Black tie house party in normal suit..

[jjazz]

We are off to a black tie do at someones house tonight. My husband does not possess a dinner jacket etc so will be wearing a smart suit tie white shirt etc. We both hate dressing up so refuse to hire or borrow never mind buy new stuff for a one off evening. How unreasonable are we being?

This has certainly got people frothing!

Anyone remember the early days if New Labour when Tony Blair deliberately wore lounge suit to an event rather than black tie?

All the black tie events (three) I've been to in last eight years featured men in anything from black tie to chinos and jacket and women wearing anything from full length formal gown to cocktail dress to flowery day dress. Things ain't wot they used to be

I must live on a different planet to some of the pps! I cannot believe that some people would be annoyed if a guest turned up not dressed precisely according to their dress code :( I'd hate for a friend to feel uncomfortable because of my 'rules'.

I am not forking out for something I will never wear again.

I simply do not do dresses or heels as I look like a transvestite.

And David is very calm these days at 67

Denim jacket and jeans. The Texas tudexdo. You'll be right

OP - for purely nosey reasons I'd love you to let us know how everyone dressed at the do tonight!

Mind you I hate jeans,I think they look horrible on anyone who isn't under 25 and less than a size 10.

I'll be sure to pass this on to my 64 year-old Dad who lives in jeans and has only ever worn a suit on his wedding day and his sister's wedding day.

The stuff people judge on here never ceases to amaze me!

Who gives a shit, honestly.

olibeansmummyit works both ways. The hosts might be doing this for the sillliest of reasons,they might, like me and a lot of people I know , want a dressy up party.

We haven't got any back story here but raining on their parade just for the sake of it or you think it's pretentious isn't good manners either.

OP, when you were invited to this black tie do, did you mention to your hosts that you would not be able to be in black tie? Did you ask if it would be acceptable TO THEM for your husband to dress other than as requested? Our opinions really don't matter, but the opinions of your hosts do. It's them you should have talked to about this.

"How unreasonable are we being?"
If you haven't asked your hosts, you are being quite unreasonable. They wanted a black tie do, and you and your husband, who "both hate dressing up so refuse to hire or borrow" have chosen to not let them have it. At their house, and presumably at their expense. Quite unreasonable, quite rude.

I

I wear jeans a lot and I am over 60. Some of my jeans cost more than my suits. I also like dressing up in black tie. Nothibgcoretenyious at all. Dependrà whatever circulés you novè in I suppose.

heartbroken do what you want,won't change my opinion that jeans are boring and flatter almost no-one.

Whoops iPhone went into Spanish. Nothing pretentious depends what circle you move in I suppose

If you are going to a black tie do then a man should be wearing a DJ and a woman can wear a ballgown or a cocktail frock - a nice fancy one.

If you think it's wanky, well maybe it is. But that's the dress code the hosts have specified.

Equally if they said "please wear jeans as we will be having a food fight" - well then you've been warned and would look daft in your ballgown!

However OP if I were the host I would welcome you in whatever you were wearing. After all judging by another thread, we should all be glad if anyone comes to our parties at this time of year! (witters about her own upcoming birthday party) (not black tie I hasten to add!)

Anyone remember the early days if New Labour when Tony Blair deliberately wore lounge suit to an event rather than black tie?

You misremember.

It was Gordon Brown who wore a lounge suit to the Mansion House as Chancellor.

Blair would never have made that mistake.

I have a soft spot for Brown but that's exactly the example of the unnecessary side-tracking over toffee-nosed clothes stuff and how it doesn't matter that can dilute your message.

Everyone talked about his brown suit and his bolshiness. Not his speech.

Oh dear. How shallow they were. If only people would be how we want then to be. Unfortunately they're not.

Brown did adopt white tie on every occasion that required it afterwards.

Unless it's very formal, a suit and tie will be fine. It's all in the context really.

Recently I've noticed an increase in the use of 'Dress to Impress' on invitations which would traditionally state black tie - a useful way of saying make an effort please, without any onerous obligation. Times change.

What's a lounge suit?

golferman you disappointed me. I thought it was deliberate and quite apt!

jjazz - please let us know the range of attire!

I'm dead nosey me

Mind you I hate jeans,I think they look horrible on anyone who isn't under 25 and less than a size 10

caitlin17 was it you who said this?

You are wrong, wrong, wrong and wrong again.

When I was in my 20s I didn't own a pair of jeans or flat shoes because I thought they looked horrible.

Now I'm 49 I have loads of jeans and flats and heels to go with them.

I think you're only 30 aren't you, if that? Embrace the denim. You'll look great.

Brown was a total prat at The Mansion House dinner, what that was supposed to achieve other than making him look a total prat was beyond me.

As an aside there isn't a man born who isn't improved by being put into black tie.

limited I'm 54 and wouldn't be seen dead in denim. I stopped wearing jeans when I was in my early 20s as I think they are such a boring garment.

caitlin17 each to their own, as they say on MN.

If things don't pick up I'm planning to die before 54

Can I just say to everyone on here whether you agreed with me or not I've enjoyed this.

I love jeans.

But then I have to dress smartly at work so it's a relief to shove on a pair of jeans when I get home.

I'm 53 and I look fucking great in my Goldsign jeans

I look a twat in a cocktail dress however.