WHAT KIND OF BOW TIE, BELT AND SHOES GO WITH A TUXEDO?
QI’d like to wear a midnight-blue tuxedo for my wedding. What kind of bow tie, shoes and belt should I be wearing?
A was The dinner suit, also known as the tuxedo,
created by the first bespoke tailor of Savile Row in London, Henry Poole. It was created as a formal lounge suit worn by elite aristocrats for evening get-togethers. This means it was created for, and worn by, sartorially refined gentlemen.
In the world of the refined, wearing a pre-tied bow tie is the equivalent of wearing a cardboard pocket square. While tying a self-tied bowtie is an art that requires a fair bit of practice, its subtle imperfection exudes a natural charm which certainly attracts attention compared to a perfectly shaped pre-tied bow tie. Moreover, the ability to untie it towards the end of the evening and leaving it hanging around your neck to showcase the fact that you know the art of tying a self-tied bowtie elevates you to the sartorially elite.
With a dinner suit, you are always supposed to wear black patent leather shoes which are either oxfords or brogues.
As a general rule of dressing, shoes should match the belt. However, considering that it is a tuxedo, you have the option of instructing your tailor to craft your trousers without belt loops and put side fasteners instead. This gives you a more formal and cleaner look without the need for wearing a belt.
The most important thing to remember while wearing a tuxedo is to exude the mannerisms, qualities and etiquette of a true gentleman, as traditionally that is who the tuxedo was created for.