A STYLE SERIES FOR REAL LIFE EVENTS
What Does Black Tie Optional Mean?
Pleasantdale Chateau
W. Orange, NJ
A beautiful venue, a great celebration, and a reminder that “Black Tie Optional” doesn’t have to mean tuxedo.
Black Tie Optional means polished wedding style including a dark suit with tie or tuxedo accessories.
“Black Tie Optional” gives you choices. But optional doesn’t mean casual.
A great example is these three gentlemen — all appropriately dressed for the same occasion, but taking two different approaches.
On the left: a navy micro-herringbone suit, crisp white shirt and blue tie. Polished, sophisticated and completely appropriate for Black Tie Optional.
The other two chose black Super 120s wool suits — but we designed them so they could easily step up to a more formal look.
The secret is in the details.
Their custom white shirts feature a removable button placket, allowing traditional studs and cuff links to replace the buttons. Add a black bow tie, braces, and a built-in white pocket puff designed to match the white shirt, and suddenly a great black suit takes on the look and feel of a tuxedo — while remaining a very versatile suit for other occasions.
But there’s one little problem with the way many younger men wear formalwear today.
They often skip the cummerbund.
Traditional formal shirts typically have only four stud holes. Without a cummerbund covering the waist, that can leave an ordinary white shirt button showing between the last stud and the waistband.
Not exactly the look we’re after.
Our solution? Five stud holes.
We custom make the shirt accordingly and pair it with a formal set containing FIVE studs, so the clean black-and-white line continues all the way to the waistband.
Add braces — never a belt with this look — and you have a sharp, contemporary formal outfit.
And tomorrow?
Remove the studs and bow tie, replace the button placket, change or tuck away the built-in pocket puff, add a necktie, and you have a beautiful black Super 120s suit ready for another occasion.