EVENING DRESSING

Dressed for after dark

Evening light is kind to deep colour and unforgiving of anything flat. Midnight blue knit, silk twill with a soft sheen, shantung that breaks lamplight into small points: these are cloths chosen for how they look across a dinner table at nine o'clock.

Burgundy, claret and ivory do their best work after dark, and a white square keeps the rest of the outfit honest. Start with a dark suit and a plain shirt, then add one good tie and one pocket square with something to say.