A Sartorial Crime?

[storeynicholas]

I did once wear a white tie with a dinner jacket to an association dinner at which ladies were present.
NJS

[Cufflink79]

If you look at the cuffs of 007's shirt they appear extremely soft. It looks as if he has rolled towels for cuffs. Why so soft?

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[storeynicholas]

The director Terence Young took the young Connery under his guidance ans around to the various makers for his Bond outfits and T&A did the shirts - but I am not sure about the cloth.
NJS

[BirdsOneView]

If you look at the cuffs of 007's shirt they appear extremely soft. It looks as if he has rolled towels for cuffs. Why so soft?

I have a Brooks Brothers soft evening shirt from about that period that has no interlining in the cuffs or collar. The cloth itself is tissue thin, so the collar and cuffs are very floppy.

[NCW]

If you look at the cuffs of 007's shirt they appear extremely soft. It looks as if he has rolled towels for cuffs. Why so soft?

Presumably to match the lounging, informal coat with a lounging, informal shirt.

PS. Welcome to the lounge BirdsOneView. That is an interesting comment, as my dress shirts have either stiff single or starched double cuffs.

[Cufflink79]

If you look at the cuffs of 007's shirt they appear extremely soft. It looks as if he has rolled towels for cuffs. Why so soft?

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

After some thought and looking over my T&A shirts in my closet I have come to the conclusion that T&A did not fuse the cuffs at all.

I have heard that the fusing of cuffs and collars can cause more shrinkage than normal, is that true?

I have a few Robert Talbott shirts and their collars and cuffs are well fused and have not shrunk on me.

If anything will casue a shirt to shirk real fast, it is spray starch.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[pbc]

Without overdoing it, perhaps the best option is to seriously revive the old practice of mixing black and white tie at events. I have not worn white tie to a black tie event myself (I am considered eccentric enough as it is), but I would be interested to hear whether any of you have tried the scheme yourselves, rather than simply become the proponent.

I did that this past weekend. The restaurant had no dress code but was very upscale. My wife and I were in full evening dress. The restaurant service employees seemed thoroughly pleased to have us so well dressed. (They have no dress code, only a suggestion to dress nicely.) The atmosphere was conducive to very nice dress (low lights, excellent pianist, exquisite food, elegantly decorated, wonderful view).

Afterwards we attended a ball where most were in black tie (all manner of variations) or dark suits. I did see two dinner jackets with a white bow tie (and cummerbunds) and one tailcoat with a black tie (and some odd vest), but no regular white tie. The women, of course, were dressed to the nines. I had several genuine compliments on my outfit, especially the top hat (no, I didn't dance with it), and one request to take a photograph. It was a ball advertised as semi-formal (and I frankly didn't even think I'd see so many in black tie). My impression is that it was well received at both the restaurant and the ball and my hope that I influenced or educated someone there.

Now if I could just do something about my dancing .... (Ballroom lessons are actually now in the works.)

pbc

[storeynicholas]

Without overdoing it, perhaps the best option is to seriously revive the old practice of mixing black and white tie at events. I have not worn white tie to a black tie event myself (I am considered eccentric enough as it is), but I would be interested to hear whether any of you have tried the scheme yourselves, rather than simply become the proponent.

I did that this past weekend. The restaurant had no dress code but was very upscale. My wife and I were in full evening dress. The restaurant service employees seemed thoroughly pleased to have us so well dressed. (They have no dress code, only a suggestion to dress nicely.) The atmosphere was conducive to very nice dress (low lights, excellent pianist, exquisite food, elegantly decorated, wonderful view).

Afterwards we attended a ball where most were in black tie (all manner of variations) or dark suits. I did see two dinner jackets with a white bow tie (and cummerbunds) and one tailcoat with a black tie (and some odd vest), but no regular white tie. The women, of course, were dressed to the nines. I had several genuine compliments on my outfit, especially the top hat (no, I didn't dance with it), and one request to take a photograph. It was a ball advertised as semi-formal (and I frankly didn't even think I'd see so many in black tie). My impression is that it was well received at both the restaurant and the ball and my hope that I influenced or educated someone there.

Now if I could just do something about my dancing .... (Ballroom lessons are actually now in the works.)

pbc

Before you even start ballroom dancing lessons - see Valentino's slow tango in Four Horsemen of the Apoocalyse.
NJS

[Costi]

The DB lapel on a SB town lounge suit coat works for me with 1 or 2 buttons but not so much with 3 - looks a little dated, maybe? It possibly wouldn't go on checked tweeds easily either.
NJS

Guitly on both counts!

[storeynicholas]

The DB lapel on a SB town lounge suit coat works for me with 1 or 2 buttons but not so much with 3 - looks a little dated, maybe? It possibly wouldn't go on checked tweeds easily either.
NJS

Guitly on both counts!

Costi - my suggestions were equivocal and I can see from your example that it can indeed work.
NJS.