Black Tie, With a Waistcoat

A dress code that says black tie will take tailoring, and tailoring photographs better than almost anything else in the room.

The waistcoat over the shirt does what a jacket would do to the silhouette while leaving the sleeve free — which matters over a long evening.

Why it works

• Black and white only, so the cut is the only thing left to look at.
• The shirt cuffs stay visible below the waistcoat, framing the hands.
• Ink silk at the neck is a colour that reads as black until you are close.

Swap it

The pinstripe blazer over the top if the room is cold or the code is stricter.