Black Tie Event - Shoe Advice Needed

[creagdhubh]

Absolutely. The black Argyll jacket is incredibly versatile-- with a three button waistcoat, white shirt and studs, and a self-tied bow tie it is 100% as formal as anything else. With a five button waistcoat, white shirt, and four-in-hand tie it is perfect for a dressy evening out with the wife, or for attending a formal event during the day. They just can't be beat.

I agree completely.

[Cygnus]

Jock, believe it or not, the "Dress Argyll" in velvet or barathea enjoyed a popular vogue before the Hitler war. On my list of things I'd like, but will probably never get around to, is a velvet dress Argyll in deep violet, sort of the Highland equivalent of a proper smoking jacket...

I realize you don't often post pictures on here, but I would have to see this jacket if you ever have it made! In fact, being one who likes the colour purple, I'd love one for myself someday...

...The list just keeps growing.

[Irish Jack O'Brian]

Originally Posted by MacMillan of Rathdown
On my list of things I'd like, but will probably never get around to, is a velvet dress Argyll in deep violet, sort of the Highland equivalent of a proper smoking jacket...

Aaaahh! Sounds luxurious. Perhaps with a tasseled smoking cap and a pair of these.

("Yes, please, one of the Arturo Fuentes tonight and a wee dram from the amber decanter.")

[artificer]

("Yes, please, one of the Arturo Fuentes tonight and a wee dram from the amber decanter.")

Slippers I could take or leave, but I LOVE a Fuentes "Hemingway" or "Opus X" in my smoking jacket. ESPECIALLY with a dram.

Of course, I rarely wear said smoking jacket anymore, as I haven't smoked cigars in the house since before my wife was pregnant with our son.

Oh well, if I'd only saved said money from insanely expensive smoking jacket, I could have bought the velvet doublet of my choice AND still had money for a bespoke kilt

[Vegan Scot]

Having no idea about formal footwear, I Googled "men's formal pumps" and came up with this syntax-ical gem

Good advice though, and seems to be in line with what others have said so far.

---

Do not the Manolo get started on the disgraceful state of the modern American formal wear! If the Manolo sees one more pastel ruffle shirt, or the brightly-colored plaid cumberbund and matching bowtie set he will hurl. Especially do not mention the shoes! Ayyyyy! The shoes, the shoes! Such horrors.

Ideally, there is only one type of the shoe that the man should wear with the black or the white tie, it is the opera pump: the low black patent leather slipper with the discreet black gros grain bow (pinched or straight).



This shoe, it is the final, unchanged remenant of the 19th century formal wear, the only item still sometimes worn, that would have been worn by the gentleman who was to be received at the royal court 150 of the years ago.

Such the gentleman he would have appeared in the knee breeches with the silk stockings. Today, the knee breeches they are gone, the cut of the coat it has changed, the neck tie it is different, but the formal shoes, they are the same. And so these they are the original “court shoes”. (The word “pump” for the shoes, it is thus the derivative of the word “pomp”.)

In the general, the American men, when they can be wrestled into the formal wear, do not wear the opera pump, mostly because they believe it to be too sissified for the mucho macho man to wear. In such cases, the plain toe, patent leather or highly shined calf blucher or oxford, it is the most appropriate and suitable substitute.

Any other option, it is ridiculous.

[Bugbear]

Post deleted, off topic.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

That's a peculiar article...

They should bring back the knee breeches and silk stockings for formal attire, though.

What? "Bring Back?!!" Damn me for being a Foreign Johnnie! but they ain't gone outta fashion in the best circles. Not by a long shot. What do you suppose a feller wears to Court? Rough tweeds and plus-fours? Hardly the outfit when HMTQ (God bless and preserve Her) puts the Garter on yer leg. Sheesh! Out of fashion indeed.

Bearer! Burra peg, jaldi jaldi!

[macwilkin]

What? "Bring Back?!!" Damn me for being a Foreign Johnnie! but they ain't gone outta fashion in the best circles. Not by a long shot. What do you suppose a feller wears to Court? Rough tweeds and plus-fours? Hardly the outfit when HMTQ (God bless and preserve Her) puts the Garter on yer leg. Sheesh! Out of fashion indeed.

Bearer! Burra peg, jaldi jaldi!

Harumpf! The Raj has never been the same since they started bringing the Memsahibs over...

ith:

T.

[wildrover]

a cap toe is much better choice for dress shoes in general. For all the reasons noted above, and the fact that they are just better for dancing.

This opinion has been expressed several times in this thread, or rather, that wingtips (?) aren't good for dancing...

Would you guys mind explaining why?

[artificer]

This opinion has been expressed several times in this thread, or rather, that wingtips (?) aren't good for dancing...

Would you guys mind explaining why?

I believe the general thought is that wingtip brogues are nearly always too heavily built a shoe, both in overall weight and in an 'inelegantly thick' sole.