In the rarefied world of high society, where galas and black-tie soirees punctuate the calendar, eveningwear remains the ultimate canvas for sartorial expression. Far from the rigid dictates of yesteryear, today's formal attire invites innovation, blending tradition with a dash of audacity. The dinner jacket, known across the Atlantic as the tuxedo, traces its origins to 1865, when the future King Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, commissioned a tailless smoking jacket from Savile Row tailor Henry Poole & Co. This rebellious departure from the formal tailcoat, initially conceived for informal dinners at Sandringham, quickly evolved into a symbol of refined elegance. Adopted by the elite at New York's Tuxedo Park Club, whence the American moniker derives, it represented a youthful, anti-establishment flair amid the stuffy conventions of Victorian evening dress. Yet, as we navigate the 21st century, eveningwear needn't be prescriptive or monotonous. It can be a playground for personality, where the classic silhouette meets contemporary flair.
Eveningwear With Edge
A more liberated ethos has emerged, championing patterned and textured styles that allow the discerning gentleman to infuse his ensemble with personal narrative. At Favourbrook, this modern renaissance is vividly apparent in our eclectic array of dinner jackets, crafted to extend and embellish the personality of the wearer through superior fabrics and artisanal details. Our summer dinner jackets, for instance, feature vibrant floral embellishments, injecting colour and whimsy without veering into garishness. These pieces draw from nature's palette, with intricate motifs that evoke the gardens of an English country estate, perfect for warm-weather galas where subtlety gives way to statement-making panache. For those who prefer geometric boldness or ornate prints, our offerings extend to bow ties and accessories that complement these jackets, ensuring a cohesive yet expressive look.
Central to this evolution is the resurgence of the velvet dinner jacket, a fabric once synonymous with louche luxury and now enjoying a triumphant revival in both single- and double-breasted iterations. Velvet's tactile allure has captivated style arbiters anew, offering a textural counterpoint to silk's sheen. Our velvet dinner jackets come in a symphony of hues: deep claret for the romantic, racing green evoking the thrill of the turf, burgundy for understated intensity, and navy with contrasting black silk grosgrain lapels for a nod to heritage. The single-breasted variants provide a sleek, modern silhouette ideal for slimmer frames, while double-breasted options exude old-world gravitas with a contemporary twist - think welted breast pockets and covered buttons that elevate the piece beyond the ordinary. These jackets aren't just garments; they're investments in timeless allure, handcrafted from plush cotton-velvet that drapes with effortless grace.
To truly wear eveningwear with an edge, one must master the art of layering personality through accessories and underpinnings, and here we excel with our frilled dress shirts and profusion of bow ties. The plain bib-front is a classic but for something more theatrical, opt for our Blush Pink Stanfield Large Frill Shirt, a flamboyant ruffle confection that demands attention upon entrance. This piece, with its cascading frills, adds a romantic, almost Byronic flair to black-tie affairs, transforming the standard tuxedo into a statement of charisma. For subtler panache, the White Poplin Cotton Single Frill Shirt offers a single ruffle that hints at rebellion without overwhelming, crafted in crisp cotton for all-night comfort.
No ensemble reaches its crescendo without the perfect bow tie. Opt for velvet iterations like the Racing Green or Black Velvet Bow Tie to echo your jacket's fabric, adding a cohesive yet tactile twist. For bolder expressions, silk options abound: the Navy Pickwick Silk Large Party Bow Tie, oversized for dramatic effect, or patterned delights such as the Red Gold Bees with intricate embroidery that infuses whimsy. Floral prints and geometric motifs further amplify personal style, while matching cummerbunds in complementary fabrics seal the look with polished finesse. These accessories aren't mere add-ons; they're the punctuation marks in your sartorial narrative. Whether through a patterned velvet dinner jacket that turns heads or a frilled shirt paired with an ornate bow tie, the message is clear: elegance thrives on edge.