We have officially entered Black Tie Season if the number of customers coming to see us for tuxedos is anything to go by. For men, black tie is relatively straightforward - dinner jacket, dress trousers, white Marcella shirt and bow tie. For ladies, a disproportionate amount of time is spent on deciding what dress or gown to wear. In some cases, copying the guys and opting for a 'Le Smoking' style tuxedo is a fantastic option, but for most, it's all about the dress. Few give quite as much consideration to the coat. And why should they you say, the coat is worn for only a fraction of the time. But the mistake here is that the fraction one is talking about - the arriving at the venue - is without question the most important sliver of time of the whole evening. The arrival is where first impressions are made. It is that tentative moment of meeting and greeting, remembering names, offering handshakes and introductions. It is the moment where eyes scan and opinions are formed, and it is invariably the moment that you are wearing a coat.
That's why it cannot be any coat. A Black Tie coat needs to be outstanding if not a little outrageous! It needs to speak volumes about you and your personal taste, while simultaneously complementing your choice of dress and jewellery. And that's why we believe there are no better options than our silk velvet Whitehall and Carnaby coats. Velvet is such a glamorous fabric, especially under the lights, which bring its short dense pile to glittering life. What's more, our Whitehall and Carnaby coats are full length, below the knee, which creates a statuesque figure.
The Whitehall coat's particular characteristics are the grown-on collar and the scalloped hem from which delicate embroidery rises, covering the skirt with a feminine patchwork of stunning artisanal work. The black version in Highgrove silk is perfect if you intend to copy the gents' rules of black tie, while there are also more colourful options in gold, red, blue, and emerald green.
Of the velvet Carnaby coats, it's impossible to pick a favourite. For a more understated yet no less sophisticated option, the Black/Green Grosvenor silk velvet style is imperious, and darkly romantic with its incredible shimmer. while the grey/gold version is beautiful paired with metallic dresses.
Whichever option you choose, these two coat styles will invariably stay in the memory of fellow guest long after the party has finished!
