DITCH THE TUX
Make plans for the fall social season, and the men’s styles to be seen there
In the United Kingdom, it isn’t a five-star social occasion without highly specialized apparel, behavior and forms of address. Hierarchy-minded hosts dream about the appearance of at least one royal. These standards are set by arbiters such as Debrett’s, which also publishes lists of the country’s aristocracy and guides to modern manners.
In Austin, our social seasons — fall and spring — are far less formal or regal. Sure, heads might turn if Willie Nelson, Michael Dell, Sandra Bullock or Matthew McConaughey elbows through the assembled masses with some finger food balanced on a tiny plastic plate.
For the most part, however, even our top-drawer events are pretty lowkey. Despite the proliferation of galas, receptions, openings, seated dinners, cocktail parties and pop-up lounges, fewer male guests, for instance, are hauling out the old tuxedos and black bow ties. Forget white-tie decorum altogether.
So this season, we are encouraging Austin’s men, whenever they feel so inclined, to ditch the tux. Women, we will return to your much more complicated fashion options in a later column.
As part of our preview of the fall social season — it kicked off Aug. 22 with the Texas 4000 Annual Tribute Gala, which welcomed back students who trekked to Alaska on bikes to raise money for cancer causes, and will end on Dec. 6 with the Center for Child Protection’s frolicsome Dancing with the Stars Austin — we asked five social celebrities to wear alternatives to the traditional tuxedo look.
What follows are some guidelines for male attire at assorted types of fall events.
Charity
For our shoot, Austin fashion designer Ross Bennett, representing the Generations Campaign Kickoff Event for the Jewish Federation of Greater Austin (Dec. 6), wore dark denim, a blue dinner jacket, a white button-down shirt and purple velvet loafers.
“My whole idea is taking a ‘formal’ coat and dressing it down with jeans and no tie.” Bennett says. “It’s super causal but still fashion-forward.”
In other words, at charity events, it is best to suggest formality out of respect for your hosts, but without taking tradition too seriously.
A selection of charity events for the fall: Words of Hope for Caritas (Sept. 10), March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction (Sept. 24), Big Night Out for Little Helping Hands (Sept. 26), Building Bridges Art Celebration for the Arc of the Capital Area (Oct. 7), SafePlace Celebration Luncheon (Oct. 8) and Give Hope Gala for Dell Children’s Medical Center (Oct. 15).
We aren’t done: Midnight under the Big Top for Wright House (Oct. 17), Dia de los Muertos Festival for Easter Seals (Oct. 17), Studio 50 for Seton (Oct. 17), Be Brave Benefit for Heal in Comfort (Oct. 18), Serenade for Swan Songs (Oct. 21), Austin Pets Alive Gala (Oct. 25), East Night for People Fund (Oct. 29), MDA Austin Gala (Nov. 6), Foundation for the Homeless’ Spirit of Compassion Celebration and Awards (Nov. 14), Austin Children’s Services Gala (Nov. 14), Wish Upon a Smile for Austin Smiles (Nov. 14) and Seton Development Board Gala (Nov. 20).
Note: Anything conducted outdoors is inherently less formal. Jackets are completely optional until it cools off. Luncheons, too, require only a light jacket and no tie.
School
The Excellence in Leadership Gala for Concordia University arrives later than usual this year, on Sept. 11. Former Mayor Bruce Todd and his influential wife, Elizabeth Christian, will be honored.
With the help of men’s apparel expert Chuck Haidet, Todd wore for our shoot a Versace dinner jacket, Acorn shirt with turquoise snaps — especially designed for the Keepers clothing store — silver and gold bolo, jeans from Hiltl and oxblood Lucchese boots. Cracking jokes, he reminded us that soon after being elected, he attended Austin’s version of a state dinner at the LBJ Presidential Library with Queen Elizabeth II, Lady Bird Johnson and Gov. Ann Richards. Now that required a tux.
Some other educational events this fall: Imaginarium for the Thinkery (Sept. 25), Austin Originals for Austin Child Guidance Center (Sept. 26) and Boys & Girls Clubs’ Fall Gala (Nov. 6).
Food
The Authentic Mexico Gourmet Gala, which benefits the Hispanic Alliance, comes Sept. 16 at the Long Center. With the help of business and philanthropy leader Monica Peraza, marketing guru Lonnie Limón wore a white pleated “Presidencial” guayabera — acquired from Peraza’s Alegreea.com, “only the best products from Mexico online,” she says — over neutral slacks.
Sip-and-sample events are still very popular and tend to call for cocktail attire or something indefinable such as “Austin chic.” Two of the best: Tour de Vin for the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas (Sept. 17) and La Dolce Vita for the Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria (Oct. 15).
Arts
Ballet Austin pioneered the multitiered gala with the elegant Fête and the friskier Fête*ish, which returns Sept. 18. To preview Fête*ish, business advocate A.J. Bingham selected from the Ross Bennett Collection a Super 150s bespoke glen plaid blazer with Super 150s bordeaux trousers. The peak lapels lend the outfit that slightly formal feel.
Season openers are usually dressier than everyday performances for groups such as Ballet Austin (Sept. 4), Conspirare (Sept. 10), Austin Symphony (Sept. 18), Zach Theatre (Sept. 30), Austin Shakespeare (Sept. 24) and Austin Opera (Nov. 7).
Additionally, big arts groups stage signature benefits. The symphony’s Jewel Ball festivities (Sept. 25-26) and the opera’s Gala Concert and Dinner (Sept. 26) are inherently fancier than their other events. Men, a dark, modern jacket will do. On the flip side, Zach’s Unplugged is the more casual of its annual galas (Oct. 18).
Jackets are optional for touring shows at the Long Center, Bass Concert Hall, the Paramount Theatre and One World Theatre. As for museum and gallery openings, they land somewhere between casual and cocktail. One fall standout: The Red Dot Art Spree for Women & Their Work (Sept. 10-20).
Sports
During the United States Grand Prix, Austinites mix with the international set. During the day at the track, or downtown at the street fest, slightly upscale sportswear is expected.
At night, stylish clubwear is worn to the parties, such as the multipart Blu Party ATX (Oct. 23-25). Our Blu model Sam Held exemplified the tone of Formula One events by wearing Diesel jeans, a Ted Baker tailored jacket and vest, a Nordstrom tailored dress shirt and Gordon Rush shoes.
Of course, you know which dominant color to wear for home games during the Longhorns football season — which begins at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Sept. 12 — and for the basketball season (men’s: Nov. 6, women’s: Nov. 14). Our fabulous volleyball team, a national title contender, is already playing.
You also know the expected attire for charity golf tourneys such as Upbring Austin Golf (Sept. 28), the Andy Roddick Foundation Golf Classic (Nov. 16) and the Capital Area Dental Foundation Golf Classic (Nov. 20).
Other sporty events: Lone Star Le Mans (Sept. 17-19), Hill Country Nights for Hill Country Conservancy (Sept. 18), Party for the Parks benefiting the Parks Foundation (Sept. 30), Victor Emanuel Conservation Awards Lunch for Travis Audubon (Oct. 17) and Andy Roddick Foundation Masquerade Party (Nov. 15).
Movies and Music
The Film & Food Party (Oct. 28), one of the best browse-and-bite nights, serves as a prologue for the Austin Film Festival (Oct. 29-Nov. 5). It is usually ritzier than the movie premieres during the fest and elsewhere this fall.
You know how to dress — as comfortably as possible — for outdoor music such as the Austin City Limits Festival (Oct. 2-4, Oct. 9-11), Fun Fun Fun Fest (Nov. 6-8) and concerts at the Austin360 Amphitheater, revving up again with a Chris Brown concert (Sept. 9).
As for hearing music indoors, here’s a rule of thumb: If you can sit down (say, at ACL Live), don’t wear your grungiest clothes. Standing at a club? As funky as you feel.
None of the above
Preview the Texas Book Festival at an author lineup (Sept. 3). Wear something bookish. The affiliated First Edition Literary Gala (Oct. 16) is more ceremonial, while the follow- ing free fest (Oct. 17-18) is mostly open-air. Dress for convenience and comfort.
Break out your most fashionable duds for Tribeza Style Week (Sept. 24-Oct. 1), the Project Pink Runway for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s charity efforts (Sept. 13) and the chic Pop Austin International Art show (Oct. 23-25). For the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival (in progress through Sept. 7), go out as if to a nightclub and stay for the socializing after the shows.