Now Christmas is drawing ever closer, your tree is decorated and presents are wrapped it is time to turn your thoughts to the next big event of the season, New Years Eve. Whether you will be seeing in the new year over a quiet meal and glass of bubbly with your loved ones or at an organised event, you will surely be giving a lot of thought to the perfect outfit. For those celebrating in a more formal manner at either an upmarket hotel or a big company event, Black Tie will be the expected dress code. It can be difficult to navigate the line between smart dress and black tie. Today, we will guide you through what your options are when it comes to Black Tie events, and what fabrics you can use to achieve the perfect, formal look.
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Brad and Angelina in their classic black tie attire.[/caption]
Originating way back to the 19th Century, less formal than white tie but smarter than business and smart casual wear, black tie is a dress code often applied to formal events and dinners taking place after 6pm. Classic Black Tie dress code consists of a black tuxedo and bow tie for men and an elegant evening gown for the ladies. Although still considered to be a decorous style of dress, Black Tie has in recent years lost its traditional, stiff formality. Men are no longer obliged to wear a bow tie and cummerbund and women have followed suit by relaxing the rules with shortened hem lines and more trendy, daring pieces such as jumpsuits. Black Tie is now considered to mean wearing the dressiest piece you dare!
For men wishing to play it safe and stay classically stylish, a black tuxedo is the only option however, this piece still leaves room for your own interpretation and there are a number of style options to choose from. When it comes to fabrics you can choose from a number of heavy and medium weight options including silk for high end luxury and lower cost, polyester fabrics for a cost effective piece. We stock a variety of gorgeous fabrics which are ideal for tailoring that perfect outfit for your handsome companion.
Melton Fabric - this is a tight woven, woollen cloth which is largely used in the manufacture of waistcoats, trousers and coats. For a smart and elegant style which is guaranteed to keep you warm during your new year celebrations. Composed of 80% Polyester and 20% Viscose our Melton Fabric is a warm fabric with a smooth finish making this a smart addition to your wardrobe.
Bi-Stretch Fabric - this is a versatile Fabric, ideal for creating a range of formal wear items for men including trousers, jackets and suits. Bi-Stretch Fabric does not crease easily and requires little ironing making this the ideal choice for an event away from home or when travelling. Bi-Stretch is regarded for its hardwearing qualities, meaning that your items will last you for many years of formal events.
Memphis Bi-Stretch - this is a superior quality fabric known for its ease of movement and non-creasing qualities making it the ideal choice for formal wear.
Jacquard Lining - lining is an important aspect to consider when creating any formal garment. A good quality lining will protect your garments from unnecessary wear and tear whilst providing another layer of insulation against the weather. The stunning, contemporary designs of Jacquard Lining will give your formal items that extra designer appeal.
Of course, one of the most important aspects of a gentleman's black tie attire is his crisp white shirt. There are a number of collar options including the classic wide spread collar option which will sit behind the jackets lapels to create a smart and elegant look. For the more adventurous and style conscious men, the classic black tie shirt also includes the pleated front shirt which is the perfect choice for the ultimate in formal occasions. A plain front shirt also achieves a simple and elegant style suitable for almost any formal occasion. Poplin is a fabric popular for sewing men’s shirts, ready to wear shirts manufactured from this gorgeous quality fabric are often in the upper price bracket due to it's hard wearing and easy to wear qualities.
For ladies, the options for Black Tie attire really are endless. These days, anything goes and the more luxurious the better. Our wonderful selection of stunning dressmaking fabrics encompass almost anything you would need to create the perfect, show stopper of a gown, below are just a few of our fabrics most popular at this time of year.
Satin Fabrics - this lustrous fabric emulates the high end, glamorous properties of silk however, satin is a stiffer fabric which holds its shape better making this popular for a more structured style of gown. We stock a variety of satin fabrics in an array of stunning colours including Duchess Satin, Satin Back Crepe and Economy Satin fabrics.
Chiffon - this is a beautiful, lightweight fabric which is sheer in appearance and is suitable for any special occasion wear, This elegant fabric is one of our widest ranges of dressmaking fabrics and is an excellent choice for evening gowns. Chiffon can be layered over other dressmaking fabrics for a sheer overlay effect.
Heavy Corded Lace - a popular fabric for dressmakers who wish to create an elegant, feminine design and is ideal for stunning evening gowns. Lace is normally used as a layering material and is often used alongside other fabrics such as Satin. With its delicate appearance, Lace is an extremely popular dressmaking fabric and is ideal for creating an array of stunning designs for your black tie event.
Dress Lining - all of our Dress Linings are made from 100% Polyester, Anti Static material and are ideal for lining your formal gowns and dresses. This is a smooth fabric which is easy to work with and in fact our top quality Dress Lining is used by many high street manufacturers. It is of course, very important to ensure that your Dress Lining is the perfect match for your Dressmaking Fabric which is why we stock all of our Dress Linings and Stretch Dress Linings in a huge variety of colours.
[caption id="attachment_6025" align="aligncenter" width="224"]
Zoe in her 2012 New Years Eve outfit crafted from Double Knit Jersey and Lace.[/caption]
Whatever your plans are for this January 31st you can be sure to see 2013 out in style with fabrics from Calico Laine and as always, we love to see picture of your creations and invite you to share them with us on our Facebook page,
Until next time!
Calico Laine
Brad and Angelina in their classic black tie attire.[/caption]
Originating way back to the 19th Century, less formal than white tie but smarter than business and smart casual wear, black tie is a dress code often applied to formal events and dinners taking place after 6pm. Classic Black Tie dress code consists of a black tuxedo and bow tie for men and an elegant evening gown for the ladies. Although still considered to be a decorous style of dress, Black Tie has in recent years lost its traditional, stiff formality. Men are no longer obliged to wear a bow tie and cummerbund and women have followed suit by relaxing the rules with shortened hem lines and more trendy, daring pieces such as jumpsuits. Black Tie is now considered to mean wearing the dressiest piece you dare!
For men wishing to play it safe and stay classically stylish, a black tuxedo is the only option however, this piece still leaves room for your own interpretation and there are a number of style options to choose from. When it comes to fabrics you can choose from a number of heavy and medium weight options including silk for high end luxury and lower cost, polyester fabrics for a cost effective piece. We stock a variety of gorgeous fabrics which are ideal for tailoring that perfect outfit for your handsome companion.
Melton Fabric - this is a tight woven, woollen cloth which is largely used in the manufacture of waistcoats, trousers and coats. For a smart and elegant style which is guaranteed to keep you warm during your new year celebrations. Composed of 80% Polyester and 20% Viscose our Melton Fabric is a warm fabric with a smooth finish making this a smart addition to your wardrobe.
Bi-Stretch Fabric - this is a versatile Fabric, ideal for creating a range of formal wear items for men including trousers, jackets and suits. Bi-Stretch Fabric does not crease easily and requires little ironing making this the ideal choice for an event away from home or when travelling. Bi-Stretch is regarded for its hardwearing qualities, meaning that your items will last you for many years of formal events.
Memphis Bi-Stretch - this is a superior quality fabric known for its ease of movement and non-creasing qualities making it the ideal choice for formal wear.
Jacquard Lining - lining is an important aspect to consider when creating any formal garment. A good quality lining will protect your garments from unnecessary wear and tear whilst providing another layer of insulation against the weather. The stunning, contemporary designs of Jacquard Lining will give your formal items that extra designer appeal.
Of course, one of the most important aspects of a gentleman's black tie attire is his crisp white shirt. There are a number of collar options including the classic wide spread collar option which will sit behind the jackets lapels to create a smart and elegant look. For the more adventurous and style conscious men, the classic black tie shirt also includes the pleated front shirt which is the perfect choice for the ultimate in formal occasions. A plain front shirt also achieves a simple and elegant style suitable for almost any formal occasion. Poplin is a fabric popular for sewing men’s shirts, ready to wear shirts manufactured from this gorgeous quality fabric are often in the upper price bracket due to it's hard wearing and easy to wear qualities.
For ladies, the options for Black Tie attire really are endless. These days, anything goes and the more luxurious the better. Our wonderful selection of stunning dressmaking fabrics encompass almost anything you would need to create the perfect, show stopper of a gown, below are just a few of our fabrics most popular at this time of year.
Satin Fabrics - this lustrous fabric emulates the high end, glamorous properties of silk however, satin is a stiffer fabric which holds its shape better making this popular for a more structured style of gown. We stock a variety of satin fabrics in an array of stunning colours including Duchess Satin, Satin Back Crepe and Economy Satin fabrics.
Chiffon - this is a beautiful, lightweight fabric which is sheer in appearance and is suitable for any special occasion wear, This elegant fabric is one of our widest ranges of dressmaking fabrics and is an excellent choice for evening gowns. Chiffon can be layered over other dressmaking fabrics for a sheer overlay effect.
Heavy Corded Lace - a popular fabric for dressmakers who wish to create an elegant, feminine design and is ideal for stunning evening gowns. Lace is normally used as a layering material and is often used alongside other fabrics such as Satin. With its delicate appearance, Lace is an extremely popular dressmaking fabric and is ideal for creating an array of stunning designs for your black tie event.
Dress Lining - all of our Dress Linings are made from 100% Polyester, Anti Static material and are ideal for lining your formal gowns and dresses. This is a smooth fabric which is easy to work with and in fact our top quality Dress Lining is used by many high street manufacturers. It is of course, very important to ensure that your Dress Lining is the perfect match for your Dressmaking Fabric which is why we stock all of our Dress Linings and Stretch Dress Linings in a huge variety of colours.
[caption id="attachment_6025" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Zoe in her 2012 New Years Eve outfit crafted from Double Knit Jersey and Lace.[/caption]
Whatever your plans are for this January 31st you can be sure to see 2013 out in style with fabrics from Calico Laine and as always, we love to see picture of your creations and invite you to share them with us on our Facebook page,
Until next time!
Calico Laine