Every year the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington awards the best and brightest of the area’s DC food scene. Better known as The Rammys, the awards ceremony is DC’s version of the Oscars for the DC restaurant scene. I’ve had the honor of attending as a guest but over the last few years, I’ve been covering the event for Men’s Life DC. The link will take you to this year’s winners.
The black tie gala is just another good reason to pull out my favorite tuxedo and celebrate the winners who work so hard to bring excellent for and drink to the Nation’s Capital. As the Man about DC, I love being able to attend events like this. It helps to show that DC has a lot more to offer than just being a political town constantly embroiled in bipartisan bickering. As the DCFashion Fool, it’s another reason to put on a tuxedo and showcase my DC fashion sense.
While the RAMMYs are a black tie affair, the attire ranges from the traditional black tie to something a bit more over the top. It’s not uncommon to see guys wearing a tuxedo blazer along with their chef’s pants. Maybe next year, I’ll cover the fashion of the event. Let me know if that’s something you’d like to see.
For my RAMMYs attire, I wanted to do something a little different. Normally, I opt for the traditional black tie look: black tuxedo, white shirt, black bow tie and patent leather lace-ups. It’s a classic look that’s both elegant and timeless. However since the restaurant scene is such a creative space, I figured I could be a little more creative with my look.
This year I connected with my friends from Stitched over at MGM National Harbor. While they carry some great brands that I really like, I find that their private label brands fit me really well. They also do quite a bit of bespoke and custom clothing which I am itching to do more of. You might recognize the store because they dress National’s superstar, Bryce Harper. Stitched is great for finding unique looks.
As I said, I wanted to find something a little different but still was in line with my core style. I found a beautiful midnight blue shawl collared tuxedo jacket. It’s hard to tell from the pictures but it had a pinpoint pattern which gave it a little texture which I found was really nice. For pants I went with traditional black tuxedo pants. I paired these with a dark navy shirt from Jared Lang (also from Stitched). Not a traditional tuxedo shirt but I thought it worked well with the jacket. For the bow tie I went with a black and blue paisley pattern. Since the lapels of the tuxedo jacket were black, this brought the look took together. Lastly, I added a pair of statement shoes for fun. How about those tassels!
I’ve spoken before about the idea of renting or buying a tux. I still think it’s a good idea to own one if you’re attending several events throughout the year. For the cost of renting, you can own something that’s fit to your body. By simply adding a jacket, tuxedo jacket it can give you some additional options.
RAMMYs attire details
Midnight blue pinpoint shawl collar – Stitched Black Label | Dark blue dress shirt – Jared Lang | Bow tie – Stitched | Foxley loafer – Jimmy Choo
