46 | The Lion King
What do I wear
when it’s a
Black Tie Event?
By Nonso Nduanya
T
ola was a ‘street boy’ whose flair for
marketing and relationship man-
agement served him well as a fast
rising banker. One of the bank’s major
customers, whose accounts he man-
aged, sent him an invite for their 10th
anniversary commemoration dinner.
Tola was excited to be considered wor-
thy of attending such a V-VIP event. His
efforts were actually being recognised
in the right quarters.
However, there was a slight cause for
concern. The invite read “this is a black
tie event”, and he wasn’t too sure how
to interpret it. He had attended many
high-profile events and “Owambe”
local parties in which the native “aso
ebi” dress codes were specified. He
was a smart dresser; most times relying
on his instincts to swing-off any ensem-
ble, so he never lost sleep thinking of
any dress code requirements. But he
had never attended this kind of event
before, and knew if he were to make
a good impression on his big customers
and bosses that night, he had to show
up looking prim and proper.
On many occasions, people find
themselves in the same predicament
as Tola when they get invited to black
tie events. The question usually is, “Am
I expected to wear a black tie?”, but
it’s not just about wearing a black tie.
There are specific dress items that must
be combined to conform to the black
tie dress code.
