Black Tie.

This is a man wearing black tie. Black tuxedo, white shirt, bow tie. That’s what “Black Tie” means. This is what people always wore to advertising awards ceremonies when Black Tie was stipulated. Not any more. Apparently younger attendees were so thick that they thought Black Tie meant wearing a black tie. So more and more dressed like this instead. At the Campaign Big Awards last night, the majority (including me) were wearing ordinary suits and plain black ties. As though we were attending a funeral and not a celebratory dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Are advertising people really stupid enough to think that “Black Tie” just means a black tie? Well, watch the ads on TV tonight and draw your own conclusions.