The most formal affair will call for a White Tie dress code. There is no “White Tie optional”, therefore, if you are invited to such an elegant affair it requires full dress including:
- full tuxedo tailcoat
- white bow tie
- white vest
- black patent leather shoes
There is no better choice at Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo than The Ritz by Ralph Lauren. This three button front, full satin peak lapel tuxedo jacket is made with European Super 100’s wool.
Occasions To Wear A Tuxedo Tailcoat
Although you will not often see people wearing a tuxedo tailcoat for weddings and formal events, we do dress several wedding parties and formal gala attendees in this evening wear every year. We currently have a groom and his 9 groomsmen wearing this tuxedo for the wedding.
Other occasions that we have rented full tail coats include debutante balls and fund raising galas in Philadelphia and New York.
Before COVID, the Academy of Music in Philadelphia held the Academy Ball for over 150 years. Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo would rent a number of tail coats to the attendees and donors of the Academy Ball. Of course, this special occasion called for a formal dress code than black tie.
On a few occasions, we’ve had fathers of the bride and groom wanting to wear tailcoats to their child’s wedding. Not all brides and grooms were in agreement with dad’s choice!
Our experience has been that on most such occasions, the bride or groom was able to convince dad to wear something more conventional. However, our tuxedo and suit rental ordering system shows that on a few occasions, the bride and groom allowed dad to wear tails to the wedding, despite the wedding not officially being a white tie event!
White Tie Ensemble
As mentioned earlier in the blog, it is very traditional for ultra formal events to wear a white shirt, white bow tie, white vest, black tuxedo pants and patent leather shoes with tail coats. Some choose a wing-tip collar, also referred to as a wing collar.
In fact, the wedding party we mentioned earlier in this blog that is wearing tails to the wedding is doing just this. Occasionally, we have had customers choose black satin bow ties and black vests with the tail coats.
Other Occasions For A Tuxedo Tailcoat
The owners of Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo were recently invited to a dinner party with a 1920s theme. While unavailable to attend this event, the first thought was to wear a tuxedo tailcoat! We have also dressed parties for 1920s themed weddings and tailcoats were the norm for these black tie events.
About five years ago, we had a groom wear tailcoats. He even wore a top hat and cane!
Another common customer group that we serve that wears tail coats are members of fraternal organizations. You will often find Freemasons at our store looking to purchase tail coats since their organization often require this at their meetings or at a minimum at their annual gala.
Etiquette Advice
A prudent piece of advice Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo can give you is to ask questions to the hosts of a wedding or gala about what would be appropriate attire for the event. Don’t be the only one showing up to the party in tail coats!
Our The Ritz by Ralph Lauren is a more luxurious version of our other tail coat tuxedo called Chaps by Ralph Lauren. Both are wonderful options and will allow you to look stellar at any party.