WHY A TUX IS THE ULTIMATE BLACK TIE HERO
So let’s talk tuxes…
Bold women wear bold clothes. Look at historical style heroes like Katherine Hepburn - pioneer of the American sportswear aesthetic for women - or Bianca Jagger - a vision in white in her wedding suit - and modern red carpet suit lovers like Blake Lively or Zendaya. What do these women have in common? Apart from being forces to be reckoned with, they all wore (and wear) iconic suits.
Today a tux is a powerhouse wardrobe building block, which is why we’ve created the Tux Capsule. Designed to be loved, worn and shared among generations, our Forever Tux edit has a range of timeless options for formal dressing. Read on to explore the collection and find the ultimate in contemporary black tie style solutions.
The Forever Tux
Tuxes didn’t find their way into the womenswear orbit until the mid-late 1960s, when they first appeared on the Paris runways. During a time when women had only recently started wearing trousers, the thought of a woman wearing a formal dinner jacket was revolutionary. A decade later in 1975, the tuxedo as a symbol of female power was immortalized by legendary photographer Helmut Lang.
Today, a woman in a sharply tailored tux is still a high-impact look. This is why this season we’ve created the ultimate black tie options including our Bracelet Sleeve Forever Tux Jacket and a Sleeveless Tux Jacket. Both pieces are made from a smooth wool-blend tailoring fabric, perfectly complemented with satin lapels in homage to classic tuxedos. The sleeves on the jacket are cut to a bracelet length - a classic tailoring feature intended to let sleeve cuffs peek through, or a great opportunity to show off carefully chosen accessories.
We love how they look styled together, the sleeveless jacket works as a waistcoat and the gently fitted shape of both styles means they layer seamlessly. Most importantly, these styles are designed to be timeless, ensuring they’ll hold a forever favorite spot in your occasionwear wardrobe.
The Perfect Trouser
The perfect tux isn’t complete without the perfect pant. Luckily we know our pants, so we’ve created a range of styles this season so you can find the right shape for you.
Available in a regular or short length, our Forever Wide-Leg Tux Pant deliver a contemporary take on the classic tux separates. They’re made from wool-blend tailoring fabric and shaped to a high-rise waist, before falling to fluid legs complete with inverted pleats that promote the flattering wide cut.
If a wide-leg silhouette isn’t your preferred shape, look to our Tux Slim Crop Pant. They’re detailed with a traditional satin side stripe and cut to sit at the ankle, perfect with heels or flats alike.
The Final Piece
Take three-piece suiting to the next level by finishing your tailored look with the coordinating Forever Midi Tux Coat. Uniting sharp tailoring with the warmth of outerwear, this piece ensures a polished look, no matter the weather. It’s made from a weightier wool-blend coating fabric, it retains the classic satin trims seen throughout the Tux capsule to create a cohesive finish whether layered over tailored separates or dresses.
The Modern Jumpsuit
It may have taken until the 1960s for jumpsuits to find their way into the womenswear sartorial zeitgeist, but since then they’ve become a mainstay fixture in the modern wardrobe. It’s a favorite ME+EM silhouette that we’ve given a distinct eveningwear ready upgrade this season.
Our 2-in-1 Jumpsuit, as the name suggests, delivers two styles in one, allowing for personalisable styling and day-to-night versatility. It’s made from wool-blend tailoring fabric and features satin stripes paneling each side - our nod to classic tuxedo styling - and follows a flattering wide-leg silhouette that looks great with flats or heels alike. Wear it with the wide straps, or remove them for a minimal bandeau neckline.
Dress Up
A black tie capsule wouldn’t be complete without a couple of chic dresses, and these styles are perfect for styling with our Bracelet Sleeve Forever Tux Jacket or Forever Midi Tux Coat.
Bridging the gap between everyday comfort and undeniable evening wear, our One Shoulder Midi Dress is made from heavyweight ponte jersey, making it streamlined and crease resistant. The minimal one-shoulder silhouette features darted seams around the waist for a natural, unrestrictive sculpted look, before flaring to a perfectly balanced full skirt. The best part about this style? The detachable flower corsage detail on the shoulder that takes this style to the next level.
To complete the capsule, we’ve got a fresh take on the LBD, but this time it’s a ‘long black dress’. An essential in every wardrobe, a long black dress delivers instant AM-PM appeal, and our Fine Pointelle Knit style is no exception. The knit overlay has an ornate pattern that’s highlighted by a blush-pink lining and it’s shaped with a flattering wide scoop neck. Embrace this style’s seasonless appeal by teaming it with heeled or flat sandals while it’s still warm, then opting for your favorite leather boots as the temperatures inevitably drop.