Belmond Northern Belle dress code

[Condor7]

I have booked the Northern Belle 'Fine Dining' experience for myself and my wife and the dress code for the man is 'Black Tie'

As I don't have a black tie outfit I rang them and they said a smart suit would be acceptable, which I do have.

I was just wondering if any forum members have been on this experience and if so would I be in the minority just in a plain suit?

This is for a special occasion and I don't want to be one of only a few not in black tie. If that is going to be the case I will hire an outfit but as I could not get the outfit back for a couple of days it works out very expensive.

Thanks

 

[DarloRich]

just go an hire one to be on the safe side if you are worried.

I bought one from Matlan for £50/60 - even at one wearing a year ( for balls or weddings) it has paid back.

 

[desmo]

I attended black tie event recently and just bought a new white shirt and dickie from Debenhams for £25 and wore with a conventional black suit. Your'e still gonna get the odd eccentric with a full evening suit attire but with garish spotted bow tie anyway so wouldn't worry in the slightest.

 

[Iskra]

You can buy a black tie evening suit for far less than what you've spent on the train tickets, and you might use it again.

...however, I envisage you will have no problems. UK Railtours are very relaxed and hospitable, other passengers will not be bothered so long as you look smart.

 

[theblackwatch]

Looking at the Northern Belle website it says

WARDROBE NOTES

Smart casual wear (but not jeans or trainers) is appropriate. For dinner departures, more formal wear is customary. A jacket and a tie for men is required at Royal Ascot and other race excursions. For outdoor events, please wear practical clothing, appropriate for the weather conditions.

I would have thought a smart suit would be fine. I wouldn't have thought a 'black tie' is necessary - I associate them with funerals!

 

[DarloRich]

Looking at the Northern Belle website it says



I would have thought a smart suit would be fine. I wouldn't have thought a 'black tie' is necessary - I associate them with funerals!

does one not dress for dinner?

 

[Bletchleyite]

"Black tie" means dinner suit and bow tie for men - not an actual black tie!


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[AlterEgo]

just go an hire one to be on the safe side if you are worried.

I bought one from Matlan for £50/60 - even at one wearing a year ( for balls or weddings) it has paid back.

This.

A dickie bow can be found in most charity shops for a few quid. Have a browse down your local High Street.

 

[IanD]

This.

A dickie bow can be found in most charity shops for a few quid. Have a browse down your local High Street.

A dickie bow can be found in non-charity shops for just a few quid too. A tux and trousers could also be bought in a charity shop for not much money, particularly in the run up to Christmas when they often bring them out of the back room. - so if you can't see any just ask the staff if they have any in the back.

Like DarloRich, I got one from Matalan (maybe even the same branch) a few years back for about £50 including formal shirt and black bow tie. I've worn it a couple of times a year since so it was much cheaper than having to hire one each time.

 

[theblackwatch]

does one not dress for dinner?

Yes, I prefer not to eat in my birthday suit! And dinner is at dinner time, not in the evening :P

 

[DarloRich]

Yes, I prefer not to eat in my birthday suit! And dinner is at dinner time, not in the evening :P

If one is refined such as one is one eats ones dinner at dinner time in the evening

If one is an oik like what most people are one eats ones dinner at dinner time around mid day

( in fairness I try to eat at least two dinners a day to cover both options! I am also fairly certain the lunch, tea or dinner on the Belle will be better than all of our meals put together!)

 

[Deepgreen]

By the way, unless there is a special working on the Epsom Downs branch, it's the Belmond Pullman. Presumably the word is supposed very loosely to denote 'Beautiful World'.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yes, I prefer not to eat in my birthday suit! And dinner is at dinner time, not in the evening :P

So, by this, do you mean 'lunch'?

 

[Darandio]

So, by this, do you mean 'lunch'?

Up here we don't do 'lunch'. It's breakfast, dinner, tea, supper.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Up here we don't do 'lunch'. It's breakfast, dinner, tea, supper.

To be fair, there is a historical reason for that - in t'mill (or wherever) a hot meal might be provided at midday because workers couldn't afford (the means to) cook one at home.

Germany continues this tradition to some extent, having a proper Mittagessen around midday but having Abendbrot at home - literally "evening bread" - just a small cold meal.

 

[Mag_seven]

What a load of old tosh - come the revolution

 

[Condor7]

Thanks for the comments.

The dress code for that is different to other tours, and is black tie.

I have a white shirt and buying a dickie bow would not be a problem. The problem is my suit is dark but not black and a black dickie bow would not match.

I think trying to find one my size in a charity shop is a bit of a long shot, especially as the trip is next week.

As I said Belmond inform me that a smart suit and tie is acceptable, it is just that it is our 10th wedding anniversary and I don't want to be one of only a handful who appears to have not made the effort, so was hoping someone on the forum had actually been on this trip to advice whether I would be in the minority or not.

 

[DarloRich]

I would love to go on it but the cost is just prohibitive. Please let us know what it is like!

 

[AnonymousUser1]

Looking at the Northern Belle website it says



I would have thought a smart suit would be fine. I wouldn't have thought a 'black tie' is necessary - I associate them with funerals!

so you wear an evening suit/ dinner suit to a funeral do you ?

'Black Tie' dress code is evening dress/ dinner suits for those presenting as male and traditionally either cocktail dresses or long dresses (not quite a ball gown) for those present as female .

tuxedos are worn by colonials in leftpondia , an British or commonwealth gentlemen does not wear them , they wear a dinner suit ( commonwealth genetlemen of colour may also wear relevant native equivalents to Black Tie or White Tie events)

We'll leave discussion of light coloured Dinner Jackets and Red Sea Rig until those who did not realise the difference between 'a black tie' and Black Tie have caught up ...

http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/black-tie-guide

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/style/black-tie-dress-code-how-to/
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Thanks for the comments.

The dress code for that is different to other tours, and is black tie.

I have a white shirt and buying a dickie bow would not be a problem. The problem is my suit is dark but not black and a black dickie bow would not match.

I think trying to find one my size in a charity shop is a bit of a long shot, especially as the trip is next week.

As I said Belmond inform me that a smart suit and tie is acceptable, it is just that it is our 10th wedding anniversary and I don't want to be one of only a handful who appears to have not made the effort, so was hoping someone on the forum had actually been on this trip to advice whether I would be in the minority or not.

mixing a lounge suit and evening shirt / bow tie is a bigger faux pas then wearing a good shirt and silk tie with your lounge suit .

 

[telstarbox]

So lounge suit = office tie, evening dress = (black) bow tie?

 

[AnonymousUser1]

So lounge suit = office tie, evening dress = (black) bow tie?

yes a lounge suit is worn with a plain fronted shirt and a 'long' tie

a dinner suit is worn with a turn over collar fancy fronted shirt ( pleats or marcella classically , ruffled if you are a colonial in a tux ) and a bow tie

wing collars are for white tie ...

 

[TBirdFrank]

And no cheating - none of this hook and eye bow tie stuff - you have to tie it yourself!

 

[markindurham]

Ah yes, Red Sea Rig - only permitted by certain Masters 'back in the day' if ALL Officers were in possession of Cummerbunds...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

As you are going to be celebrating 10 years of a happy marriage, perhaps your beloved would like to chose how you are dressed for the event ? - the person who's going to be looking at you all night?

I'd say you could wear a jersey, wasitcoat or a kilt if you wanted - but emphatically NOT blue denim, NOT shorts, NOT a T-shirt with wording on it and NOT sports wear.