The New Orleans Menu

Black-Tie Dining

A lady at the Eat Club dinner at Brennan's, a black-tie affair, asked:

I love to dress up and wear my evening clothes, but my husband here says that a man can't wear a tuxedo unless the invitation specifically calls for one. And that he can't go out to a restaurant wearing a tuxedo, because it makes him look like a waiter. Who's right?

Tom Sez:

You are, dear, by definition. The lady is always right.

But you're right anyway. There is no reason on earth why the two of you shouldn't dress up any time the mood strikes you. Men, as we all know, look fabulous in a tuxedo. I wear one every time I have even a slight pretext. If someone asks why I'm so dressed up in a restaurant or elsewhere, I just say, "I'm going somewhere else later." (It's a better answer than trying to explain what I'm explaining right now.)

As for the waiter thing, have you ever wondered what it means that servers look better than the people they're serving. Seems to me there's something wrong there.

The only inappropriate time for a gentleman to wear a tux is before six p.m. (Although after dark you can get away with it.) They call it evening wear for a reason.

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