In amid matters of international import and wide public scrutiny, Saturday’s The Age contained one article which may have been passed quite over: “Don’t Meddle With Style”, justly condemning Blokes for attending evening functions dressed in their day-suits, and worse, their weird day-suits, in a misguided attempt to exhibit the individuality they haven’t got. I, your humbly well-groomed editor, penned a letter to that paper in reply, which you can read in today’s edition, and which I shall reproduce below for posterity.

Sartorial savvy

KENNETH Nguyen’s article “Don’t meddle with style” (A2, 23/9) is right to point out that just putting on a suit does not dashing formal wear make, but footballers and movie stars are equally capable of looking atrocious in a dinner jacket.

There’s a world of difference between an English-cut double-breasted dinner suit with peak lapels and a matching waistcoat and an American-cut three-button suit with notch lapels and an optional cummerbund: one makes you look like a young Sean Connery, while the other just makes you look like a schlub.

In any case, real men’s evening wear is white tie and tails, universally flattering — black tie is just a corruption of the semi-formal smoking jacket, and personally, if I have to wear a smoking jacket I’m going to wear one in gold and burgundy brocade, thanks.

Frederick Chook, co-founder, The Earl Grey Social Club