what does black tie dress code mean Optional For Men: it REALLY mean?! – Black Lapel What Is Creative Black Tie?

With a knitted black tie its a killer combination, as someone else has commented, but I very rarely want to wear a tie with a linen suit

But formal occasions with Black Tie should not be creative or optional

Studded with over 2,500 crystals, this Jean Louis designer piece (designed by Bob Mackie) is so slim-fitting that Marilyn doesn't wear anything underneath, so when the mink falls, the entire audience gasped

Let one element take the lead, whether that is a statement gold belt, a metallic shoe, or a layered stack of necklaces, and keep the rest grounded in black

I topped things off with my Burberry trench

A non-metallic stabilizer is built in for support