A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO EVENING DRESS

INTRODUCTION  A Timeless Appeal Story of the Guide Using the Guide ●  BASICS  A Proper Education Attire: Defining Black Tie Etiquette: Black-Tie Tradition Etiquette: Dress Codes Etiquette: Black-Tie Codes ●  HISTORY  History's Relevance 19th Century Origins Edwardian Era (1900s, '10s) Jazz Age (1920s) Classic Age (1930s) Post War ('40s, '50s) Jet Age ('50s, '60s) Peacock Revolution ('60s, '70s) Classic Revival I (Late '70s) Classic Revival II (1980s) Dress-Down Days (1990s) ●  CLASSIC BLACK TIE  The Gold Standard Defining Classic Black Tie Classic Jackets Classic Trousers Classic Waist Coverings Classic Shirts Classic Neckwear Classic Footwear Classic Accessories Classic Outerwear Warm-Weather Black Tie Classic Alternatives ●  CONTEMPORARY BLACK TIE  Proceed with Caution Contemporary Jackets Contemporary Trousers Contemporary Waist Coverings Contemporary Shirts Contemporary Neckwear Contemporary Footwear Contemporary Accessories Contemporary Personalization ●  WHITE_TIE  Introduction Defining White Tie Full-Dress Waistcoat Full-Dress Shirt ●  BUYING  Introduction Major Retailers Supplemental Retailers Custom Tailoring White Tie Investments ●  STYLE   Men's Wear 101  Suit Style  Proper Fit  Wear & Care  Tying a Bow Tie  Folding a Pocket Square ●  VINTAGE  Research in Progress Vintage Etiquette & Tradition Vintage Wedding Etiquette Vintage Attire Retro Tuxedos ●  SUPPLEMENTAL  Glossary  Orders, Decorations & Medals  Ladies' Black Tie  Black Tie Versus Tuxedo  Morning Dress (Formal Day Wear)  Formalwear Myths & Merits  Red Carpet Black Tie  Military Formal Attire  Scottish Formal Attire  Clerical Formal Attire  Formalwear Hall of Shame  Bibliography  Search

 

	Recent Updates   July 24, 2010   After a couple of readers asked about Black Tie gloves I expanded the description of outdoor gloves and added a brief mention of indoor gloves.   I have booked off the third week of August to finish adding the evolution of White Tie to the History section.   April 4, 2010 Well after half a year of working on White Tie history I finally have something to show for it!  The 19th century history of evening dress has been fleshed out to five pages that cover the origins and early evolution of the tailcoat.  The next step is to add more White Tie detail to the remaining History pages (particularly the pre WWII years) then I will have the comprehensive background I need to finish the White Tie Components section. March 3, 2010 I have overhauled the web page template for a cleaner look and to accommodate the Guide's first official sponsor, Fine Tuxedos.  The Red Carpet Black Tie page has been divided into two pages to accommodate the growing list of Academy Award black-tie reviews. January 1, 2010 Readers who have been waiting anxiously for the White Tie section to be completed will have noticed that I did not make my 2009 deadline.  However, I want to reassure them that it certainly wasn't for lack of trying.  I have actually spent a good part of the past four months pouring over etiquette and menswear resources dating back to the turn of the nineteenth century to ensure that the White Tie history and description will be every bit as comprehensive as the Black Tie counterparts.  At this point the research is complete and the writing is well underway.  With any luck the new pages will be posted by spring. What I did manage to complete though is a resource page for Military Formal Attire (aka mess dress). October 25, 2009 A number of readers have asked about the etiquette of wearing remembrance poppies with evening wear so I have added this topic to the Classic Accessories page (if only to emphasize that they are much more than mere dress accessories). September 1, 2009 In response to reader questions I have posted pages introducing black tie and white tie equivalents for men of Scottish, Irish and Welsh ancestry as well as for Catholic Clergy.     June 14, 2009   The Wear & Care tips have been added to the Style section.     June 7, 2009   The rules of black-tie etiquette will ensure you look good in theory but to look good in practice you need to start with the rules of suit Style and Fit.  (Wear and care tips are still to come.)   May 2, 2009   The Contemporary Neckwear page now includes more bow tie alternatives for modernists, the Vintage Attire & Etiquette contains more illustrations for historians and the Hall of Shame has expanded yet again for the benefit of formal masochists.
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