Differentiating Black Tie

The principal complaint about black tie, other than the expense for clothing that may not be worn very frequently, is that properly done it is always the same. Of course, that is because the ladies are supposed to be the ones who shine.

Men who want a bit of variety in their evening dress without resorting to the sorts of unfortunate choices seen at the awards shows these days might consider adding variety through the use of different dress sets, which was the way it was done in the second half of the twentieth century. The estate of Douglas Fairbanks Jr., for example, auctioned half a dozen dress sets from that man's wardrobe earlier this year.

A set of studs and links in dark red gives a dinner jacket a considerably different look than one that is primarily black, and does nothing that any third party might sneer at.

Photos: Seaman Schepps