Etiquette Event What should (and shouldn't) you wear? | GQ LargeChevron Menu Close Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Pinterest Facebook Twitter Pinterest Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Pinterest LargeChevron

By Paloma González

A black-tie event requires a more elegant look if you don't want to be the worst dressed in the place.

It has happened to everyone, a friend, cousin, brother or relative is getting married and decides that their big day will be a “black-tie” event, and that only complicates everything when it comes to choosing what they are going to wear.

Invitations labeled “etiquette” (whether it's for a wedding, awards ceremony, or special event) always give people little panic attacks, that's because everyone knows what it means that it will be a very elegant event and that wearing a basic suit is not the best option (you can do it, but you will look out of place).

If you get the invitation, questions like Do I need a tuxedo? What kind of tie should I wear? Should I use a lot of gel on my hair? Do the socks you wear matter? Are there dress shoes? o What exactly is "label"? And you're not the only one this happens to.

In more casual events you have more room to play with your clothes, you can wear a black, navy blue or dark gray suit and no one will look weird if you decide not to wear a tie, but black-tie events have a lot of protocol and you have to follow him to avoid looking like a crush, a waiter or that person who simply did not understand where they had been invited. Highlighting for this reason isn't exactly great, and while it's not the end of the world, it can leave you feeling uncomfortable throughout the event.

What exactly is a black-tie event?

According to experts in fashion and etiquette, a black-tie event can be anything from an award ceremony, an important graduation, an important birthday party (like your dad's 60th birthday), a spectacular wedding or a prestigious prom (like the Met Gala or the annual party of some business club), which are events that require you to put a little more effort into your appearance. and that you wear your best suits, shoes and accessories, always maintaining an elegant and sophisticated tone.

The interesting thing about the “Black Tie” code is connected to the arrival of the black tie in 1885 and to that moment when Edward VII changed his tailcoat for a blue silk tuxedo jacket with matching trousers, made by the legendary Henry Poole & Co from Savile Row, for a slightly more comfortable and relaxed alternative, it was actually a less formal style, but then it made its way to the Tuxedo Club in New York and gradually became what we know today.

What should you wear to a black-tie event?

Think of Sean Connery in that white jacket in the James Bond movies. This type of jacket usually has a silk flap that can have three different types, the notch style flap, the peak flap and the shawl flap, this being the most traditional and easiest to use. Traditionally, it was worn in a very dark blue color, but you can go with black, white, or even green.

No chinos, here you must wear formal pants, which must be dark and perfectly well-constructed and adjusted to your body, in addition to combining with the jacket

This is where you need a dress shirt, which is traditionally pleated, with a winged collar and cufflink holes on the sleeve. If you are going to wear a cummerbund, you should preferably wear black buttons; if you go with a vest, the buttons can be white.

The shoes you always wear with your suits are not enough, you need better quality leather shoes, perfectly clean and polished, and if you are a little more adventurous you can wear velvet loafers (suede is not a label material). As for the socks, you need ones made of a lighter material and preferably black so that they do not attract too much attention.

This is the event where you need a bow tie like the ones James Bond used in those scenes where he appeared at casino parties. You can wear multiple colors, but as a general rule it's best to avoid white, which is reserved for White Tie events. Your tie has to be the type that requires you to tie the knot by hand (no clips, please) and you can only go without a tie (which is called an “air tie”) if the rest of your outfit is completely perfect and balanced. .

This is not completely necessary and it is an item that you will not see much, but it is a classic of the Black Tie style and it is a piece that can flatter your silhouette.

The watch should be slim with a leather strap and gold face, the cufflinks should be simple and elegant, the pocket square should be minimal and sophisticated (although it is optional) and your hairstyle should be classic, elegant and you should not let your hair cover your face.

Dirty, worn or suede shoes (not tennis shoes or boots), a casual button-down shirt, a basic suit, too colorful socks or flashy and exaggerated accessories, otherwise the effect of elegance will be lost .