Black Tie means a bow tie not a black coloured tie

[Clockwork John]

Just have to throw in my tuppence worth. As a card carrying member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Old Farts, I am inclined to bemoan the demise of what I call "good taste" in clothing. I am not referring here to style, but to how the style is worn. I have seen T-Shirts and Jeans worn where I would wear at least a Sport Coat and a tieless shirt, and the wearer was neatly dressed. The T-shirt was clean, had no "message" on it, the Jeans were ditto, and pressed.

When I am working in my shop, I dress appropriately. When I go to a "Black Tie" dinner, I also dress appropriately. If I am mucking out a barn or stable, I dress appropriately. When I go into the "market" place, I do not wear the manure stained work clothes I wore in the barn.

That is, I think, the basic message of all the previous posts. I'll climb down now.

I think you really captured both the substance and tone of what was meant by the OP, as well as many who agreed with him, and several who, superficially at least, disagreed with him.

I may not be an "old fart"... I am, in fact, what you might call a "young upstart" or "whippersnapper" or something along those lines, but I agree completely.
I may have grown up poor (hell, I'm still poor, or at best "Working Class"), but I always try to dress well, and I darn sure make sure I dress as appropriately as my means permit for every occasion.