Normal or formal?

[Garry Oak]

Pumps with grosgrain bows effeminate? Nah.

MacMillan of Rathdown mentioned,

Although some gentlemen do wear pumps with black tie, this is not really the norm-- especially in the USA.

True; it's not the norm here. On the other hand, I've occasionally wished that I'd bought a copy of whatever publication it was which had a full-page photograph of Ronald Reagan in black tie (tuxedo/dinner suit). I'm not making a political comment; both his allies and his opponents reported that the man truly knew how to wear clothes well. It's possible that he was in white tie in that photograph, but I think not.

At any rate, his shoes in the picture were patent leather dress pumps, with bows on the toes. By themselves, the shoes might look effeminate but, with the right attitude, men can wear them with aplomb.

The same attitude causes a man to tell himself, "Yes, I am studly enough to wear a kilt!"

[Asser 1]

Pumps with grosgrain bows effeminate? Nah.

MacMillan of Rathdown mentioned,



True; it's not the norm here. On the other hand, I've occasionally wished that I'd bought a copy of whatever publication it was which had a full-page photograph of Ronald Reagan in black tie (tuxedo/dinner suit). I'm not making a political comment; both his allies and his opponents reported that the man truly knew how to wear clothes well. It's possible that he was in white tie in that photograph, but I think not.

At any rate, his shoes in the picture were patent leather dress pumps, with bows on the toes. By themselves, the shoes might look effeminate but, with the right attitude, men can wear them with aplomb.

The same attitude causes a man to tell himself, "Yes, I am studly enough to wear a kilt!"

Reagan was the last president to truly wear his clothes with style, no doubt comes from his Holywood days. I am not being political either but I felt almost embarrased for Bush when the Queen last came to visit a few years ago. He had the first white tie occaision of his presidency and he wore a lay down collar shirt (not for sure if pique) and his vest was sticking out about 3 inches past the points of his tailcoat. I would have forgiven oxfords instead of pumps. It might have been fine had it been just a US affair because other guest were similarly violating different parts of the dress. However, with Prince Phillip there who has worn white tie with style for years I just had to cringe.