Are tails too much for an evening bat mitzvah party?

October 6, 2007 7:22 AM

Tails or too long for a tux?

I'm attending a bat mitzvah party at 7:30 tonight (past sunset). Dress code is Black Tie. I rented a tux without knowing that the coat had tails. I have the option to swap it for a non-tails coat, but one that will be a 36L (vs 36R on the one I have, which fits well) with the sleeves taken in. Advice?

posted by djb to clothing, beauty, & fashion (8 comments total)

Tails requires a whole suite of other clothing accoutrements, including a white vest (no cumberbun), white tie and gloves (top hat and cane are optional, unless you're going to do a Fred Astaire routine).

You should probably swap it.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:39 AM on October 6, 2007

If you have the chutzpah, you could wear the tails and try to be funny about it. But Civil Disobedient is probably right.
posted by brina at 7:49 AM on October 6, 2007

I'd also like to add that there's no reason you can't go completely overboard with this--I'm just saying if you want to wear tails, you should do it right, not try and cover-up someone else's mistake and compounding the problem with a fashion faux-paus. If you're dressing to the nines, don't be half-assed about it. Especially since tails and a cumberbun look ridiculous, and not in a good way.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:58 AM on October 6, 2007

I too think you would look better with a poorly-fitting coat than one that just doesn't match.
posted by grouse at 8:42 AM on October 6, 2007

Forgot to mention that there's no cummerbund - silver vest instead. Like this, except a black bowtie. I think the outfit as provided works well, my question is more "is that something only a groom would wear?"
posted by djb at 10:27 AM on October 6, 2007

I'd say that if requested black tie from their guests, you should give it to them. Which means a tux. You'll be in a roomful of men in tuxedos -- do you want to be the one special snowflake in a penguin suit? Is that appropriate? Are you a favorite goofy uncle?

Only you will know if your relationship to the family / their sense of wackiness / the gravitas of the event will support your wearing it. If so, then go for it, but as a rule of thumb I'd never wear tails when a tux was asked for. It's a pity there aren't more white-tie events these days, but that's life.
posted by mumkin at 10:43 AM on October 6, 2007

update?
posted by parmanparman at 7:47 PM on October 6, 2007

Thanks for all the advice. I swapped the coats, the length was a non-issue, and everything looked fantastic.
posted by djb at 12:56 PM on October 7, 2007