Boy's Formal Wear

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gcg
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Wed Mar 07, 2012 3:43 pm

Hello,

I was wondering what the forum's ideas were on boy's formal wear.

My morning suit is in progress but I really do not like the look of young boys wearing mini versions of adult formal suits be it lounge or tail suits, I think it looks very affected and crass.

In the far past, sailor suits were the order of the day, but that is now, in my opinion, a rather odd look as well.

ideas?

Gordon
Berwick
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Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:08 pm

In Scotland, kilts come to the rescue, as they look as good on boys as on men.
gcg
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Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:33 pm

Yes I wore a kilt as a boy, and indeed on occasion as an adult.

I have sugested it but he's not willing.
hectorm
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Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:34 pm

gcg wrote: I was wondering what the forum's ideas were on boy's formal wear.
Not counting the uniform of page boys, a boy´s formal wear means formal wear (i.e. morning suit or white tie) and there is no way to go around it once they are old enough to attend the event and walk confidently by themselves. If the event requires formal wear for all men, boys will be very appropriate in formal wear too (with minor youth adjustments) and will look wonderful provided the fit is good. There´s nothing crass about it.
Having said that, almost no event nowadays requires formal wear for everybody. Even the Queen of England´s invitation (through the Lord Chamberlain of course) for William and Kate´s wedding at Westminster Abbey last April allowed uniforms, morning dress or lounge suits.
Boys in black tie, dinner jackets, suits with neckties, etc. are not in formal wear and they could wear whatever is most appropriate for the occasion playing down the severity of their outfits with different vests or bow ties. The big emphasis once more is in the good fit. Boys in these outfits only look bad when they are in clothes that are ill fitting.
DD MacDonald
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Thu Mar 08, 2012 2:17 pm

Velvet Nehru jacket with black trousers. Perfect dinner suit for a boy.
ItsLouis
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Tue Jul 31, 2012 5:12 pm

Anybody seen Finding Neverland? About JM Barrie, it's typically enjoyable costume wise, but of particular note are the dinner clothes of the young children. They wear smart clothes, often close to formal attire but with romantic and dandyish touches that a responsible adult would rarely indulge. For instance, one of the boys wears (if my memory serves me correctly; I am one to talk from my ass) mid-grey trousers with a dinner jacket that has no collar to the (notched) lapel. I think such a thing gets the balance right, allowing us to distinguish the children by their affected touches, but not exclude them from dressing up.

Now this might not be practical as such things are hard to come by, but you know, sounds like fun right?
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