The dark suit

Every man should own at least one elegant evening suit that can be worn to events like Autumn Ball. Experts passionately argue about the exact dress code for occasion wear – no other form of attire inspires such differences of opinion. Elegance is a good point of reference when it comes to the quality of an evening suit.

Material & colour

Elegance is the name of the game – beginning with the material. Pure wool or wool-satin mixed fabrics, gabardines or satins with a lightly shimmering surface are preferable to sporty flannels. For formal occasions the suit should be black, anthracite or midnight blue and can also be pin striped.

Jacket & trousers

Elegant evening suit jackets can be cut in the Italian or American way, usually have 2 or 3 buttons and – regardless of whether they are single or double breasted – have no slit in the back. A single breasted jacket can be combined with a waistcoat. These days, 1-button-versions can also be found among Italian designs. The trousers are always made from the same material in the same colour as the jacket.

The shirt

The shirt must be white and have double cuffs, at least when attending a ball. When it comes to the collar, all forms are possible – with the exception of very sporty or button down versions. A tuxedo shirt is the best option for a black suit. By the way: these shirts never have breast pockets, but always boast French cuffs.