Q: I’m going to my ten-year college reunion this summer. There will be a formal dinner where “jacket and tie” are required. I’m not sure what this means. What kind of jacket? How heavy a fabric? What color? How many buttons? It’s an Ivy League university, and I’m a little worried about my snobbish classmates.

A: It’s not a formal dinner if “jacket and tie” are required, but in these semi-apocalyptic times I guess that often passes for formal. I find it hard to believe you graduated from an Ivy institution and didn’t notice what the lads were wearing. A jacket means that thing with lapels, not the thing you wear fishing or to the bowling alley. For your purposes, it should probably be a suit jacket, worn with suit trousers. Or you could wear a blazer—I’d suggest navy blue unless you’ve won the Masters golf tournament, in which case green would be nice. Gray trousers will go nicely with the blue blazer. Don’t wear khakis; they’re too daytime. Fabric weight? I’m guessing that in Ivy League climatic zones a tropical wool will work. If it’s hot, you can go linen. But if you think the dinner is formal, keep it on the dark side and wear a suit.

June 2000

print
SUBMIT