Put This On

Our pal Paul Feig on his way to the Golden Globes. Have fun!

voxsart:

Party Hearty.

Many, many parties: Brooks Brothers patent pumps from 1938, in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

And their place in the collection well-earned.

I’ve written it here before, but slide on a pair of evening slippers, and you’ll know you’re ready to go out for a seriously sophisticated evening. Patent oxfords have nothing on these. If you think they look effeminate, just wait until you see them as part of the ensemble… and until the ladies start pawing at you.

I once wore black tie to a “gala” theater opening, and literally four different people asked if my wife and I had just been married. I can only dream of living in a world wherein owning “fun formal” is appropriate.

One day I’ll find a tartan dinner jacket in a thrift store in my size, and I’ll buy it, and have to find a way to wear it.

Heck, I’d throw the party myself if I knew even one person who owned a tux. Or a suit.

Vox, as always, looks tremendous.

voxsart:

F/W 11-12 black tie event #3, or the dying habit of the formal informal party.

My favorite black tie party is not the big soirée brimming with strangers and rubbery hors d’œuvre, but small parties with family and friends for which customs of moderation and austerity in semi-formal dress can replaced with something a bit more eccentric.  I suspect that we are about the last members of the last generation of Americans still to do parties like this.  It is done fewer times each year, and some years not, but off we go with like-minded chums to celebrate a friend’s birthday party held at her home.

Vox Sartoria takes on the issue of formal pumps with black tie.

I’ve worn both oxfords and pumps with black tie in the past, and the latter is my strong preference. Vox is correct: as part of a full black tie ensemble, they are elegant, and not feminine at all.

For those of you who are disappointed you don’t get enough chances to wear evening clothes, I’ve got great news. My friend Charlie Todd runs a wonderful organization called Improv Everywhere - they endeavor to create amazing scenes in public that give people a story to share forever.

Last year, they ran “mission” called Black Tie Beach, where they dressed in evening garb and relaxed at the beach in New York City. This year, they’ll be repeating the event, and they want to do it around the globe. It goes down August 20th - if you want to help organize a local mission, further information can be found right here.

This wonderful Flickr set of photos taken backstage at the 1989 Oscars by a photographer named Alan Light is a powerful argument for classic black tie (and against “Hollywood” black tie - I’m looking at you, Lowe).

Atlanta brothers Andre and Keith Churchwell looking brilliant on a summer evening, in a photo from A Suitable Wardrobe. Two of the world’s best-dressed men pulling off colored dinner jackets perfectly. The off-white dinner jacket is a summer staple - great for warm weather and less-serious black tie events. The relaxed elegance of the shawl lapel matches this tone perfectly. Light blue is a little tougher to pull off, a real sartorial power move, but Andre Churchwell couldn’t be pulling it off better.

And by the way: note Andre’s opera pumps, always the most elegant evening footwear choice. You can try and tell him he looks feminine if you want to. I’ll be too busy telling him he looks spectacular.

Let this photograph serve as a warning to you: when you wear “creative black tie,” this is what you look like.

(via cooperfrederickson-deactivated2)