Black Tie Accessories

Choosing the Right Black Tie Accessory

Black Tie is one of the most formal dress codes. It required men to wear a tuxedo that is traditionally black in color – even though midnight blue and charcoal are an acceptable alternative. The dress shirt must be white, the bow tie black, and the shoes should be black and freshly polished. Below are a few style choices that allow you to add a more personal touch to this otherwise uniform looking outfit.

Black or Colored Bow Tie?
Traditionally the bow tie is solid black in color and made from a sateen silk giving off a more lustrous shine. Even though black is the traditional bow tie color, bow ties in maroon or midnight blue are also acceptable. More consideration is required when choosing a brightly colored bow tie. Colors such as bright blue, yellow, lime green, bold reds, and so on are usually better suited for school proms or those weddings that follow a particular color scheme, rather than strictly black tie functions. White bow ties should never be worn since these are typically reserved for white tie functions combined with tailcoat jacket and white waistcoat.

Self-tied or Pre-tied Bow Tie?
To the tie aficionado only the self tied bow tie will be acceptable. In case the bow tie is a rarely chosen clothing accessory, then you may want to consider one that has already been tied. There is no need to figure out how to tie a bow tie. High quality pre-tied bows look just like a bow tie that was self-tied. In fact, the only give-away might be that the pre-tied bow tie looks almost “too perfect”.

Cummerbund or Waistcoat?
Even though neither is required, both are excellent accessories for a black tie ensemble. Keep in mind that only one of the two should be worn. If you choose to wear a waistcoat, then either choose black or one matching the color of your bow tie. Because the waistcoat covers most of the torso, the dress shirt should have a plain, non-pleated front. The cummerbund on the other hand only covers a small portion of the waist. Therefore, dress shirts with a pleated frontal section are an excellent choice here. Traditionally the cummerbund should be black in color but should the dress code allow for some more personal interpretation, then colored cummerbunds that match the bow tie can also be considered.

Wing Tip or Turn-Down Collar
Most classy is the wing-tip collar – a collar style where only the tips of a heavily starched collar are folded down and the rest stays up. The wing-tip collar is more formal and it is the only choice for white tie functions. The turn-down collar is a good alternative. It is a great choice when wearing a pre-tied bow tie since the folded down collar hides any sign that your bow tie was not self-tied.

Other Suggested Readings:
A Guide to Black Tie Attire for Men
The History of the Cummerbund

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team