Comments

• Matt

  posted 07 December 2005

  Laurie;
  
  The worst thing you can do to a monkeysuit, apparently, is to try mess about with it. Just go with it; you don't look /that/ much like a trapped monkey, anyway. I'd pay money to be tall and wear a tux. So shush.
  
  Hello!
  
  Matt
  
  xx

• Jamie

  posted 07 December 2005

  I like to accessorise my black tie outfit with nifty waistcoats - though they can also accentuate the trapped monkey look. "Comedy" cufflinks are also a no no. Best bet is to wear sexy underwear and hope some dashing young buck rips your trousers off at the end of the night.
  x

• Trixie

  posted 07 December 2005

  Or just don't wear one - what are they going to do to you!
  
  Failling that I'm sure as long as you were smart and 'made an effort' it would be fine.
  

• Roger

  posted 07 December 2005

  You can get black tie with 3/4 length jackets, which looks subtly different, and has a great line if you're tall/slim/both. There's also the white jacket option, though you can end up looking like a crappy 007 knock-off. If in utter desperation, there's nobody who doesn't look good in the full-on tail coat approach. Yes, thechnically that's 'white tie', but it tends to be more or less appropriate. I got my dinner suit from Moss Bross in the end, but I don't really rate their hire wear; heck if you're going to need one twice more before your size changes, then you're better off just buying one. You get much more choice that way, and - i've found, oddly enough - the salespeople are nicer to you.

• Josh

  posted 07 December 2005

  The stylish waistcoat is a good idea. Also, you can wear different coloured bow ties, and perhaps throw in a cummerbund of the same colour, as I expect many people won't go that far...

• ed

  posted 07 December 2005

  You could be extra classy and wear a tuxedo t-shirt. That's my rec.
  
  Also, don't blame British culture. At my old company, the NY office always did the formal Xmas party, while the London office usually did a costume theme thing. So the blame lies squarely with your co-workers.

• Laurie

  posted 07 December 2005

  Oh well, I went with a tuxedo with a waistcoat with defiantly green detailing and a green bow-tie. They had a hell of a time getting my size; apparently I have extremely long arms and short legs. Who knew?
  
  Pictures may be forthcoming for the purposes of judging the level of captive primateness, assuming it's not humiliatingly bad.

• M

  posted 07 December 2005

  I want pictures! Also are you allowed to take a date - if so why wasn't i invited ;) I excell at these things! Although I guess it wouldn't help persuade your co-workers you aren't straight ;)

• Mikey

  posted 07 December 2005

  Remember what Fleur says - squeeze your bum, don't thrust your shoulders forward and chin up. That should eliminate any primate-resemblance

• Oldest Brother

  posted 07 December 2005

  Borrow one from either of your brothers... will be free!

• Laurie

  posted 07 December 2005

  I would have got one from OldestBrother but the last time I wore his it didn't fit me very well, exacerbating the trapped-monkey problem. My rented DJ has extra-extra-long sleeves, apparently.

• Robert

  posted 07 December 2005

  the key to being fabulous in Black Tie is the cufflinks and bowtie combo - and class is the key to this - comedy bowties should be taxed until they disappear, as should naff cufflinks. But you can be gay and stylish... (radical thought!) so just go for devastatilng wonderful cufflinks.

• Mikey

  posted 07 December 2005

  You do know that gibbons are particularly renowned for having short legs and very long arms, don't you? ;-)