Timeless styling is the epitome of black tie elegance, but occasionally you can derive atypical inspiration from certain novel looks that have a unique appearance that is respectfully retro and not distractingly dated. Just be wary, there is a reason these looks did not endure.
The Peacock Revolution Retro Vintage: Late ’60s – Early ’70s
The formal wear aberrations of this era – particularly the late 1960s – were limited only by designers’ hallucinations. The following examples are not only an amusing look at the past but also a pertinent caution about the present.
Unlike the powder-blue tuxedo and its mainstream ilk, these were not the products of a rental industry looking to make a buck off of naïve youngsters. Instead, they were the creations of respected menswear designers championed by leading fashion magazines. Keep that in mind the next time GQ announces the latest, greatest thing in modern formal wear.
“It was everything mod, smashing, subversive, Continental, American, queer, and camp”
Lance Richardson, author of Tommy Nutter: Rebel on the Row
Alternative Retro Vintage Formal Wear: Counterculture Couture
In the counterculture of the 1960s “formal” was a four letter word. As a result, menswear magazines began to favor “evening” and “host” as a more innocuous descriptor for the decidedly informal alternatives being offered by manufacturers. Here are some examples.
Explore this chapter: 8 Vintage Evening Wear
- 8.1 Vintage Black Tie Etiquette & Dress Codes
- 8.2 Vintage Tailcoats & Tuxedos
- 8.3 Vintage Evening Waistcoats & Cummerbunds
- 8.4 Vintage Evening Shirts
- 8.5 Vintage Evening Neckwear
- 8.6 Vintage Evening Footwear
- 8.7 Vintage Evening Accessories
- 8.8 Vintage Evening Outerwear
- 8.9 Vintage Warm-Weather Evening Wear
- 8.10 Vintage Evening Weddings
- 8.11 Retro Evening Wear