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Ivory Dinner Jackets and When to Wear Them

Zoukatron

One of the Regulars
Messages
143
Location
London, UK
I agree with you on that - although I think it is primarily the humidity that is the issue, if we had dry heat it would be so much nicer.
 

Wolf99

New in Town
Messages
26
Location
UK
I'd not head of the 'rule' against wearing a white DJ in the 'British Isles' before, though it does have the ring of truth that the sort who care about U/non-U type distinction.
Very much something to be warn on the Riviera or places like the Caribbean, originally. These days they seem to be regarded as a straight alternative to the black jacket at anytime of year and no matter the climate by most which seems odd to me. I’d stick with the traditional rules on this but then I’m not a huge fan of the white DJ in general.
 

Big J

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,961
Location
Japan
I have a shawl collar cream dinner jacket. I only wear it in the summer. This is particularly nonsensical since our summers top 38 degree C and 80% humidity. Given that I am indoors with AC, it is bearable.
However, given that said jacket is cream, if I wear it, I'm virtually unable to eat, since stains will be almost impossible to remove. And I guess that's kind of the point. A gentleman shouldn't eat like he's at a trough, and therefore drop things on his jacket. A waiter, on the other hand, needs a white jacket so that it can be bleached clean when soup or gravy from serving drips on it.
I'm guessing.
 

Anthony_Eden

New in Town
Messages
39
Location
Over the hills and far way
Thanks so much for the replies... I am now hesitating to buy a maroon/burgundy cummerbund :)

In fact, it is generally considered better for it not to match (unless of course both bow tie and cummerbund are black.) Matching bow ties and cummberbunds is generally considered a trifle gauche, in the same way having a pocket square that matches your tie or shirt too closely does. As Zoukatron correctly says, the bow tie in black tie gernerally stays black but introducing some colour in either a pocket square or a cummberbund or waistcoat (of the proper eveningwear variety) is a nice way to break up the solidly black and white look.

As ever, in these circumstances it is worth checking out The Black Tie Guide - a great internet resource (if sadly no longer updated) with lots about the etiquette and history of eveningwear.
 

Zachary

One of the Regulars
Messages
167
Location
Vienna, Austria
Dear Gents,

Next Monday, 10/15/18, I’ll attend cinema with a lady well-known for her elegant dressing style. I’m just curious if it’d be a mistake to wear my ivory jacket? Don’t laugh at me! “Tuxedo for cinema?”, you’ll ask, and you’re right. However, it is a very dapper cinema, in the richest region of not only my city (Vienna) but also whole Austria. Almost everyone wears ties there, even for profane situations.

Dapper greetings,
Zach
 

Mathematicus

A-List Customer
Messages
379
Location
Coventry, UK
Dear Gents,

Next Monday, 10/15/18, I’ll attend cinema with a lady well-known for her elegant dressing style. I’m just curious if it’d be a mistake to wear my ivory jacket? Don’t laugh at me! “Tuxedo for cinema?”, you’ll ask, and you’re right. However, it is a very dapper cinema, in the richest region of not only my city (Vienna) but also whole Austria. Almost everyone wears ties there, even for profane situations.

Dapper greetings,
Zach
I wouldn't do that if I thought it would stand out as showy. Evening wear should be distinguished but sober, in my opinion and an ivory jacket in a sea of black ones may appear dandy-ish.
Actually, I wouldn't even wear a regular dinner suit, sticking to a dark suit with a solid tie, but that's me; maybe everybody else will wear a dinner suit.

However, if you feel that the white dinner jacket fits in the environment and you are confident pulling off the look, I see no reason not to do it!
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,779
Location
London, UK
Dandy? That's the point. The sheer joy of black tie is wearing the same thing everyone else is, but wearing it better....
 

Jimi3legs

New in Town
Messages
15
Location
Australia
I just acquired a Linea Uomo Mens Cream Herringbone 100% Silk Blazer Sport Coat off Ebay, new, still with tags for less than $50.00 incl shipping. That's a bargain. I'll wear it next Summer with my Stetson Panama.
I love a bargain like that. And that combo will look sensational.
 

Jimi3legs

New in Town
Messages
15
Location
Australia
My brother has had two weddings. I’ve been to both. The first one he bought us best men these real classy ivory linen suits that fitted fantastic and looked sensational. Had a real Havana look with open collars. The second time he got married I was stoked when he said “suits are on me again lads”. Disappointment was immense when he chose these shiny grey sleezebag suits that made me feel like a double talking shyster. My wife who is quite classy, didn’t miss the opportunity to have a big laugh at our expense of course. But on it went. And off it came, staying in London behind me when I left. I’ve still got the linen number though. And it’s a doozy.
 

31 Model A

A-List Customer
Messages
484
Location
Illinois (Metro-St Louis)
I love a bargain like that. And that combo will look sensational.
I've been scouring the net looking for the vest and trousers but no luck. I do know there is a combo similar made by the same manufacture but under a different color. Close but no cigar.....but I feel lucky to get the jacket, the most important part.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,779
Location
London, UK
My brother has had two weddings. I’ve been to both. The first one he bought us best men these real classy ivory linen suits that fitted fantastic and looked sensational. Had a real Havana look with open collars. The second time he got married I was stoked when he said “suits are on me again lads”. Disappointment was immense when he chose these shiny grey sleezebag suits that made me feel like a double talking shyster. My wife who is quite classy, didn’t miss the opportunity to have a big laugh at our expense of course. But on it went. And off it came, staying in London behind me when I left. I’ve still got the linen number though. And it’s a doozy.


That's the ting about it coming back into fashion to get married in a lounge suit: much easier for it to go horribly wrong, for all the crimes I've seen committed against morning dress when somebody decides to go "creative"....
 

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