Dinner Suit

[jlazarow]

I have finally reached the point in both my career and life as well as wardrobe to justify commissioning a bespoke dinner suit. I am most likely to go with a single breasted peak lapel suit. However, I am having trouble deciding between midnight blue or black. I would love the advice of fellow members!

[soren]

I definitely prefer a black dinner suit, but maybe that's just because I'm European –I reckon the midnight blue version is a more or less exclusive American phenomenon. But I agree on the cut; SB, peaked lapels 1B is in my opinion the most elegant opportunity, or at least that's how I bespoke my own.

Good luck, and keep us updated!

PS: Some people (I being one of them) prefer a wool/mohair mix, in order to have a more crisp and shiny feel to their dinner jacket

[John H. Watson, M.D]

I think mid-night blue is not a bad option. The Duke of Windsor popularised the DB mid-night blue which is considered blacker than black and thats how I bespoke my Windsor style DJ with Henry Poole. But I agree black is the most formal.

Watson

[Costi]

Would you like to go black, but fear that you might be missing out on the esoteric "chic" of midnight blue? Or do you really fancy midnight blue, but fear you might be missing out on the sober propriety of black?

[Charlie Huang]

Go for black in the first instance. M-B can be saved for a later one.

[rodes]

For me it would be black,especially for my first. The last thing that I would want is to stand out even in a slight way such as a midnight blue dinner suit. Better leave that wear it belongs,to the woman you are escorting. All of my evening semi-formal occasions are quite conservative.

[jlazarow]

Hi! Thanks for all of your input. So sorry for taking so much time to get back to the thread. Costi is right in asking why midnight blue? I am not sure, except when I asked one of my tailors what I should consider for my first and what might be my only dinner suit, and he suggested a special extra dark midnight fabric because it was richer than the blacks they have. I am just worried that it will stand out a great deal. And my fiancé does not want it to look very blue. Yet I have not been in love with any blacks I have seen. The tailor I am most likely to commission this from is creating a super dark fabric so we might compare the super black to the midnight.


I am trying to gather what makes the most sense! As well as follow protocol. My dinner suit is something I want to be made up very traditionally. It will most likely be 1 button single breasted peak lapel, no vents, jet pockets, I might do a vest.

[Costi]

You may tell your fiance that the midnight blue of your dinner suit will be the sky for the twinkling stars in her eyes - that should take her worries away; and you should be in love with her, not with any black or blue cloth
Rest assured that any of the two options is fine, traditional, correct, sensible, following protocol. As long as the midnight blue is dark enough that it only looks blueish side by side with black, and as long as the black is not a dull, flat, greenish shade, your choice cannot be wrong. This is not a matter worthy of occupying your mind, just let your heart pick and free the mind for something more important to think about. Such as why your fiance feels that she has a word in your choice of clothes

[cdo]

Yes, never let your other half opine on your sartorial decisions; she wouldn't care much for your unprompted critique on her appearance!

That aside, are you expecting to wear your DJ regularly to events throughout the year? Pulling out the midnight blue DJ for the occasional outing would be quite dashing but for most event, especially among similar circles, you might wish to turn out in black more often than midnight blue.

- C

[Costi]

Midnight blue is not any more or any less formal or conventional than black for a dinner suit, in my opinion. There may have been subtle differences 80 years ago, but it is just a matter of option in the year 2011. Both are correct. Nobody will think ill of you for wearing WELL a nicely cut midnight blue dinner suit.

[culverwood]

I have seen it written here and many other places that the DJ is should just be an anonymous object against which you partner shines like a peacock or some other turn of phrase.

I am getting tired of it though I understand their point of view, but:
Very often I wear a dj without a partner.
Why should my partner have all the glory?
Why do we all have to wear the same thing?
The proposal seems to undervalue one of the partners.
Who give a fig about those worthless cummerbunds.
As for patent pumps - don't get me started.

Rant over.

[rodes]

Why should my partner have all the glory? Because she's a woman.

[Costi]

As for patent pumps - don't get me started.

Patent pumps!... Patent Pumps!

Haha, the peacock comparison works perfectly for your point - in fact, the peahen is pretty bleak compared to the glory and splendour of its male counterpart!
However, the proposal does not necessarily undervalue one of the partners, but puts them in harmony (when there IS a couple). And we don't all HAVE to wear the same thing, but we may well CHOOSE to

[Costi]

Why should my partner have all the glory? Because she's a woman.

You never know...

[alden]

I have seen it written here and many other places that the DJ is should just be an anonymous object against which you partner shines like a peacock or some other turn of phrase.

I tend to agree with you. The only exception being for wedding days. Let our ladies shine on that one special day (when we would rather be anywhere else.)

Cheers

Michael Alden