Relentlessly prowling the internet for information on formal and semi-formal dress, Peter Marshall of the Black Tie Guide, by far the most informative and accurate web site on those topics, calls our attention to an online booklet called Dress Codes. Dress Codes is a guide to dress for the Viennese ball season, the principal remaining home of formal evening dress for men in the Western world (although it is mandatory at only two of the 26 balls mentioned specifically).
Recalling as they do another time, in 2010 UNESCO named several of the Viennese balls as part of the world's intangible cultural heritage, and, recognizing the lack of information on proper formal and semi-formal dress, the organizers published Dress Codes to help keep international guests from arriving in a business suit (or a cocktail dress as the guide is aimed at both men and women). This is particularly useful for white tie, where aside from Black Tie Guide there is little information available on the proprieties. It is interesting reading, however I did notice that it neglects to mention the lead times involved for acquiring well made formal clothes. As Simon Cundey of Henry Poole told me a while ago, the tailcoat is one of the most complex garments known to tailoring and requires at least two and preferably three fittings instead of the usual one that bespoke customers are accustomed to.
Gentlemen thinking of attending the Viennese season take note.
Posts
5 comments:
Too late for this year's season, but there's enough time to be ready for next year!
The Black Tie Guide is indeed an invaluable resource.
For those of us going the vintage route for black tie, acquisition can take years. A year and a half ago, I finally found a vintage tuxedo that not only fit me but was wearable (the only other one I found in my size was made from a hideous brocade silk).
It took me three years of looking, and I haven't seen anything in my size since.
Some parts, such as socks, must be bought new, but persistence and patience brought me a beautiful outfit that cost less than $200 for the pre-owned parts, half of which was for opera pumps (thank you, eBay!).
As always, good, fast, cheap: pick two.
I actually managed to find a wonderful shawl collared tuxedo for30 dollars while Halloween costume shopping. was very pleasantly surprised, given how redneck Saskatchewan is.
It is interesting when the odd clip of the Oscars from the 50's/60's pops up to see many of the men wearing white tie. How have the mighty fallen.
As a repeat White Tie attender in Vienna I would like to add that Knize can sometimes do the fittings within a week or two outside the ball season, and offers a sartorial emergency late evening service on the Opera Ball Day.
Post a Comment