Introduction

Formal affairs, particularly those during our formative years, are often riddled with ill-fitting rented suits, hefty tie knots and square-toed shoes. In reality, the dress code isn’t all that difficult to navigate – not the essentials anyway.

What it whittles down to is the wearing of an appropriate suit with a shirt, tie and smart shoes. Hardly rocket science. Getting the details right is what really counts, especially when looking to make yourself stand out among a sea of penguin suits.

With the basic structure of formal (black tie even more so) already set in stone, it’s important not to attempt to deviate. While some say it’s OK to break the menswear rules when you understand them, this is one instance you should not be testing the water under any circumstance.

Sneakers or a t-shirt don’t make black tie young, cool or different – just juvenile. It is the fit, colour, accessories, shoe style and shirt collar etc. that will be the defining points of your look, not your insubordinate Converse or rebellious band tee.

With all that in mind, today we’re going to take you through a selection of looks, from timeless classics to some more unorthodox takes on event dress that bend the codes without breaking them.

Traditional Outfit Inspiration

Traditional Lookbook Inspiration

Instead of boring you with endless images of a black tux with black shoes and a white shirt, we have decided to instead try to inspire with the lookbook images below.

Whether you choose to wear a classic tux with precision or simply utilise your black suit with a contrasting bow tie, pocket square or tie, it is up to you to decipher the dress code, dress appropriately and put your own stamp on your outfit:

Look One: Timeless Tuxedo

Rental tuxes often get a bad name – and for good reason, if the large number of ill-fitting examples is anything to go by. That said, spending time sourcing a flattering suit is a great solution to the black tie issue, rather than spending a fortune on a ‘non-essential’.