How to Shop Your Wardrobe For A Black Tie Event (No Buy 365)

& Still Feel Like You *

Well this challenge just got interesting…my friend calls me saying he needs me to be his plus 1 for a red carpet, black tie event…in 2 days time! After having a 30 second panic, I reminded my brain this is what makes a 365 no buy challenge so interesting. Now i’m the first to admit, after 16 years as a celebrity makeup artist, black tie red carpet occasions are something i’m more used to getting other people ready for, vs myself, and as such, my wardrobe isn’t brimming with options for what I would consider black tie outfit combinations. But, I still think I can make this work. Challenge accepted!

The only other issue is that this particular event has a color theme, and that theme is navy and silver!!!! My first thought is I could rent something, but with two days to spare and zero calendar space, its looking an unlikely possibility. I could borrow something from a friend, but even if I covered the shipping, it’s already friday late afternoon, and the chances of something getting here before Sunday are slim at best.

It’s time to get creative.

My first thought is none of my dresses, are ‘dressy’ enough for black tie, so my only option is to go the tailoring route, which lets be real, is my general comfort zone anyway. Only problem being I don’t currently own a matching suit, BUT… I do have separates that I think I can make work, here’s what my brain came up with…

So I don’t have anything Navy, and i’m not sure about a bag, but i’m pretty impressed with what I was able to come up with on such short notice AND without buying anything new.

Here’s what we’re working with:

1. A thrifted menswear single breasted oversized blazer in Black (similar to the one in the collage), I’ve linked a similar option here.

2. Some statement Agmes silver (in a nod to the color theme) and pearl earrings

3. Some VERY old Zara shoes that are about 6 years old, but a great Phoebe Philo Old celine ‘inspired’ shoe that still works really hard in my wardrobe. Similar option here.

4. A pair of old Cos Cigarette pants (bonus points for having a stretchy waistband) with slits up the front. Similar option here.

I like it. It feels like me. Is it perfect? No. Am I Ok with that? 100% yes. Granted when I was looking for inspo I couldn’t help but look longingly at all the beautifully tailored matching suits from The Row, but this is the best thing about this challenge, if a matching suit is something I start yearning for again and again over the next year, it might be something I add in. If it’s not, then nothing is lost.

One thing I realized is while i’ll probably end up using my Toteme cross body T-bag worn as a clutch, I don’t have any ‘evening’ bags, but then until this event presented itself, I really haven’t ever needed an ‘evening bag’.

It’s moments like these that also make me realize, even if I ‘could’ have bought something, would it have been wildly different to what I chose from my existing wardrobe? Probably not. I love tailoring, I love structured elements and I love all black outfits with a statement earring.

So how am I going to add the Navy or Silver needed for the theme?

Makeup of course! This is one of the reasons I always tell people makeup is as much apart of personal style as the clothes you wear. My first thought was I could do a very ‘clean girl’ look, but because of the color theme, I felt that’s the only way I can nod to the navy. I took to Pinterest for some inspo…

I think some kind of navy eye look is what i’m leaning towards, possibly with a silver accent, as I think that will instantly elevate the look putting into more into the camp of a ‘red carpet’ look. I made a YouTube video of all the different makeup looks I wanted to experiment with here (which also shows me putting the final outfit together)

Key Takeaways to shop your own wardrobe for a Black Tie event

1. If you don’t own a matching suit and you want to go the tailoring route, opt for seperates in the same colour palette.

2. Oversized menswear pieces made from high quality fabrics always look expensive, and add an elevated feel to tailoring. If you don’t have one in your own wardrobe, try borrowing from your dad, your brother, your partner or a friend who has one.

3. If you’re navigating a color theme that isn’t in your wardrobe, use your makeup to help you. Makeup is as much a part of style as clothes are, and makeup alone can change the entire vibe of an outfit.

4. Try renting an outfit, or borrowing pieces from a friend instead of buying something you’ll likely only wear once or twice.

5. Jewellry is also a key component to elevating a look for black tie attire. The Agmes earrings are one of my hardest working pieces of jewelry in my closet, because they work just as well with jeans and a white T, as they did with this makeshift suit. They also added a little bit of fun into the outfit, so let this be a reminder you can also use a statement piece of jewelry to do the heavy lifting for you too.

I hope this was helpful and let me know if you have any questions about black tie outfits in the comments below. P.s really enjoying Substack.

Speak soon

Harry xx