It’s great to see the social calendar back on track, with spring break, graduations, the Derby, and easter all giving me vibes of sunshine and happy days of warmer weather. There is nothing more exciting than having a big celebration or a wedding on a family calendar for the upcoming season, and the idea of getting together with loved ones and friends has a renewed importance in this post-covid era.
Formal event such as “black tie required” can sometimes cause dread for guys who have never had to follow the rules of dressing correctly for a formal event. The word formal puts you in the world of Tuxedos, which we have an ample offering of and we can easily guide you through. With such presumed rigor around black tie, we at J.Hilburn can also be the authority on the modernity of black tie with our plethora of options. This new offering of social dressing comes from the red-carpet trends we see on celebrities. With our spring collection, we have updated our formal offering to include more color and less formality of the strict black tux to include mid shades of blue, grey, and subtle patterns to be paired with satin or grosgrain trims. Color, pattern, fabric, and styling can all be effortlessly achieved within the relative confines of formal attire with a wider than ever range of great choices for your Custom-made tux.
The good news is that the fit mirrors your sportscoat profile, and there are no adjustments to be made for a Tux or formal style. The Tux jacket has slightly different codes for the evening with peak lapel, or shawl collar options to choose from the classic notch. These both combined with a single button option rather than two, can have a distinct effect separating it from a business suit. The characteristic satin lapels, button trims, and stripe down the outside leg of the trouser are always a go-to for black tie, and we have introduced a navy option to the classic black trim adding a whole new range of navy-on-navy tux availability within our collection. I think a navy Tux is particularly stylish, and some of the mid-tones of both grey and blue can be great choices for a spring or summer evening event, perfect for grooms looking for something beyond traditional.
Beyond our year-round wools at different price points from Reda Flexo and Barberis Revenge, we have added linen blends from Trabaldo Togna for a summer option, with the unique subtle texture for a sophisticated lightweight Tux in navy or black.
Last year we introduced wool silk from Reda that had a distinct luster given only by silk. The oyster color (slightly darker than cream) was a real showstopper, and combined back to black trim really looks great at summer events. Another option we added to sit alongside our wool silk from Reda is a few subtle jacquard patterns that pick up the deep color of navy or black backgrounds and patterns depending on the light. For the ultimate Tux we added the “Silkskin” from Ermenegildo Zegna for a 100% silk tux as the ultimate luxury for that very special occasion.
In shirting, we have extended our formal offering to include pleat front options, navy, and black fabrics with the added grosgrain trim on the button side of the placket, all to add great dressed-up options for a formal event but also for social occasions that can be used to dress up a look for a dinner date or drinks party. I love these new shirts, and my go-to for a modern formal shirt is the covered placket, where the hidden button closure adds a clean front with or without a bowtie. The formal options are expected to be loaded onto the shirt configurator over the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for the update.
