tie, white wing-collar formal shirt and black formal shoes.

A black tie event is a wonderful opportunity to dress to the nines and so, if you have the opportunity to attend one, you should. Black tie events are typically elegant and fun, so we recommend that if you do get invited to one, you should make all efforts to attend one. (more…)