The Etiquette Experts Got It Wrong About Prince Harry's Tuxedo
The House of Windsor is placed under an impossible microscope. Too busy, and they're wasting precious public time; too leisurely, and they're wasting precious public time. There's no respite. And now, it seems the hawks are circling Prince Harry's wardrobe too. William Hanson, etiquette expert (and a 'special force in the world of politeness' according to the Financial Times—unless it concerns peoples' clothes, naturally) has spoken out against Harry's chosen look for The Lion King premiere in London. And it's all to do with a bow tie. Or, more precisely, one that's supposedly pre-assembled.
First off, there's no way to tell if this bowtie has been truly 'premade.' Yes, it may look a little neat, and yes, it would take the most dexterous and skilled of paws to create such a finish, but this man is the Duke of Sussex. He's got footmen—a small army of them, probably—to ensure he looks his finest for the realm.
Secondly, who actually cares? In a time when menswear at large is undergoing something of a rebrand, the old rules are changing. So, when Hanson went on to suggest that impropriety had occurred (Prince Harry may not be wearing a proper dress shirt), we couldn't help but, well, shrug. The end result stands toe-to-toe with the masters and commanders of the red carpet, and the 34-year-old has gleaned a contemporary, genuinely cool outfit that still sits on the classic: peak lapels, razor-sharp fit, and all the right accessories.
Perhaps we'd understand if this was a proper, traditional-filled exercise. But
And so, while some rules do apply to the rigid world of tailoring, know that these days, they're just guidelines. After all, a pre-made bowtie may be a disaster among the dusty circles of Minding Manners International, but it's certainly not a man-made one.
Black Tie for Men
Marks & Spencer
A good tuxedo needn't cost the world. Settle for M&S, and you've enough left over to pay for the all-important alteration: that's what'll take you from mediocre to money. marksandspencer.com
Hackett
Nobody does 'smart' like a Brit. And nobody does black tie like its national stalwarts, with Hackett producing a luxury, fail-safe take on the classic tux. mrporter.com
Suitsupply
Want to bulk up without gym hours? Put your peak lapels on a steroid treatment program, and enlarge your chest, impact
Prada
While many Italian brands thrive on excess, Prada dines out on clean, well-cut simplicity. This virgin wool-blend tux is no different. matchesfashion.com
Reiss
Some suits will never age. Reiss' Mayfair tux is one of them. Thank a versatile design, Italian-made fabrics, and a shape that'll serve you in this decade and the next (and probably the one after that). reiss.com
This story originally appeared on Esquire.co.uk. Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.
