The New Formal: Clothes That Rise to the Occasion

You might not have been invited to the Oscars this year – overlooked by the Academy again – but most of us still get a chance to really dress up every now and then, and when such an opportunity comes up, you’d be remiss not to grab it with two hands. In an increasingly casual world, these instances are admittedly becoming rarer, but there’ll always be black tie weddings, fundraisers, gallery openings and galas somewhere in the calendar, and it pays to be ready when they roll around.

You’re never really going to look underdressed in a well-cut two-piece suit, a crisp shirt and a tie, but for certain occasions a look like that lacks the requisite je ne sais quois. Apart from being deemed ‘smarter’ than less occasional tailoring, eveningwear – for men and for women – is distinct from its more everyday counterpart by virtue of a certain luxurious, indulgent quality. Fine worsted wool is out – velvet, satin and silk take its place. Instead of navy or charcoal grey, we might opt for midnight blue, plum, burnt orange, or pistachio. Even the words themselves feel indulgent. These are clothes which, by their nature, are worn very sparingly, and should be relished when it’s time to slip into them again. Far from being stuffy and old-fashioned, formalwear is fun.