If you have been invited to an event or party and "white tie" or "cravate blanche" is on your invitation, your host expects you to appear in a white tie suit (tails). These are worn at gala balls, gala dinners and at university PhD graduations.
The fitting and reservation of a white tie suit
Our best advice is to make an appointment for a fitting a few weeks in advance. This suit will then be reserved for you, for the date of your occasion. One day in advance you can pick up the suit and one day after the event we expect you to return the suit. Please note that the shop is closed on Sundays and Mondays so for an event in the weekend, picking up is possible on Fridays or Saturdays and returning on Tuesdays. Do you need to hire for a longer period? This is possible at a little extra charge.
White tie etiquette
White tie is considered to be the most formal evening wear since 1850. Do you know the difference between a white tie suit and a morning suit? The cut of the front coattails are more rounded in case of the morning suit and the white tie coat has lapels made of satin or silk. The white tie tailcoat is always worn open and has a double set of buttons.
Doctorate
The colour of the waistcoat can vary in different universities. In most cases a white waistcoat is custom, except at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and at Universiteit Leiden, than a black waistcoat is worn.
