Dinner Suits at the 2013 Oscar ceremony

A week ago the traditional yearly Oscar nominations took place and I was surprised by the breaking of the rules of evening wear by some of the gents attending the ceremony. I observed lots of blue dinner suits and some very odd pairing of the dinner suit with very untraditional footwear. I am not sure that this "breaking of the rules" is appropriate. Well, less talk and let the pictures talk for themselves.

Mr. Daniel Radcliffe very well dressed for the evening, dinner suit paired with the mandatory cummerbund if not using a waistcoat for a single breasted dinner suit. I am however missing a pocket square on the jacket pocket. Otherwise well done young man.

 Oscar winner actor Mr. Daniel Day-Lewis in a blue single breasted dinner suit, a pocket square and looking best, however he is not wearing patent oxfords, Opera pumps nor Albert slippers, but.....loafers. Now I am 100 percent certain that loafers are not formal footwear nor are they appropriate with a dinner suiting. He was not the only gent mind you.

 Oscar winner actor Mr. Michael Douglas looking good in his dinner suiting, though the traditional rules of dinner suiting wear are broken, just as Daniel Day-Lewis above, by pairing the dinner suiting with loafers

 Oscar winner actor Mr. Dustin Hoffman, opted for a tie instead of a butterfly. Note the length of the trousers a tad long. Hmmm... any local tailor could have fixed the length in a giffy.

Mr. Jamie Fox opted for a very untraditional colour dinner suiting, paired with a black shirt. Hmmm......what is happening?

Is this associated with glamour, Oscars, Hollywood, sartorial men's evening wear? Well not sure, are you? The look is ...what can I say...very interesting.

Mr. Chris Tucker also in a blueish shade single breasted dinner jacket, mandatory bow tie. However Mr. Tucker should have known that a one button jacket, must be buttoned at all times, unless getting sited. Mr. Tucker where is the cummerbund?

Photos sources from Yahoo Movies Gallery

Black Tie attire by the Royals

Black tie ensemble as illustrated from the 1935 Apparels. Note the two kind of dinner suitings, a double breasted jacket or single breasted with a shawl collar jacket. 
Below picture shows the standing Gent with a red boutonniere on the jacket lapel. White linen pocket square to add to the ensemble. Perfect so sartorial. 


Black tie or white tie dress code does not offer a plethora of options. You better know the rules when going black tie or white tie.

An illustration of the black tie dress code from 1935

HRH Prince Charles and his son HRH Prince William wearing Black tie ensemble. Both of the royalties are wearing double breasted dinner suitings. Not that Prince Charles opted for a colourful pocket square instead of the more traditionally white linen pocket square.
To compliment the dinner suit, he paired the suit with pumps. So classic. However HRH did not add a boutonniere to the jacket lapel. That would have been the topping. Well done Your Royal Highness .

In an earlier blog I mentioned that pumps are the "Über" formal dress shoes for weddings, black tie events or Opera visitings. However some men will opt for the patent leather shoes, or plain oxfords coupled with silk ribbon laces. That is acceptable as depicted on the below illustration from 1935. 

Below picture of HRH Prince Pavlos, classically dressed in black tie attire, white linen pocket square, no boutonniere, he complimented the dinner attire with a pair of patent leather shoes. Well done Your Highness.

HRH Prince William wearing a dinner suit with, ehhh....not pumps, nor patent leather shoes, or even a plain black cap toe oxford, but.......

Black full brogue oxford shoes with a dinner suit. Ups, Your Royal Highness. The whole black attire spoiled. 

Pictures sourced from Vox Sartoria and the Internet