Terminology of the Black Tie Guide
Because the population of the United States is roughly four and a half times that of the United Kingdom and nearly nine times the population of my own country, Canada, and because of nearly identical American and Canadian vocabulary and spelling, it is only logical for me to write in American English.
Having said that, it is important to me to make the site as accommodating as possible to visitors who are more familiar with British English. This is a bit of a challenge because formal wear terms can be very different on either side of the Atlantic and in some cases downright contradictory. And just to add to the confusion, many North Americans prefer original British terminologies over American derivatives.
The following chart of comparative formal wear terminology should help to clear things up.
Dinner Jacket vs. Tuxedo vs. Dinner Suit
| NORTH AMERICA | GREAT BRITAIN | CONTINENTAL EUROPE | BLACK TIE GUIDE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuxedo | Dinner Jacket / Dinner Suit | Smoking | Tuxedo & Dinner Jacket & Dinner Suit |
| Dinner Jacket used (incorrectly) to refer specifically to a white dinner jacket or any evening jacket in any other color than black or midnight blue | Tuxedo used (incorrectly) to refer specifically to a white dinner jacket | Smoking derived from the smoking jacket, which is a garment that protects evening wear from smoke used (incorrectly) to refer to any type of Tuxedo, Dinner Jacket of Dinner Suit | We call it what it is A smoking jacket is just that a white dinner jacket is just that a tuxedo is just that. |
| Vest | Waistcoat | Depends on Country | Vest & Waistcoat |
| Pants | Trousers | Depends on Country | Pants & Trousers |
| Suspenders | Braces | Depends on Country | Suspenders & Braces |
| Formal Wear | Formal Dress* | Depends on Country | Formal Wear |
| Evening Wear | Evening Dress & Evening Suits | Depends on Country | Evening Wear |
* Traditionally, the most formal category of attire is described as formal in North America and dress in Great Britain. The second most formal category – e.g. traditional business attire – is conversely described as dress in North America and formal in Britain. Therefore a black-tie event calls for a formal shirt in North America and a dress shirt in Britain, even though both words are describing the same garment. (Note: Some British haberdasher websites have recently begun to use the term “formal” in the American sense of the word, likely to make themselves more accessible to online shoppers from the US.)
Identify This Ensemble
We would call it a Shawl Collar Dinner Jacket ensemble
