I remember my mother getting ready on Saturday nights in the nineties and aughts, a real age of dinner-dances and black-tie auctions. I remember her leaving for her hair appointment, helping her touch up her nails, but most of all I remember her chatting with her friends about the dress code. And today dress codes still befuddle.
I’m here to tell you two things: evenings of gowns and galas have hardly seen their prime. The Everhart Museum in Scranton is having a fabulous event Everhart Uncorked: An Evening of Fine Art, Fine Food, and Fine Wine on November 4th. The second is don’t be intimidated by a black-tie preferred dress code. Read on for my black-tie preferred style guide.
What Is A Black-Tie Preferred Dress Code?
For the Gentlemen
Guys get off easy. And have a surprising amount of accessory options. A tuxedo is the best place to start, meaning a coordinated black suit with satin lapels, a cummerbund, vest, or suspenders, and a bowtie. Dress shoes, usually patent leather, cufflinks (personally I like mother of pearl or onyx with sterling), and studs for the buttons on the dress shirt are typical. Men can opt for a white dinner jacket for a black-tie dress code or the less common velvet jacket, embellished silk jacket, or smoking jacket. Dapper ascots and tuxedo scarves are not outdated, so go for it if you’ve got that kind of swagger.
Adding “preferred” to this dress code means a dark suit with a black or silver tie is acceptable if you don’t own a tuxedo, but tuxedos for men are the best look. Also dress shoes that aren’t the typical patent leather are acceptable. Velvet smoking slippers for men have had a recurrence in recent years with shrunken pants.
I come from a grandmother who raised me with the adage that it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. Stay in the good graces of the host and just wear the tux.
For the Ladies
For women, black-tie easily means long. For black-tie preferred, glitzy dresses of any length are acceptable. Is your gala dress not zipping like it used to? A black dress in velvet, chiffon, silk, or lace can be dressed-up to meet the standard. Black hair bows possibly encrusted with pearls or other jewels are an endearing way to make your black dress black tie look more fancy and fun. It’s time for your rhinestone brooch collection to shine. Colored wraps or boleros with patterns or fringes happily liven up black core looks as well.
Women can also choose tuxedo-inspired suiting. Trousers with coordinated jackets in evening-appropriate fabrics will impress especially a tuxedo inspired jumpsuit. Silk pants are divine with a crisp white dress shirt and a waist sash a la cummerbund and of course jewels. It’s all about the sparkle for women in black-tie preferred dressing whether costume or genuine.
Remember that however you end up dressed when you walk through the door, your attitude is what you can control when you get there. Carry on like you are having the time of your life and you in fact you may! Remember too you are there out of the courtesy of the host and/or the cause so fit yourself deserving of them and you cannot go wrong.
Everhart Uncorked: An Evening of Fine Art, Fine Food, and Fine Wine
11.4.23
6:30 pm-9:30 pm
Tickets $200
RSVP 10.25.23