tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post8394972517228269827..comments2008-04-10T11:37:02.931-07:00Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173316804999411413noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-21084448215846568262008-04-10T11:35:00.000-07:002008-04-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

The comments remind me of a recent trip to Vegas. I arraged a dinner for my wife and I at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. We were dressed well, not evening clothes but a grey suit, stripped shirt and a coordinating pocket square. When we arrive and took our seats we noticved others who were wearing grubby jeans and T-shirts. As the night went on the new arrivals were dressed better. But it was

Gunter95http://www.blogger.com/profile/00316820063446817673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-10399526059715091222008-04-09T17:24:00.000-07:002008-04-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

Agreed on all counts that times where dressing for dinner and enjoying the food and the company were better.On another note one of my favorite pictures of the Duke, taken on his wedding day... http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/31/Wallis_and_Edward.jpgEvening aside, the past few weddings I have been to have been plagued with the $59 tux rental special. Not that I don’t like being better

Younginhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15939673041575590511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-29409436730568328972008-04-09T16:32:00.000-07:002008-04-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

The only way you can establish a dress code, unfortunately, is by excluding those that don't adhere to it.In the past when there were doormen and servants, dress codes were enforced by impersonal staff. Today in our servant free society, the only way a host can enforce a dress code to an event is by barring the door themselves --an upfront and personal confrontation few are willing to endure. (

dancingislandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06773394961979555934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-18131565729845735572008-04-09T16:15:00.000-07:002008-04-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

It wasn't only his golf attire, which at least has a tradition of discordance. I have a photo of the Duke in an odd jacket wearing a matching checked shirt and necktie that's truly abominable. But in evening clothes, he sets an example for us all.

Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173316804999411413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-61899844086686320872008-04-09T16:12:00.000-07:002008-04-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

Ah, but HRH's late-in-life golf attire was vile beyond belief. Absolutely hip-hop in its pattern clashing intensity.

An Aesthete's Lamenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09620941811191294750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-51544665183236153482008-04-09T14:19:00.000-07:002008-04-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

I would look forward to such a gathering too.....1st Annual ASW Dinner

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961930732125748800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-15065301619192762602008-04-09T13:44:00.000-07:002008-04-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

Mr. Monty,I am all for a Suitable get together. I will be there bright-eyed and bushy tailed, whenever and wherever it may occur. Will, just name the time and place. I just inherited my grandfather's monocle and have been dying for an excuse to pair it with his top hat....

Turlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04466952089423973036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-32162264987259062982008-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:002008-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

I do meet readers and other clothing people when I travel but it's usually for lunch. A black tie dinner is an excellent suggestion.Now if I can only get Desmond Merrion to finally make his Spring NYC trip...

Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173316804999411413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-49293615993399581752008-04-09T12:41:00.000-07:002008-04-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

It is indeed sad that we're seeing some of this elegance being lost to the ages. I belong to a few literary societies that are focused on the Victorian/Edwardian era, so when I attend those dinners, I use it as an excuse to pull out the black tie or occasionally the white tie.Now that I'm thinking if it Will, have you thought of arranging some gatherings where we can find an excuse to go formal?

Scott Montyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17710406470860389078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-48549977392567553612008-04-09T09:01:00.000-07:002008-04-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well said Will. I do have a group of friends that will occasionally throw a small black tie dinner. But even at these events some guests will arrive in a suit or even less. I do hope that the younger folks will rediscover formal wear, albeit with their own interpretation.

whitecollar99http://www.blogger.com/profile/03698133540014438858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-64241649866352347752008-04-09T08:51:00.000-07:002008-04-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Surrounding architecture frequently makes evening wear seem more like a point made than an elegance enhanced.Windsor's cuts are very English and sharp, suggestive of military. It is from another age. The softer modern style is right for us.We should feel free to inflect our own elegance, which is no less real than Windsor's.

Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05342118212166061075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-61500280033652547012008-04-09T07:53:00.000-07:002008-04-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

But why not changing for Dinner - at least with friends, who have a sense for things like that and in a private household? This wouldn't cost too much effort, but would bring a little bit of elegance to our everyday-life.By the way, I can see a change in that: In the provincial parts of Austria, where I live you were able to see an absolute dissappearing of evening wear also on balls and very

Sebastianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16175338940662067044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-81798042430293750972008-04-09T07:42:00.000-07:002008-04-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

A nice explanation of sartorial drift, Will. It leaves me a little sad. The barbarians are not only inside the gates, but they are also dictating our standards of dress. Maybe we will live long enough to see the return of proper evening clothes.

Laguna Beach Tradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027025872132699493noreply@blogger.com