All Styles
MEN'S STYLE GUIDE
What is Costume de Rigueur? It is a French term that refers to style of attire where men are required to be in full dress, complete with black tail coat, white pique shirt, vest and bow tie and women are in full length evening gowns. It is also known as white tie. You will find this type of attire a requirement at debutante balls and most Mardi Gras balls.
If it is a black tie affair or the invitation says “black tie”, the appropriate attire would be black tuxedo jacket and matching trousers. This would be worn with a formal pleated front shirt with black studs and cuff links. You would accessorize with a black bow tie and black cummerbund or vest. Black patent leather shoes should be worn to complete the formal look. In the summer months or on a cruise, a white dinner jacket with the black trousers plus the other black tie wardrobe can be worn.
If the invitation says black tie optional, you could wear a tuxedo, of course, but a dark suit, white dress shirt and conservative tie with leather dress shoes would be appropriate as well.
Tuxedos combined with trendy or whimsical items, such as a black shirt or a matching colored or patterned bow tie and cummerbund would be considered creative black tie.
