White Tie

White tie is an occasion that needs specific attire. If you follow the etiquette, a tailcoat is mandatory. They consist of a jacket with two long, pointed back panels (tails) and a peak lapel. A suit perfect for your formal occasions. A dress suit consists of the following elements: a white dress shirt, a white piqué waistcoat, and a white bow. All are available in white-tie packages. Buying a tailcoat is quick and simple at Suitable. Please contact us for further assistance.

Who wears a tail coat?

One of the most famous wearers of the tail coat was Fred Astaire. In his films, he wore this outfit in numerous dancing scenes. He looked elegant for sure, not only because of his own appearance but also because of the excellent fit of the suit. Purchasing a tailcoat is an investment that is only essential for men who regularly visit formal occasions due to their profession. For instance, politicians, ambassadors, and conductors, as well as students and muscisians.

Purchasing a men's tailcoat at Suitable

The tailcoat jacket with glossy or black velvet peak lapel reaches on the front just below the waist, is not worn closed, and shows the deep u-shaped waistcoat underneath. This waistcoat should be covered by black coattails, but today it is more and more customary to let it protrude about a centimeter.

When the men's tailcoat suit is worn in the daytime, which is very uncommon, the white waistcoat should be replaced by a black one. The long back panels should have a deep split and should reach the hollow of the knee. Sitting down, you place the panels backward on your left and right side.

The black trousers are usually trimmed with single or double piping along the seam line. The white shirt is generally starched and, as well as the waistcoat, embellished with decorative buttons.

A watch is always omitted when wearing a tailcoat. Patent leather shoes are preferred, as well as thin black stockings.

When should you wear a tailcoat suit?

A tailcoat suit is a formal suit perfect for white tie events and formal evening events such as weddings, balls, operas, or galas. A tailcoat is also referred to as a suit with tails or a tailcoat tuxedo. Whenever an invitation says “white tie” is required, you should wear a tailcoat. The formal attire consists of a black peak-lapel coat with tails, a white waistcoat, and formal trousers.

Why do the coats have tails?

Tailcoats originally were long formal coats. Initially, to make horse riding more convenient, the front of these coats became shorter over time. The back of the coat is divided by a center vent, creating two “tails”. Thus, the coats started being referred to as tailcoats and are still worn in today’s fashion. The upside of this short front and long back is that it accentuates the wearer’s virtues by elevating the waistline. This makes the torso seem broader, and the legs look longer.

How long should the tails of the tailcoat jacket be?

The tails should be knee-length, hanging just below the fold of the knee. The coat must fit the torso snugly, even though it you cannot close the jacket. The two rows of front buttons are thus purely decorative. The trousers should sit high, and the legs should be just long enough to break once above the shoes. The coat should make an S-shape, tailored at the waist and wide at the bottom in profile. This stops the suit from looking like a shapeless box. Luckily, Suitable provides a wide range of sizes to accomplish a perfect fit. As such, the unique cut of a tailcoat and classic black color gives you a uniquely elegant look.

What to wear with a tailcoat

As the “white-tie” suggests, the tailcoat is always worn with a white bow tie. The shirt of choice is a white wingtip collar, on top of which a white (single-breasted) vest is worn. The accompanying black trousers traditionally had a double stripe on the side. Today, the single-striped trousers – also worn with a dinner jacket as a tuxedo - are seen more often. The appropriate footwear is a black lacquer lace-up shoe. If you want to go all the way, you can complete the look with white cotton gloves.

When to wear a morning suit?

When worn during the day, this formal suit is known as a morning dress or formal day dress. Just as with the evening tailcoat suit, the full morning suit consists of a coat, waistcoat, and formal trousers. It is used in formal daily events and is the most elegant ceremony garment. The entire morning suit is the appropriate attire for day weddings, royal or governmental audiences, and social season events such as horse races.

When compared to the tailcoat tuxedo, the morning dress offers more room for creativity. For example, it can also be paired with a double-breasted waistcoat or worn with a colored necktie instead of a white bowtie. When you’re feeling adventurous, you could even pair it with a colored pocket square. A white shirt is still recommended, though, preferably with a spread or cutaway collar and French cuffs. Instead of the standard black trousers, grey, striped or houndstooth patterns are also popular options.

Where to find cheap tailcoats?

Suitable offers tailcoats/morning suits ranging from a premium wool option to a more affordable Budapest model of Polyester-Viscose material. There is also a tailcoat suit in a mid-range wool blend. Advised is to order a tailcoat together with a classic white wingtip collar shirt, white vest, white bowtie, black lacquer shoes and to finish it off, white or black gala gloves. Naturally, we also provide a wide variety of cufflinks, ties, and pocket squares to complete your full morning suit.