Should you be invited to such an event, here’s what you’ll need to wear: White Tie CoatĤ- or 6-button black barathea wool tailcoat with satin-faced peak lapels. There is truly nothing quite like the white tie outfit. In fact, many invitations to modern events will state “white or black tie” in a real-world acknowledgement of the difficulty many men have acquiring these clothes. Available as custom or bespoke pieces, tailcoats and the garments that are worn with them are quite expensive. Barely anyone sells full dress clothes off the rack, and many of the now-popular made-to-measure companies don’t even offer them as an option due to their rarity. Currently, it’s quite rare to see men in white tie. Other names for white tie include full dress, tails, evening suit, and cravate blanche.īefore the Second World War, it was standard evening dress for (wealthy) men. The tails and high-waisted trousers add height, and the presentation is one of masculine strength and elegance.

It is widely considered to be the epitome of sartorial elegance, essentially functioning as the most luxurious suit of armor that a gentleman can don. Of all the dress codes in the Western world, white tie is the most formal for civilians.

Red button shirt white tie