I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw that the invitation said "Black Tie optional". Is this something that can attract interest in Oslo? Will people respect the dress code or look for simple solutions? I am very happy to say that I was positively impressed, and I have rarely seen a group of people dressed up this well.
Published at: Nov 10, 2024
Kristoffer Lund
If you know me (and my wardrobe), you probably know that Mond of Copenhagen is one of my favourite brands for made-to-measure (MTM) clothing. It’s where I began exploring tailoring, and thanks to their excellent customer service, knowledgeable staff, and wide selection of fabrics at a reasonable price point, Mond has been integral in helping me build my wardrobe. I was therefore very happy to see that they were hosting a Black Tie event in all of their stores to bring fashion interested people together for some drinks and cigars.
Black tie attire is typically reserved for formal evening events, where men are expected to wear a tuxedo or dinner suit paired with a white dress shirt, black shoes, black socks, and accessories like cufflinks and shirt studs, a solid colour bow-tie or necktie. There are also expectations for what women should wear, from floor-length gowns, formal cocktail dresses, formal shoes and elegant jewellery. It is a night to put you best foot forward and put on the pieces in your wardrobe you only wear on special occasions. When an event is "Black tie optional" it introduces some flexibility to the otherwise strict rules. Every event is different, but a good rule of thumb is to at least opt for a dark suit and a light shirt, unless you have for example an ivory jacket and black trousers.
Since I don’t own a tuxedo, I opted for a double-breasted charcoal suit, a white French cuff shirt, and a dark red tie. To elevate the look, I added a white pocket square neatly folded, silver cufflinks, and a matching pocket watch. Black wool socks and my trusted black oxford shoes from Loake completed the ensemble.
It was really inspiring to see how people brought their absolute finest garments to this evening, and several of the attendees arrived solo. We were all there to discuss fashion and lifestyle, with plenty of interesting takes on topics ranging form office attire to luxury watches tailoring as a craft.
One particularly rememberable conversation was regarding the worry that today's work outfits are all about being as comfortable as possible. That sounds like a goal you should have if you are relaxing at home, not at work trying to perform well.
Some also took the opportunity to look at some fabrics, planning their next piece. There were also a lot of items being tried on with temptation.
It was also a great experience for me to use my camera in a lively and moving setting, which is something I have never done before. I have only focused on portraits in well lit environments, so this was for sure a challenge.
Thank you to the team at Mond of Copenhagen who put together a great event. It was a pleasure to connect with others who share my passion for fashion and formalwear, and I always appreciate an excuse to bring out the finer garments. I look forward to sharing this interest with some of the new connections I made, and I hope to see more events like this in the future.
Cheers!
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