76

THE OTHER BLACK TIE

A gentleman may not own his own dinner clothes, and he may not wish to rent them, considering the cost of leasing a dinner jacket for a single evening, much less a weekend.

Instead, a gentleman may wish to invest in a good-quality black or midnight-blue suit, cut in an understated, classic style (that is, a style that does not involve top-stitching on the jacket or velveteen insets on the trouser legs). Absolutely appropriate for weddings, funerals, and romantic dinners, such a suit will also carry him through almost any semiformal occasion (“semiformal” being a euphemism for “black tie”). When wearing this suit, on this sort of occasion, he adds to it a simple white dress shirt with a straight collar, an elegant tie in a solid color (a silk crepe in black, dark blue, or silver works well), and freshly polished smooth-leather shoes, along with dark, solid socks.

This sort of outfit, in fact, is usually a far superior choice to a poorly fitted rental tux. A gentleman in a good suit that fits him is always more comfortable than a fellow in a suit he has merely borrowed.